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Olympia council moves forward with Garfield Avenue right-of-way vacation despite neighborhood safety concerns
Summary
After a public hearing that raised pedestrian-safety and maintenance concerns, the Olympia City Council voted 6–1 to direct staff to prepare a vacation ordinance for a 10-foot, 1,000‑sq‑ft portion of Garfield Avenue right-of-way and require payment equal to half the appraised value.
Olympia — The Olympia City Council voted on Dec. 9 to direct staff to prepare an ordinance to vacate a 10‑foot‑wide, roughly 1,000‑square‑foot portion of right-of-way along Garfield Avenue at West Bay Drive, advancing a developer’s request while drawing concern from neighbors about pedestrian safety and long-term street planning.
Adam Dreler, the city surveyor, told the council the strip proposed to be vacated is on the south side of Garfield Avenue and would support construction of two single‑family homes. He said frontage improvements, including sidewalks, are required under Olympia Municipal Code chapter 12.16.100 and that state law (RCW chapter 35.79) limits compensation in typical cases to up to 50% of appraised value.
“Here is one of the exhibits which shows a 10 foot wide area proposed to be vacated … The total area…
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