-q
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014 -Mason County Journal- Page A-11
Parking, public plaza 'paradise' on Railroad?
Eity, MTA,
conservation
district propose
partnership
By GORDON WEEKS
gordon@masoncoun com
Kathy Geist probably
didn't intend to inject a
Joni Mitchell song into
the heads of the attend-
ees of the Shelton City
Commission's meeting
Monday.
But the manager of
Mason Transit Authori-
ty's Transit-Community
Center quoted the Ca-
nadian songbird's catchy
1970 hit "Little Yellow
Taxi" when she told the
commission that MTA
doesn't want to simply
"pave paradise and put
up a parking lot" next to
its Transit-Community
Center.
The city of Shelton,
MTA and Mason Con-
servation District have
proposed a joint partner-
ship to seek a grant to
develop an outdoor pla-
za and parking lot at the
intersection of Railroad
Avenue and Sixth Street
behind MTA's Transit-
Community Center,
which is scheduled to
open in February.
The commission gave
preliminary approval
Monday to seek a grant
from this year's Storm-
water Financial Assis-
tance program offered
by the state Department
of Ecology. The agree-
ment is scheduled to be
part of the commission's
consent agenda at Mon-
day's study session.
Under the proposal,
Journal photo by Gordon Weeks
The city of Shelton, Mason Transit Authority and Mason Conservation District are proposing to
partner together to seek a grant to develop an outdoor plaza and parking lot behind MTA's Transit-
Community Center at Railroad Avenue and Sixth Street.
the city's Public Works
Department would sub-
mit a proposal by Nov.
7 and act as the grant's
administrator if the
project receives funding.
Mason Conservation
District and MTA would
work as partners with
the city to design and
implement the project
beginning in spring 2016
and estimates it could be
completed by June 2020.
The project would
involve designing and
retrofitting construc-
tion of an MTA-owned
gravel parking lot into
a "state-of-the-art green
stormwaterflow-impact
development facil-
ity." The site would be a
"green-built" parking lot
for MTA customers dur-
ing the day and a public
plaza space for events in
the evening.
The proposal sug-
gests the plaza could be
used for a farmers mar-
ket, seasonal craft fair,
summer evening mov-
ies, concerts and other
events,
Geist told the com-
mission she envisions
the need for more park-
ing next to the future
TOO LATE TO
CLASSIFY
1993 CHEVY COLORADO
great condition with canopy.
253-686-0797 (Mc 10-23)
transit center once it is
completed.
Part of the lot has
long been used for park-
ing, with access by foot
off Railroad Avenue
along what looks like
"a cow path" next to
Blondie's Restaurant,
she said.
Residents have told
her they've used that
path as an access route
for decades, Geist said.
Under the proposed
plan, the path would
remain to guide people
into the center, she
said.
The parking lot/plaza
concept would utilize
green stormwater infra-
structure techniqaes.
None of the stormwater
runs into city systems,
Geist said.
"It should be a nice
amenity," she said.
"It's local govern-
ments working together
to share resources," said
John Bolender, district
manager for the Mason
Conservation District.
The district has talented
engineers and architects
to work on the project,
he added.
The city is getting
involved because only
a city or county can ap-
ply for the Stormwater
Financial Assistance
grant, said Greg Clark,
the city's Public Works
Department director.
"It's a win-win for all
three agencies and cer-
tainly for the communi-
ty," he said.
Shelton City Commis-
sioner Mike Olsen asked
whether the proposal
would make the parking
lot permanent.
"It could be prime
retail (space) there," he
said.
Bolender said the
stormwater system
would have a lifetime of
about 15 years and the
site could be used for
something else in the fu-
ture.
"It won't be locked
away in perpetuity," he
said.
ET BACK
INTHE
,SAD D LE
better resolved throu pal :ee: replacemefil;
presents fewer risks, needs about half the recovery, time and
results in a more normal feeling knee. Repairing only the
Mome Zechmann, MD damaged areas of the joint can also avoid or delay the need
Orthopedic Surgo,, for total knee replacement.
Join us for a free seminar with Dr. Jerome
Zechmann to learn if partial knee replacement
may be the choice for you!
CAPITAL
MEDICAL CENTER
Your Community Hospital
Tuesday, October 28 • 6 p.m.
Register today by calling 1-800-798-5143
3900 Capital Mall Dr, SW, Olympia • 360-754-5858 • 888-677-9757 • capitalmedical.com
