10508 Creek Road (2)
The City of Yelm is an equal opportunity employer and provider
PRE-SUBMISSION NOTES
JANUARY 6, 2021
Patrick Gilroy proposes to develop the property located at 10508 Creek Road SE as a mini-
storage facility.
The property is zoned Heavy Commercial (C-2). Mini storage is an allowed use subject to
being located more than 500 feet from an urban arterial. In order to achieve the 500 foot
setback, you would need to create or move the southern boundary line of Tract A and Unit 2
to assure the 500 foot setback. The parking you propose in the area between Tract B would
be open for parking for all uses on site.
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 application materials show a 3 story mini storage facility of 68,110 square feet fronting
Creek Road with access lane behind the building. This proposal is more than a minor change
to the binding site plan and property lines require modification. A subdivision amendment is
required.
The binding site plan process allows for shared internal streets, parking, landscaping, and
stormwater, as well as the phasing of development.
An amendment to the Binding Site Plan will require public notice, with an option for the
public to request a public hearing. The administrative site plan review required for the
building and use is reviewed as part of the binding site plan amendment process.
The process allows notification of the application to surrounding property owners, with the
option of requesting a public hearing.
A complete application will be routed to the City Public Works Department, Thurston County,
and other state agencies (including the Department of Transportation) for comment.
Due to the square footage of new commercial development, transportation and stormwater,
an expanded environmental checklist (SEPA) review is required to include a transportation
trip generation analysis and preliminary stormwater report.
After the review process, City staff will issue an environmental determination and begin to
craft the approval. A typical approval includes conditions designed to ensure the proposal is
consistent with the development standards of the City. The project can only be denied if it
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will have significant environmental impacts or is inconsistent with City, County, or State
development regulations.
The binding site plan amendment and administrative site plan review process typically takes
between 12 to 16 weeks. The decision may be appealed to the City's Hearing Examiner.
Building elevations, site utility screens and refuse enclosure details showing compliance
with City of Yelm Design Guidelines shall be submitted with the site plan review application.
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.
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.
CONSISTENCY WITH DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Environmental
Maps indicate the property contains soils moderately suitable as habitat for the Mazama
Pocket Gopher, a protected species listed on the Washington Priority Species and Habitat
List as well as the Federal Threatened Species List.
The site has been developed, is mostly paved with graded building pads. Visual
reconnaissance shows no evidence of gopher activity.
If there is evidence of pocket gopher activity on the property, a critical areas report would be
required. If a critical areas report is required, it must be prepared by a qualified
professional.
The transportation analysis will review impacts at ingress and egress points as well as
internal circulation.
The Stormwater facility was designed and sized for the proposed site consisting of an
underground gravel infiltration bed preceded by a storm filter vault for treatment. The facility
is located under the pavement in the parking lot to the east of the apartment complex
aligned with Access Way “D”. Catch Basins and Conveyance is also included in Access Way
“A”.
Compliance with Yelm’s requirements under the Critical Areas Code does not ensure
compliance with the provisions of the Endangered Species Act, and a federal permit may be
required if pocket gophers are found on the property. This permit would be issued through
the US Fish and Wildlife Service (360.753.5823).
All of Yelm is considered a critical aquifer recharge area. Protection measures for
development within a critical aquifer recharge area are met through treating and disposing
of stormwater through an approved stormwater system.
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Transportation
Ingress and egress at the site shall be consistent with the Yelm Development Guidelines,
Section 2.10.100. The proposal shows no change to existing access. Tract B must be
retained for access to the residential on site.
Frontage improvements are required at the time of development. Creek Road is completed
to City Standards.
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.
Retail: 1 stall per 250 square feet of gross floor area. At 1,175 sq. ft., 5 stalls are required
for the retail.
Mini-warehouse would fall under general industrial use
One space per employee based on the greatest number of employees on a single shift, plus
one for each vehicle owned or operated by the company. Based on proposal, 3 stalls are
required.
Knowing that the majority of customers coming to the site will include loading and
unloading, as well as general access, the proposal of additional stalls behind the building
within enclosed area, and additional parking proposed on the south, appears to meet the
intent of the parking requirements.
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. The
three story building will require a minimum of 26 foot fire lanes.
Site Design
The Unified Development Code includes standards for parking lot design and landscaping,
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.
Mailboxes shall be cluster box units and located on site.
Perimeter landscape includes an 8’ planter strip with a combination of evergreen and
deciduous trees, and ground cover. Parking lot landscaping requires landscaped islands,
and no parking stall be located more than 50 feet from a tree.
Pedestrian circulation is required to provide connection to public sidewalks, within the
development, and to adjoining properties. Pedestrian access to public sidewalk will be
required.
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Site planning amenities include increased landscaping when parking is adjacent to the
street, providing pedestrian amenities such as pedestrian furniture, transit stop, and/or
decorative screen wall. More detailed description may be found at Section 18.36.040 (J).
Pedestrian areas at building entries include weather protection, landscaping, benches,
window displays. More detailed description may be found at Section 18.60.050.
Building design includes balconies, bay windows, gable or hipped roof or other features to
present human scale, and materials and color include matted finish, pre-finished roofing,
and other building features. More detailed description may be found at Chapter 18.61.
Chain link fencing is not allowed when visible from the street.
Front yard setback is 15 feet, side yard 10 feet and rear yard setback is 20 feet. Maximum
building height is 40 feet.
Potable Water
The property is located in the City of Yelm’s water service area. There is an 8” water main in
Access Way “A” and the parking lot north of the commercial pads. Domestic meter setters
are also installed north and south of the pads; however, RPBAs have not been installed.
Water connections are based on a consumption rate of 875 cubic feet a month. The Civil
engineer shall provide estimated water calculations at the time of civil plan review to
determine the number of water connections needed to serve the project.
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.
Fire hydrants, with hydrant locks are required based on the International Fire Code. Specific
details will be reviewed at both land use application, and during civil plan review.
Waste Water
The property is located in the City of Yelm’s STEP sewer system service area. A 3” STEP Main
runs in Access Way “A” and a 2” STEP Main extends in Access Way “B” with an end of line
and blow off assembly.
Connection to City sewer service is required. Sewer connections are based on the water
consumption rate of 875 cubic feet a month.
Any on-site septic systems will need to be abandoned prior to site plan review approval.
Food preparation requires a grease interceptor to be installed. There are options for grease
interceptor size and location, based on the size of the use. The grease interceptor must be
designed by a licensed engineer and reviewed by the City. If additional water connections
are required, additional sewer connections will also be 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
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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.
All buildings and site improvements must meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
requirements.
FEES & CHARGES
LAND USE REVIEW
Administrative Site Plan Review $750*
Subdivision Amendment $375
SEPA $150
TIA Review Consultant Cost
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) (Increase expected in January 2021) $6,725
Traffic Facilities Charge (per new pm peak hr trip) $1,497
Fire Impact Fee (per new square foot) 0.36
*Multiple applications submitted concurrently, excluding Environmental, TIA, and annexations, are
charged on fee based on the highest permit fee.
These notes are based solely on the site plan and description submitted in February 2021. 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.