Olympia council moves forward with Garfield Avenue right-of-way vacation despite neighborhood safety concerns

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 proposed to be vacated is 1,000 square feet,” Dreler said.

Neighbor Joel Finch, who lives on Sherman and Garfield, testified in opposition, describing the block as steep, without sidewalks or street sweeping, and a place where pedestrians are often funneled into the roadway. “That block is very steep… There’s no maintenance. It’s you’re funneled as a pedestrian into the middle of the road, and you have no line of sight over the crest of that hill,” Finch said, questioning why the owner should receive additional lot area at half the assessed rate.

Public Works Director Mark Russell told councilors the city requires frontage improvements and staff has reserved room for the planned roadway section at that location. “A sidewalk would be required on the frontage of this particular parcel, and we are reserving enough room,” Russell said, adding that transportation staff will push for building the sidewalk at the corner because it connects to existing sidewalks.

Council members asked whether the two adjacent undeveloped lots are owned by the same applicant and whether the city’s long‑standing practice of charging 50% of the appraised value was appropriate for this case. Dreler confirmed the lots are owned by the same person and said the city typically charges half the appraised value unless statutory exemptions apply.

Council member Gilman moved to approve the petition, direct staff to prepare a vacation ordinance, and require payment of one‑half the appraised value. After further discussion and staff clarifications that a vote tonight only directed staff to return with an ordinance and did not finalize the vacation, the council approved the motion 6–1; Mayor Pro Tem Nguyen recorded the lone nay.

City Manager Jay Bernie said staff will answer the outstanding questions raised during the hearing and return the item — likely as consent or business item — with a staff report and a proposed ordinance in January. The ordinance would be the final action to approve the vacation.

What’s next: Staff will return with a formal vacation ordinance and more detail on payment and sidewalk requirements. Council members urged staff to consult transportation staff and to follow up with the neighbor who testified so outstanding safety concerns can be considered before final approval.

Authorities cited in the presentation include Olympia Municipal Code chapter 12.16.100 and RCW chapter 35.79, which govern vacation procedures and compensation.

(Reporting based on the City Council meeting transcript, Dec. 9, 2025.)