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WRF Presub Notes The City of Yelm is an equal opportunity employer and provider PRE-SUBMISSION NOTES MAY 21, 2021 The City of Yelm proposes to upgrade the existing Yelm Water Reclamation Facility located at 931 Northern Pacific Road SW Parcel 64300900400. The proposed upgrades include an addition to the current solids handling building and converting 2 of the 3 SBR basins to anoxic and aeration tanks. New construction in the development include a generator set, transformer, chemical building, headworks building, mechanical/electrical building, valve vault, and pump stations. 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 As the proposal, as submitted, is an allowed use in the Industrial zoning district, the project would be approved through the administrative site plan review process. An environmental checklist will be needed. The administrative site plan review process allows notification of the application to surrounding property owners, but does not trigger 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. After the review process, City staff will issue a threshold determination that the project will have no significant impact to the environment 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 will have significant environmental impacts or is inconsistent with City, County, or State development regulations. The administrative site plan review process typically takes between 8 to 12 weeks. The decision may be appealed to the City's Hearing Examiner. 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 Page 2 of 4 current Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington. See City of Yelm Civil Plan Review Checklist for requirements. 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. Buildings must be compliant with the City of Yelm development standards. ENVIRONMENTAL Based on the impacts of the development, the project as proposed requires a SEPA checklist and environmental review. Maps indicate the property contains soils more preferred 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. Preliminary reconnaissance of pocket gopher activity is required. If there is evidence of pocket gopher activity on the property, a critical areas report would then be required before the permit is processed. If a critical areas report is required, it must be prepared by a qualified professional. 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. While the site of the WRF is not in a flood zone, Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) indicate that a portion of the proposed construction access is within the 100 year floodplain of Yelm Creek. Recent documentation of best available science from FEMA indicate that the flood zone in this area should be removed from the FIRM. The City anticipates that approval of construction in the area shown on the FIRM would be allowed based on FEMA current findings. TRANSPORTATION Ingress and egress at the site shall be consistent with the Yelm Development Guidelines, Section 2.10.100. Vehicular access into the site will need to be reviewed. The project will require a commercial access per the Yelm Development Guidelines. The main access to the facility is currently off of Northern Pacific Road NW. During construction, the construction access road is proposed to go from Rhoton Rd SE through adjoining Parcel 64300800304 to the site. Page 3 of 4 Frontage improvements are required for all new development within the city. Northern Pacific Road NW is not constructed to City standards. A signed agreement for deferral of frontage improvements will be required as a condition of approval. PARKING Parking is required for City staff during the maintenance and operation of the facility. Section 18.54.030 YMC requires industrial uses to provide 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, and one space for each vehicle owned or operated by the company. If existing parking does not meet the above regulations, additional parking is required. SITE DESIGN Building setbacks are 15 feet from the rear, front and side yards. The maximum building height is forty (40) feet. Existing landscaping meets the minimum requirements of Chapter 18.55 YMC. If any landscaping is disturbed, it will need to be replaced. Service areas and outdoor storage shall be located away from neighboring properties and located behind the building. No refuse container shall be permitted between a street and the front of a building. Outdoor storage shall be maintained in an orderly manner consistent with good housekeeping practices and shall be effectively fenced and screened from all residential areas and public rights of way. The proposal includes a power generator. Appropriate screening should be installed, and noise levels must meet Chapter 173-60 WAC. POTABLE WATER The property is located in the City of Yelm’s water service area, and is currently connected to City water service. WASTE WATER The property is located in the City of Yelm’s STEP sewer system service area, and is connected to the City of Yelm’s STEP sewer system. 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). Page 4 of 4 BUILDING The building use will be reviewed for life/ safety, seismic design, accessibility and energy code requirements for its particular use. The site must provide Fire Department vehicle access. Access lane widths are determined by building size and height. This includes driveway radius at Northern Pacific Road NW and internally. FEES & CHARGES Fire Impact Fee (per new square foot) 0.36 These notes are based solely on the site plan and description submitted May, 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.