The Challenge

A developer is seeking to have a proposed rezone approved under Washington State's Shoreline Management Act and Growth Management Acts. The developer wants to develop view blocking multi-million dollar condominiums on the Western Isthmus; the narrow strip of land between downtown Olympia and Olympia's west side. These condos would interrupt the historic view from Washington State's Capitol Campus to Budd inlet and the Olympic Mountains; the mountains for which Olympia is named.

• Picture of "Current Situation"

• Pending Olympia Isthmus rezone amendment to the current Olympia Comprehensive Plan and Thurston County Shoreline Master Program, the height limitation is 35 feet, except for the 42 feet for the small office building near the Capital Lake Dam and the 112 foot Capital Center Building with roof top mechanical room.

• Picture of "What the developers want!"

• Pending Olympia Isthmus rezone to go from 35 foot height limitation found in the current 1994 Olympia Comprehensive Plan and Thurston County Shoreline Master Program to 42 feet and allow up to maximum 90 height plus allowance for rooftop mechanical room.

• Picture of "What Olympia Capital Park Foundation Board members want!" (enlargeable picture)

• Olympia Isthmus Park and related amenities and retaining 35 foot height limitation found in the current 1994 Olympia Comprehensive Plan with more Olympia multi-family housing development east of Water Street.