Friday March 16th at 12 noon at Smyth Landing Building
About a dozen neighbors, developers, designers and property owners were present for a discussion led by Sarah Smyth McIntosh. Current status of progress or lack of progress on the two clean up areas on Westbay Drive was presented. Kudos were given to the Hardel representative for their efforts on the old lumber mill site.
Then a general discussion evolved. We are all involved with property development at some level. No one is living in a cave. So how do we have reasonable development where the developer can have a return on the risk of the investment and the scenic beauty of Westbay could be preserved for the general public?
The center of the discussion focused on a public trails with the immense difficulties and building heights. The next time you drive along Westbay Drive try to imagine where you would put a sidewalk or public trail. The road literally squeezes through cliffs and drop offs. Even if developers created a trail on their private property how would that portion be connected to something meaningful? How many times would the trail have to cross the street?
Building height was another area of discussion. It was pointed out that height of a building should not be the issue but view impact is the actual concern. There are several sites along Westbay Drive that have undeveloped cliffs as backdrops. No one would have a view impacted by development. Should Westbay drive be ringed by 3 story buildings that take up 80% of the property or taller buildings that take up 30% of the property? Vancouver Canada came to my mind. They have several tall hotels with immense gaps between them.
The real joy of the meeting was that we could sit down and talk about development in Olympia for almost 2 hours without all the threats and emotion that surrounds so many meetings I have attended.
Steve Conway
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