PCC ChronPrairie Christian Center Food Bank/Food Distribution Center.
June 2010. Building permit issued to Yelm Prairie Christian Center (PCC) for the construction of a 36 by 96 storage building. Building permit states storage only, this permit was exempt
from site plan review according to Chapter 17.84 YMC.
June 2011. Conversation between Dale Richardson & Tami Merriman regarding a permit to construct a lean-to on the side of the storage building, it was brought to the attention of the
City that the building is being utilized as a food bank. Mr. Richardson was informed that the use of the building for a food bank is allowed, however required issuance of a Conditional
Use Permit.
June 29, 2011. Presubmission meeting with City and representatives of PCC to review the conditional use permit process required to continue the food bank at the site. At this time,
the City allowed the food bank to continue, providing certain conditions were met and good progress was made towards completing the conditional use permit process.
August 2011. PCC applied for a Conditional Use permit for the food bank.
August 2011 PCC began grading the site. This grading was not shown on the site plan submitted with the conditional use permit, was not identified in any documentation submitted to the
City for review, and appeared to be within the 100 year floodplain, which is a violation of the Yelm Critical Areas Code.
August 18, 2011 the City issued a stop work order to halt work on the site.
August 19, 2011, the City requested additional information to continue processing the permit application, including a flood elevation survey to determine if a violation of floodplain
regulations occurred.
November 2011. PCC conducted additional filling and grading of the property, this time clearly within the 100 year floodplain and the riparian corridor of Yelm Creek.
February 2012, Pastor Brad Carlson met with Mayor Harding and Tami Merriman to discuss the events of the past year, and what was needed to move forward to bring the site into compliance.
March 2012, PCC contacted JW Morrissette to provide a Critical Areas report, however authorization to proceed with the report did not occur until December 2012.
December 2012, Lisa Palazzi of JW Morrissette met with Tami Merriman after a site visit to discuss what was required for the Critical Areas Report. At this time it was found that the
grading and fill that was placed in the riparian buffer had at some point been removed and placed in piles outside the buffer. Ms. Palazzi to submit a restoration detail plan.
January 30, 2013 Pastor Carlson met with Grant Beck, Tami Merriman and Gary Carlson to discuss the food bank. Discussion of storage of food at the PCC, as well as two other sites within
the City, the use was not a food bank, but a food distribution center. A food distribution center is not an ancillary use to the Church. Warehousing and distribution is only allowed
in the industrial zone, and cannot be approved in commercial zones within the City, or at the church.
January 31, 2013. Letter sent to Dale Richardson and Pastor Carlson that the food storage and distribution at the batting cages and Bucky’s properties on 93rd is not permitted, and
further public meetings occurring while the buildings were utilized for food storage were in violation of international fire codes. Email message to Pastor Carlson recapping meeting
discussion to schedule a meeting to work with PCC to bring the violations into compliance after mitigation report complete.
February 4, 2013 Dale Richardson spoke with Tami Merriman and Gary Carlson regarding the letter stating that we cannot permit a use that is in violation of the zoning and other codes.
Dale Richardson was accusing staff of discrimination, specifically asking what the penalties are, and threatening to contact his attorney.
February 6, 2013. Received mitigation report for riparian buffer disturbance from JW Morrissette.
February 27, 2013. Sent message to Pastor Carlson, Dale Richardson and Lisa Palazzi to meet regarding mitigation report and compliance issues.
April 17, 2013 Meeting.