Don't raise height limits on isthmus

To the Editor - The Olympian, February 22, 2008

The Olympia City Council should not consider changing the waterfront zoning to allow for buildings taller than 35 feet on the isthmus.

This area near the Heritage Park fountain was limited to 35 feet after the 10-story building was constructed on Fifth Avenue. The previous Olympia commission established the 35-foot height after they saw what a mistake it was to allow very tall buildings. Several attempts over the years to change the zoning to allow taller buildings have met with strong public disapproval each time.

More than 800 people came to a public hearing that was moved to The Washington Center for the Performing Arts to voice their disapproval in a rezoning attempt to allow taller buildings near the waterfront. Ninety-eight percent of these residents did not want a rezoning to higher limits on the waterfront.

There is more than enough land to build high-rise buildings. Over 90 percent of downtown is available for taller buildings from the Olympia Farmers Market to the Capitol Campus, all the way to Eastside Street. The City Council should not consider any developer's proposal to change waterfront zoning.

The energy consumed by the city and the public to confront another attempt by a developer to rezone land for their benefit would be better used in more productive endeavors. Leave the waterfront height limit at 35 feet.

John Newman, Olympia