Council approves Capital Mall Triangle design standards and planned‑action ordinance; councilmember abstains citing insufficient community benefits

The Olympia City Council on second reading approved two ordinances related to redevelopment of the Capital Mall Triangle: an ordinance adopting the 2025 Capital Mall Triangle engineering design and development standards (amendment to Olympia Municipal Code chapter 12.02) and an ordinance amending municipal code Titles 14 and 18 to establish a planned action for the Capital Mall Triangle subarea.

Both ordinances were moved, seconded and adopted on second reading during the consent calendar. Councilmember Gilman announced she would abstain on both items and used her opportunity on the floor to explain why she would not give an affirmative vote. Gilman told colleagues she had reread notes and correspondence accumulated over three years and remained unconvinced the city had secured adequate community benefits or protected priorities raised by…