500-Unit Subdivision Held Up in Olympia

The Olympia City Council sent the proposed D.R. Horton subdivision, to include 500 new homes, back to the city's hearing examiner and staff for further consideration and public input on Tuesday night, by a unanimous vote.  The proposal was first submitted in 2005 and, as is typical of a development of this size, was controversial from the start.  The site is located at 3355 Morse-Merryman Road S.E. and would contain both single and multi-family housing.  The proposal is anticipated to be back in front of the Council this coming Tuesday.

Shoreline Master Program Updates

King, Pierce and Thurston Counties (among others) are each in the midst of updating their Shoreline Master Programs.  SMPs consist of policies, goals and regulations for land use within shoreline areas, which includes Puget Sound shorelines, plus the shorelines of rivers and lakes of sufficient size.  Such areas may extend beyond waterfront lots.  Changes to SMPs can have tremendous impacts on how properties can be developed within shoreline areas, including how existing structures may be modified, so property owners in such areas have a vested interest in the update process. 

The links below provide more official information on the respective county updates.  If you have questions about how your property might be impacted by changes, or by existing restrictions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

King County

Pierce County

Thurston County