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Olivia council adopts amended future land-use map and begins rezoning process for older neighborhoods
Summary
Council adopted Resolution 45 to amend the comprehensive plan’s future land-use map—reclassifying older, smaller lots from R1 to R2 to reflect existing development and encourage infill—and completed a first reading of an ordinance to update the zoning map with a public hearing scheduled.
The Olivia City Council approved Resolution 45 to amend the city’s future land-use map, reclassifying selected older blocks from R1 (low-density) to R2 (higher-density) to align zoning with existing lot patterns and promote infill development.
Staff told the council these areas were platted historically with smaller lot sizes and narrower setbacks that do not align well with current R1 standards. The map amendment is intended to recognize the existing urban fabric and reduce the need for individual variances in older neighborhoods.
Following the resolution vote, the council completed the first reading of Ordinance 8, which would amend the official zoning map to rezone the affected parcels from R1 to R2. Council also approved Resolution 46 to call a public hearing on the proposed ordinance, beginning the formal zoning-change process necessary to convert the land-use plan into the enforceable zoning map.
City staff said the change keeps the comprehensive plan’s goals—encouraging housing variety and walkability—while avoiding repeated variance requests for homeowners in historically platted areas. The council recorded the motion and passed Resolution 45 during the meeting; the ordinance will return for additional readings and a public hearing before final adoption.
What happens next: the public hearing called under Resolution 46 will give residents an opportunity to comment on the specific parcels identified in Exhibit A. If the council adopts Ordinance 8 after the hearing and required readings, the zoning map will be updated to reflect the R2 designation for the identified blocks.
