8190APP
July 24, 2025
Mrs. Elene Newby
15105 Longmire St. SE
Yelm, WA 98597
Re: Preliminary Short Plat Approval for SHS-98190-YL
Dear Mrs. Newby:
The City of Yelm has completed its review of the above referenced project. Preliminary short
plat approval is granted based upon the following findings of fact. Final Short Approval can
be obtained upon satisfactory completion of all conditions of approval stated hereafter.
Open Space
Finding: Yelm Municipal Code (YMC) 16.14.040(B)(C) requires all single family residential
developments dedicate a minimum of five percent (5%) of the gross area of the proposed
development for open space or pay a fee in lieu of open space dedication as provided in YMC
16.14.060. The park fee-in-lieu provision of the City Code provides for the acquisition,
development, and operation of the City’s park system consistent with the requirements of the
comprehensive plan to assure the community as a whole that adequate park facilities will in fact
be present in a timely fashion, consistent with City standards.
Conclusion: City staff has determined that the dedication of open space at this time does not
meet the intent of Ordinance 516 and is not in the best interest of the City. The site’s future
potential for urban development at densities of four units per acre is significant. Therefore,
dedication of open space shall occur at such any time further developed of lots one (1) and/or
two (2) beyond one single family residence per lot.
Conditions of Approval:
a. The applicant shall note on the face of the plat:
Further development of lot one or two shall require the dedication of open space,
per current open space standards.
Transportation
Finding: Yelm is a small compact community most directly affected by two state highways which
bisect the community. The two state highways are used by local residents for transportation
throughout the city and for access to commercial and residential areas throughout the
community. In lieu of widening existing streets, the City has elect to create certain alternatives,
Y-1, Y-2, Y-3 which will avoid the need to significantly widen existing streets, and particularly
Yelm Avenue. New developments do in fact burden the city’s central streets, and unless the
bypass alternatives are accomplished, the City would have to require developers to pay the cost
of the internal street widening. The city plans show and the City finds that adequate facilities
will be accomplished better and in a timely fashion by bypass facilities as a substitute for the
widening of existing facilities. As a result, the City finds that the regional plans in fact benefit
projects in all areas on the City and will accomplish the goal of providing adequate facilities to
City standards within a reasonable time to serve the demands created by the proposed project.
Conclusion: The final short plat will create one additional single family lot, resulting in 1.01 new
pm peak hour trips to the Yelm transportation system. Per the Yelm Development Guidelines
the current street fronting the site does not meet City standards.
Conditions of Approval:
a. The applicant shall mitigate traffic impacts to the transportation system. Mitigation
includes payment of the Transportation Facility Charge (TFC) for 1.01 new pm peak
hour trips generated per new unit. Lot two (2) will be required to pay the transportation
fee for 1.01 new trips ($757.50) at time of building permit issuance.
b. Future development of lot one (1) and/or two (2) shall require the ingress/egress
easement for lot two (2) be dedicated and constructed to public street standards.
Water Supply
Finding: The City’s Water Comprehensive Plan identifies a portion of the City area for service.
The City is pursuing additional land areas for approval and the extension of facilities.
Completion of such activities is dependent on grant and developer funding, as well as planned
bonding and existing public funds. The status of such plans and funding sources must be
considered in any review of concurrency. Developer extensions and or dedications, latecomer
agreements, oversizing agreements, and the creation of local improvement districts may all be
considered. In the event of a new funding source, however, concurrency is not found until the
funding source is in fact in place - e.g award of a grant, a binding letter commitment for third
parting funding, or the successful formation of a local improvement district. Any necessary
water rights are considered, only after approved for municipal use by the Washington State
Department of Ecology, or appropriate appeals board, and the time for appeal or challenge has
expired.
Conclusion: The project site is not in the City water service area and water is not available at
this time.
Conditions of Approval:
a. Thurston County Environmental Health shall approve of the water system for lot two.
b. Future development in excess of one residential unit per lot shall not occur until the site
is within the water service area and will require the connection to the City Water System.
Sewer System
Finding: The City’s Sewer Comprehensive Plan identifies a portion of the City area for service.
The City is pursuing additional land areas or approval and the extension of facilities.
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Completion of such activities is dependent on grant and developer funding, as well as planned
bonding and existing public funds. The status of such plans and funding sources must be
considered in any review of concurrency. Developer extensions and or dedications, latecomer
agreements, oversizing agreements, and the creation of local improvement districts may all be
considered. In the event of a new funding source, however, concurrency is not found until the
funding source is in fact in place - e.g award of a grant, a binding letter commitment for third
parting funding, or the successful formation of a local improvement district.
Conclusion: The short plat site is not in the City sewer service area. Sewer service is not
available to the site.
Condition of Approval:
a. Thurston County Environmental Health shall approve the on-site waste water system for
lot two.
b. Future development in excess of one residential unit per lot shall not occur until the site
is within the sewer service area and will require the connection to the City S.T.E.P.
Sewer System.
Property Address
Finding: RCW 58.17.280 requires all lots within a short subdivision to be addressed prior to
final plat approval.
Condition of Approval: The applicant shall submit a final blue-line plat map to the City for
review. At such time the City will address lot two (2). The respective address for each lot shall
be clearly noted on the face of the final mylar plat map.
Final Short Plat
Finding: The final short plat is required to be prepared in compliance with the City of Yelm
Short Subdivision Code (YMC 16.12).
Condition of Approval: The final short plat shall clearly demonstrate the satisfactory completion
of all conditions of approval stated herein, and shall be prepared and filed in compliance with
the requirements of YMC 16.12. The final plat must be surveyed and shall be prepared on a
standard Mylar sheet.
Preliminary short subdivision approval is good for five (5) years from the date hereof. If you
need additional information or assistance, please call me at 458-8408.
Sincerely,
Catherine Carlson
City Planner
cc: Craig Hansen
Janet Enlow
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Shelly Badger
Ken Garmann
Jerry Prock
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