Hebert (2)(360) 458-8408
(360) 458-3144 FAX
www.ci.yelm.wa.us
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
January 12, 2010 Page 2 of 2
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