9910 Durant Notes.docx
The City of Yelm is an equal opportunity employer and provider
PRE-SUBMISSION NOTES
APRIL 14, 2021
C&E Developments, LLC proposes a preliminary subdivision development on a 5.279-acre
parcel. The parcel is located at 9910 Durant Street SE, Tax Parcel number 21724420501.
CURRENT WATER SITUATION
The State Subdivision Act, Chapter 58.17 RCW, requires that the City of Yelm make a written
determination that appropriate provisions are made for potable water supplies as part of the
preliminary land division process.
While the City of Yelm has been proactive in water planning since 1994, when application was
made with the Washington Department of Ecology for water rights sufficient to serve the City
and its Urban Growth Area for 20 years of growth, the approval of these water rights by the
Washington Department of Ecology, the Pollution Control Hearings Board, and the Thurston
County Superior Court were overturned by the Washington State Supreme Court.
Recent legislation provides that there will be 5 municipal water rights pilot projects, one of
which is our water rights package. The project must be approved, and report back to a task
force. The City submitted its water rights application to Ecology on September, 21, 2020. It is
anticipated that the City will receive a Record of Examination in the near future.
DENSITY
The property is zoned Low-density Residential which allows residential uses at a density of up
to 4 units per acre. Duplexes are allowed at one duplex per one-third acre. Gross area includes
all land within the boundary of development, including open space, critical areas, buffers,
streets, and public right-of-way. Preliminary plans show .119 acres for ROW, providing a total
of 5.398 acres for development. A survey is required to determine actual acreage for
development purposes. Based on 5.398 acres, up to 22 single family units would be allowed.
The proposal is construct 4 duplexes which requires 1.34 acres, leaving 4.07 acres available
for single family, allowing 17 single family dwellings. In order to achieve additional units, the
subdivision must apply for a Planned Residential Development Zoning Overlay. The density
bonus for a PRD is 15%. 15% would be 4 units. Total Density allowed on this parcel with PRD
density bonus is 26 units.
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.
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Land Use
Preliminary subdivision with the Planned Residential Development overlay review process
includes notification of the application to surrounding property owners, and a public hearing
before the Hearing Examiner. 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.
(an administrative subdivision is up to 24 dwelling units, and does not require a public
hearing)
City staff reviews the application, and provides recommendation to the Hearing Examiner. The
Hearing Examiner will hear testimony from the City and Applicant, as well as any public that
may attend. The Hearing Examiner then takes the testimony under consideration and issues
a decision in 10 – 14 days.
The Preliminary subdivision process typically takes between 12 to 16 weeks. The Hearing
Examiners decision may be appealed to the Yelm City Council in a closed record hearing.
When the subdivision is constructed and approved, application for final subdivision can be
made.
Civil Plan Review
The City reviews site construction plans for constructability and consistency with the City's
engineering standards and details. Civil construction plans detail all the proposed site
improvements down to the size of water and sewer lines and the location of the water meter.
Civil plans must be prepared by an engineer licensed in the State of Washington.
The City may use a third party peer review service as well as a review by City staff. A first
review typically takes 3 to 4 weeks. Additional reviews may be needed depending on the
quality of the initial plans set.
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.
A first review of structural plans typically takes 2 to 3 weeks. Additional reviews may be
needed depending on the quality of the initial plan sets.
ENVIRONMENTAL
SEPA checklist and environmental review is required when the proposal creates more than
24 dwelling units, creates 25 or more new pm peak hour trips, and/or any landfill or
excavation permit for 1,000 or more cubic yards.
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. A preliminary analysis is required to determine
if there is evidence of gophers on site.
The SEPA checklist should include a trip generation analysis and a preliminary assessment
review for the Mazama Pocket Gopher.
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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).
CONSISTENCY WITH DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Site Design
Residential dwelling units require 2 off-street parking stalls.
Mailboxes for the site shall be cluster box units (CBU) and placed on site.
Building setbacks are 15-feet front, 5-feet side and 25 feet rear. Flanking yards (corner lots)
require 15 foot front and side yard.
Landscaping
Perimeter landscape is required, and typically includes an 8-foot planter strip with a
combination of evergreen and deciduous trees, with shrubs and ground cover. For residential
subdivisions, a solid wood fence may be considered.
Streets are landscaped with planter strips and street trees.
Above ground stormwater facilities require a perimeter landscape.
Open Space
Single family developments require 5% of the gross area in common open space. Interior open
space shall be dedicated to the homeowner’s association, and at a minimum provide usable
space for active as well as passive recreation, convenient access, maintaining existing trees
and significant vegetation and landscaping.
Conserving the pedestrian pathway of old Durant Street, and enhancing the open space at
access to the trail from the development meets the open space requirements as well as
superior amenities requirement of the PRD. No additional open space is required.
Transportation
Connection from Durant Drive to the new road constructed by Wyndstone is required.
Each lot within a proposed subdivision shall be served by a street built to applicable city
standards. Internal streets are considered Local Access Residential, which require 11-foot
drive lanes, 7.5 foot parking lanes, 6-foot planter strip and 5-foot sidewalk (one side). The
proposed plan does not meet this requirement at lots 1 and 11.
Yelm Development guidelines require that street intersections shall intersect as nearly as
possible at right angles (within 15 degrees.
Potable Water
Connection to City water service is required to serve the development. Water mains are
required to be extended along all property frontages and internal streets.
Fire hydrants, with hydrant locks are required based on the International Fire Code.
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Any existing well(s) on the property must be decommissioned pursuant to Department of
Ecology standards and any water rights associated with these wells shall be dedicated to the
City of Yelm.
Cross connection control is required for any onsite irrigation systems.
Waste Water
Connection to City sewer service is required to serve the development. Sewer mains are
required to be extended along all property frontages and internal streets. Any existing on-site
sewage disposal system(s) will need to be abandoned.
The City of Yelm operates a Septic Tank Effluent Pumping (STEP) sewer system which includes
a treatment tank on the property with effluent being pumped to the Wastewater Reclamation
Facility for further treatment and reutilization. In some cases, duplex or other multi-family units
may share a STEP tank.
Storm Water
The City does not operate a storm water collection and treatment system, so storm water 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 to the City
for review as part of the civil plan review process. The City has adopted the most recent
version of the Washington State Department of Ecology Storm Water Manual.
BUILDING DESIGN
Building setbacks are 15-feet front, 5-feet side and 25 feet rear. Flanking yards (corner lots)
require 15 foot front and side yard. 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.
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FEES & CHARGES
LAND USE REVIEW
Preliminary Subdivision $2,000
SEPA $150
(Administrative Subdivision $750)
CIVIL PLAN REVIEW
Civil Plan Submission $250
+ $54 per hour
Consultant Review Actual Cost
BUILDING PERMIT REVIEW
Plan Review Based on value
Building Permit Based on value
Sewer SDC $6,394
Water SDC $6,725
Transportation Facility Charge(new pm peak hr trip) $1,497
SFR = 1.01 trips $1,511
Fire Impact Fee (per square foot) 0.36
School Impact Fee SFR $4,500
**Fees subject to change
These notes are based solely on the site plan and description submitted March 26, 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 proposed project with all regulations.
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18.64.020 Planned residential development.
A planned residential development encourages imaginative design and the creation of
permanent open space by preserving or creating environmental amenities superior to those
generally found in conventional developments, and by preserving to the greatest possible
extent the natural characteristics of the land, including topography, natural vegetation,
waterways, and views. For single family residential developments, the inclusion of a variety of
housing types such as duplexes or townhomes may qualify for density bonuses listed below.
A. Density Bonus. The city may approve an increase in the dwelling unit density up to:
1. In the low density district, fifteen percent, rounded to the nearest whole number.
2. In the moderate density district, twenty percent, rounded to the nearest whole number.
3. In the high density district, twenty-five percent, rounded to the nearest whole number.
B. Subdivision Requirements. A planned residential development shall be exempt from the
specific design requirements of a standard subdivision, except that when any parcel of land
in a planned residential development is intended for individual ownership, sale, or public
dedication, procedural and applicable state laws pertaining to the subdivision and
conveyance of land and the preparation of maps shall be followed.
C. Relationship of Planned Residential Development Site to Adjacent Areas. The design of a
planned residential development shall take into account the relationship of the site to the
surrounding areas. The perimeter of the planned residential development shall be designed
to minimize undesirable impact of the planned residential development on adjacent
properties and, conversely, to minimize undesirable impact of adjacent land use and
development characteristics on the planned residential development.
D. Buildings may have common walls and, therefore, be built to the property line as in
townhouse construction. Wherever buildings are separated, a minimum distance of 10 feet
shall be maintained between such buildings.
E. Landscaping. Natural landscape features which are to be preserved, such as existing trees,
drainage ways, rock outcroppings, etc., may be accepted as part of the landscaping plan when
such natural features contribute to the attractiveness of the proposed development.
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18.64.050 Townhouse development.
It is the intent of this section to provide for the development of townhouses within residential
neighborhoods which may be conveyed as individually owned, separately platted lots. A
townhouse is a one-family dwelling unit which is part of a group of two or more such units
separated by common party walls having no doors, windows or other provisions for human
passage or visibility through the common walls. Each one-dwelling unit in a townhouse is
attached by not more than two party walls.
A. Density Standards and Uses.
1. Density Bonus. The city may approve an increase in the dwelling unit density up to:
a. In the low density district, fifteen percent, rounded to the nearest whole number.
b. In the moderate density district, twenty percent, rounded to the nearest whole number.
c. In the high density district, twenty-five percent, rounded to the nearest whole number.
2. No more than four abutting townhouses or townhouse clusters within the townhouse
project site shall have a common front building setback. Variations in the setback of front
building faces shall be at least four feet.
3. No townhouse dwelling unit shall be located closer than 25 feet to any public right-of-way
nor within 15 feet of a private drive, access road or common open parking area to the front or
rear of such a dwelling unit.
4. Every lot containing a townhouse must provide each unit private space of at least 200
square feet, oriented to either the building front, rear and/or side, enclosed visually by fences
or walls at least five feet in height or plantings to screen first level views from adjacent units.
This space can include porches, patios and decks.
5. The minimum side yard requirement for end dwelling units in townhouse groups shall be
the same as the underlying zone. For all dwelling units other than end dwelling units in
subdivided townhouse developments, the common walls shall be designed with zero lot lines.
6. No portion of a townhouse, accessory structure or other building type in or related to one
group or cluster of contiguous townhouses shall be nearer than 10 feet to any portion of a
townhouse or accessory structure of another townhouse building or cluster.
8. When the only driveway is from the street, each pair of units must share a common curb
cut.
9. Conversion of existing structures to a townhouse project will be permitted provided all
townhouse development standards as outlined in this section can be satisfied.