BP—Beyond Precaution—Part of ARCO

No more profiting from harmful activities!

Why doesn't government regulate against harmful activities? Why does government serve to enable environmental destruction, societal oppression (racism, ageism, sexism, et al.)? Why is government in cahoots with the most tremendous abuses and violence of the day?

Is it time for a peoples' intervention?

If so, then what's that gonna look like?

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Olympia, Washington - The Olympia City Council and Executive Staff presided over a public hearing regarding the Isthmus interim rezone. About 35 people made comments. I would estimate there were about 80 people in attendance. The meeting was held at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts.

At the City Council's first meeting back in the beginning of January, the Council took assertive and decisive action to revert zoning regulation on the Isthmus back to a 35 foot height limit. Last year, after a lengthy and divisive process, certain parcels on the Isthmus had been rezoned to 90 feet in order to allow development of a luxury condominium. This year's January vote in favor of reverting to the earlier 35 foot building height zoning regulation was unanimous, 7-0.

There will be a public hearing on the newly re-re-zoned Isthmus parcels tomorrow evening, February 23. The hearing will be at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Doors open for registration at 5 pm. Testimony begins at 6 pm. Registration to testify closes at 7 pm. All the pertinent details are on the City Website: Isthmus Rezone Public Hearing

Janine Gates has a nice report about the Design Review Board Meeting and Public Hearing regarding the Larida Passage / Pearl Water proposal.

Here's a link the story and a short excerpt:

Design Review Board Hears Larida Passage Application - Board Continues Meeting To December 17th

By Janine Gates
www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

After receiving two and a half hours of information and testimony, the city's citizen advisory committee charged with reviewing the design of Triway Enterprises’ Larida Passage project decided to continue tonight’s meeting to Thursday, December 17th.

City senior planner Cari Hornbein gave an overview of the project with staff recommendations, the applicant gave its presentation, represented by project manager Jeannette Hawkins and three others, and an overflow gathering of concerned citizens gave testimony until 9:00 p.m. Seventeen members of the public gave testimony against the project design. Two approved of the project: former city councilmembers Holly Gadbaw and Joan Machlis.

“Normally, we get zero members of the public….” started Design Review Board chair Thomas Carver, looking out at the crowd. The nine member board had two absent members.

LNG stands for liquid natural gas.

Here's a video from October 2008 of a No LNG rally at the State Capitol in Olympia, Washington.

Here's a comment I just submitted in regard to a building permit request for Larida Passage. It is edited slightly for syntax and clarity. In addition to the comments below, I want to add another reason to not grant the permit; it's my understanding that there is currently litigation underway over the rezone. That's not to mention that there are also a number of regulatory hurdles to clear in regard to environmental and aesthetic impacts.

-- So, this is my understanding of the situation in relation to the building permit request, please chime in to correct if I am wrong about any of that! I am not an expert in the development and planning industries. I suppose that it makes sense that a permit request would precede the public hearing process regarding impacts.

To:        Cari Hornbeim, Senior Planner
City of Olympia
Olympia, WA 98507-1967

From:    Berd Whitlock
[address redacted]

There has been a lot of discussion in the environmental community about proposed development on the North Point of the Port Peninsula. Janine Gates has an article a recent open house here: Potential NorthPoint Developer Has Not Seen City Sea-Level Rise Maps, Data

Sponsored by BRICK (Building Revolution by Increasing Community Knowledge).

VANDANA SHIVA TO SPEAK IN OLYMPIA--SPSCC
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2009
Time: 6:30PM - 9:30PM PDT
Location: Minnaert Center at SPSCC
2011 Mottman Rd SW
Olympia, WA 98512

Information provided by the TC ProNet Calendar

You may have already read Brad Shannon's article in the Olympian. Senator Karen Fraser's effort to prevent the Triway Rezone by amending House Bill 1379 ("Regarding moratoria and other interim official controls adopted under the shoreline management act") has been obstructed. But there are further efforts being undertaken to protect the Isthmus against inappropriate development. So, there is still hope. Have hope.

Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Overlook

Residents of Washington State, as well as out-of-state and international visitors, deserve a Capitol Campus vista that is unobstructed and unimpeded by commercial development.

Many of the Triway Rezone and Larida Passage proponents have said that the luxury high-rise condominium development will not harm the vista.