Hebert
City of Yelm
Community Development Department
105 Yelm Avenue West
P.O. Box 479
Yelm, WA 98597
January 11, 2010
Development Services Department
Thurston County
2000 Lakeridge Drive SW
Olympia, WA 98502-6045
Re: Hebert Pre-submission 09-110788 VI
To Whom It May Concern:
The City of Yelm has reviewed the above referenced pre-submission request and offers the following comments regarding the proposal to create a retail landscape supply facility in the
Yelm UGA on property currently RR 1/5 and pre-zoned as Low-density Residential upon annexation to the City of Yelm.
As the property is within Yelm’s urban growth area, development should be consistent with the requirements of the Yelm Development Guidelines as well as Thurston County design standards.
The property is pre-zoned Low-Density Residential annexation into the City of Yelm. The retail landscape supply facility is not an allowed us in the residential zone, so at the time
of annexation to the City of Yelm, the business would be considered a non-conforming use.
Frontage improvements (half street improvements) to SR 507 should be required and would be consistent with the Urban Arterial Street standard found in the Yelm Development Guidelines.
A single new commercial driveway approach would be allowed by the Development Guidelines to serve the proposed parking area, which should be paved and striped consistent with the standards
of the Development Guidelines. The location must be reviewed for distance to signal on a State Highway, and whether the access should be limited or restricted due to location.
The South Thurston County Coordinated Water System Plan adopted by the City of Yelm and Thurston County limits the approval of new water systems within the Yelm Water Service Area, which
includes the entire UGA, to satellite systems approved and managed by the City of Yelm. It appears that the existing well on the property would need to be developed as a community
water system to serve the proposed use, it would be appropriate to address this issue through the land use approval process.
The aquifer lying underneath the City of Yelm is a critical aquifer recharge area and the City requires the treatment and infiltration of stormwater in a manner approved by the
City of Yelm. The City has adopted the 1992 Department of Ecology Drainage Design Manual, which requires that stormwater generated from development be treated for sediments before infiltration.
There are mapped high ground water hazard areas on the proposed site. The bottom of any infiltration facility for stormwater discharge shall be located at least 6 feet above the base
flood elevation and no development shall locate within 50 feet, measured on a horizontal plane, from the outer edge of the high ground water hazard area or extending to a ground elevation
two feet above the base flood elevation, whichever is less as identified by a Hydrogeological Report.
Landscaping should be consistent with the City of Yelm Development Guidelines, including an eight foot perimeter landscaping and a fifteen foot landscaped buffer adjacent to the residentially
zoned property.
Sincerely,
Tami Merriman, Associate Planner
Department of Community Development