412 Yelm Ave
The City of Yelm is an equal opportunity employer and provider
PRE-SUBMISSION NOTES
October 20, 2020
Glenna Mahar proposes to convert the retail building located at 412 Yelm Ave E (Parcel
#2271930500) into an auto repair facility. The property is zoned C-1 Commercial. Sales and
servicing of automobiles are not an allowed use in the C-1, however the building was originally
used as an equipment rental business which is a similar use. The expansion of the building
requires a ministerial site plan review.
PROCESS
The approval process from initial concept to final occupancy consists of three steps: land use
review, civil plan review, and building life/safety review.
LAND USE
The proposal, as submitted, is an expansion of under 25% of the building footprint, and would be
approved through the ministerial site plan review process.
The Ministerial Site Plan Review process is an administrative approval designed to ensure
compliance with development regulations. The ministerial site plan review process does not
require notification of the application to surrounding property owners, or trigger a public
hearing. The process is codified at Chapter 18.12 YMC.
A site plan review approval typically contains conditions of approval that the applicant must
complete prior to receiving a building permit. Upon satisfactory completion of all conditions of
land use approval, the applicant can submit building plans for approval.
CIVIL PLAN REVIEW
Civil plans are required for the construction of driveways, parking areas, stormwater treatment
and public infrastructure. Civil plans must be provided to show compliance with the most current
Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington.
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BUILDING LIFE/SAFETY
Yelm has adopted the International Building Codes and reviews building plans for life/safety and
consistency per these codes, as adopted by Washington State. Electrical permits and inspections
are through the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.
The proposal is to alter an existing mattress store into an automotive repair shop. According to
the Thurston County Assessor’s Office, the building was constructed in 1987 and is a single story
5,280 square foot building. The change of occupancy will be from an M Occupancy (retail) to an
S-1 Occupancy (automotive repair). The maximum occupancy allowable will be determined at
plan submittal.
The building proposed is classified as an S-1 Occupancy and with the given square footage of
6,400 square feet fire sprinklers would not be required. Any building over 5,000 square feet in
area performing repairs on commercial vehicles does require an approved automatic fire
sprinkler system. Per 2015 International Fire Code 903.2.9.1
A Mechanical ventilation system capable of an exhaust airflow rate of .75 CFM/SQFT is required
in the repair areas of the proposed facility. Per 2015 International Mechanical Code Table
403.3.1.1
Exposed wall and ceiling space shall be brought into compliance with the 2015 WSEC.
SIGNS
Allowed sign areas for primary wall mounted signs for a 5000-10000 square foot building are 88
square feet plus .75 square feet for each additional 100 square feet over 10,000 square feet.
*Sign areas shall be the lesser of the above calculation or one square foot for each lineal foot of
wall.
A secondary wall sign is allowed at 50% of the above calculation, a third and fourth wall sign is
allowed at 25% of the primary wall calculation. Per YMC 18.62.160 Table for Wall Mounted
Signs
CONSISTENCY WITH DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
POTABLE WATER
Water connections are based on a consumption rate of 875 cubic feet a month which is
considered an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU). The site as is, is served by a single water
connection. The expanded use of the building may require additional water connections.
Proposed water usage calculations will be required.
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The site is served by a residential 5/8” water meter. It is anticipated that the meter size will not
need to be increased.
All commercial buildings and irrigation systems are required to provide for cross-connection
control through the provisions of a back flow prevention device (reduced pressure backflow
assembly) installed on the water services. A list of approved devices can be found at Chapter
246-290-490 WAC. The backflow device is required to be installed after the meter and tested by
a certified backflow tester.
An RPBA was installed with previous site improvements.
WASTE WATER
S.T.E.P. tank sizing is governed by the Criteria for Sewage Works Design (Orange Book) published
by the Washington State Department of Ecology
The building is served by a 1,000 gallon STEP tank, but is not likely large enough to support the
new use. The size of a STEP tank for a commercial application is a 1,250 gallon minimum, and a
maximum of 6,000 gallons. Sewer connections are based on water usage. Proposed water
calculations will be used to determine tank sizing and if additional sewer connections are
required.
STORM WATER
Stormwater must be collected, treated, and infiltrated on the project site. The engineer preparing
the civil plans will determine the required level of treatment and will prepare a storm water plan
for the City to review as part of the civil plan review process. The City has adopted the most
recent version (2019) of the Washington State Department of Ecology Storm Water Manual.
(SWMMWW). Civil plans must show the existing system to meet these standards, or be
upgraded.
Analysis of existing stormwater facilities should include whether the existing drywell (assuming
there is one) is large enough for additional roof.
Source Control Plan should be updated for any new activities related to the new use.
ENVIRONMENTAL
The project is exempt from SEPA Environmental Review as the building is under 10,000 square
feet, and less than 90 parking stalls.
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TRANSPORTATION
Ingress and egress at the site shall be consistent with the Yelm Development Guidelines, Section
4B.140. Additional accesses are not proposed.
Frontage improvements are required at the time of development. Yelm Avenue is considered an
Urban Arterial, and is not completed to City Standards. This section of Yelm Avenue is also a Class
4 Managed Access Highway.
Section 4B.080 (C) Yelm Development guidelines allows the City to determine when frontage
improvements are required, and under certain circumstances may permit deferral of
installation of such improvements to a later date.
PARKING
The requirements for off-street parking and their design shall be regarded as the minimum;
however, the owner, developer, or operator of the premises for which the parking facilities are
intended shall be responsible for providing adequate amounts and arrangement of space for the
particular premises even though such space is in excess of the minimum set forth.
The Unified Development Code at Chapter 18.54 YMC provides minimum parking requirements.
Although automotive repair facilities are not specifically listed, general industrial is considered
the most closely resembling use which requires one space per employee based on the greatest
number of employees on a single shift, plus one square foot parking per square foot of display
or retail area, plus one space for each vehicle owned, leased or operated by the company. It is
the owner’s responsibility to provide adequate amounts and arrangement of space.
A standard parking spaces is 9’ x 20’ and requires a 23-foot drive aisle. The drive entrances to
the service bays, employee entrance, and any vehicle storage is required to be paved.
Parking areas are required to be landscaped to provide visual relief and shade.
The site must provide appropriate Fire Department vehicle access. Access lane widths are
determined by building size and height. This includes driveway radius and internally.
SITE DESIGN
The Unified Development Code includes standards for parking lot design and landscaping, and
requires adequately sized service areas. Features required include screening of outdoor storage
and service areas, landscaping including an internal perimeter landscape, and landscape
requirements for above ground stormwater facilities. Refuse areas are to be enclosed and
landscaped. Illumination requirements are found at Section 18.59.050 YMC and include
standards for walkway and parking lot lighting.
Perimeter landscape includes an 8’ planter strip with a combination of evergreen and deciduous
trees, and ground cover. The conceptual plan does not meet this requirement on the west
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property line. Parking lot landscaping requires no parking stall be located more than 50 feet from
a tree.
All buildings and site improvements must meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
requirements.
FEES & CHARGES
LAND USE REVIEW
Ministerial Site Plan Review $250
CIVIL PLAN REVIEW
Civil Plan Application $250
City Staff Review $54 per Hour
Consultant Review Actual Cost
BUILDING PERMIT REVIEW
Building Permit Based on Valuation
Sewer SDC (per ERU) $6,394
Water SDC (per ERU) $6,725
Traffic Facilities Charge (per new pm peak hr trip) $1,497
Fire Impact Fee (per new square foot) 0.36
Equipment rental and furniture stores trip generation is between .5 – 1 new pm peak hour trip
per 1,000 square feet. Auto repair generates 3.38 new pm peak hour trips per 1,000 square feet.
The Traffic facilities charge, with credit for previous uses would be 2.38 new trips per 1000 square
feet, or 15 new pm peak hour trips.
These notes are based solely on the site plan and description submitted October, 2020. They are
meant to map out the process for approval and to point out any potential conflicts with City
standards and are NOT meant to fully review the proposal.