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08/26/22 09 AM: Board Approves 42-Year OlyCAP Lease for Caswell-Brown Housing Site

Board Approves 42-Year OlyCAP Lease for Caswell-Brown Housing Site

The Board unanimously approved a revised 42-year lease with Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) for 21.81 acres at Caswell-Brown Village to develop emergency shelter, transitional, and permanent supportive housing for unhoused persons. Revisions addressed property boundaries, trail safety, parking exclusion, permits, and County access. Approved after staff presentation and public comment on a minor typo.

Approval of 42-Year Lease Agreement with OlyCAP for Caswell-Brown Village Site

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:04:01.388–00:20:37.396 (PART 1)
  • Categories: contracts, land use, planning, services

Summary

The Board reviewed and approved a revised 42-year lease with Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) for approximately 21.81 acres at the Caswell-Brown Village site southeast of S.R. 20 and Mill Road, enabling OlyCAP to develop and operate facilities for emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing for unhoused persons, including Phase 3 funded by a Washington State Department of Commerce grant requiring 40+ years of site control. Revisions incorporated Public Works input on property boundaries, a 5-foot buffer inward from the Larry Scott Trail easement, exclusion of a proposed parking lot from leased premises, safety improvements to sharp trail curves (e.g., less severe turning radii shown on Exhibit 2), a new Section 7G requiring OlyCAP to obtain permits, and a new Section 4.5 allowing County access road construction to adjacent parcels without interfering with OlyCAP operations. The lease was approved unanimously after staff presentation, one public comment on a typographical error, and brief board discussion appreciating collaborations.

Key Discussion Points

  • Philip Hunsucker (Chief Civil Deputy Attorney): Detailed lease revisions including definitions of proposed parking lots, exceptions to leased premises (Larry Scott Trail easement plus 5 feet inward, southern boundary areas, proposed parking lot), replacement of "Larry Scott Trail" with "easement" throughout, Section 7G on OlyCAP permit responsibilities (language from Barbara Ehrlichman), and new Section 4.5 for County road access to adjacent parcels (Parcels 001162002, 001162003, 001162004, 001162015, 001161001) per Public Works standards with OlyCAP input.
  • Philip Hunsucker: Presented Exhibits 1 and 2 showing parcel (described as Apollo-shaped), trail safety changes (smoother curves at apex and east/west sides due to prior crash), proposed parking lot location (jutting into current boundary line, to be discussed further between Public Works and OlyCAP).
  • Heidi Eisenhour (Commissioner, Chair): Expressed gratitude to Public Works (John Fleming, Eric) and OlyCAP for rapid revisions and partnership.
  • Kate Dean (Commissioner): Appreciated revisions and collaborations but expressed concern that gentler trail curves may reduce traffic calming, potentially increasing speeds for bikes/pedestrians; noted as largely outside lease scope.
  • Greg Brotherton (Commissioner): Echoed appreciation for Public Works, Prosecutor's Office, and OlyCAP; noted prior discussions on trail re-engineering.
  • Additional comments praised trail safety improvements due to past severe crashes and suggested signage for curves.

Public Comments

  • Mr. Tier: Noted typographical error ("end of leaseof no space Certain real property") on page 24 of posted lease document; described as minor scrivener's error.

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • Lease document revisions finalized post-August 22 workshop, incorporating Public Works diagrams (Exhibits 1-2) for trail modifications, boundary shifts, and parking exclusion; leased premises exclude Larry Scott Trail easement + 5-foot buffer, southern areas, and proposed parking lot.
  • Prior Professional Services Agreement (September 2021) for Phases 1-2 unhoused management; Phase 3 requires 42-year lease for grant eligibility.
  • Board directed removal of lease-purchase option (August 1 workshop).
  • OlyCAP's Sharon Sheriff's Cron Miller signed document; staff to correct noted typo post-approval.

Financials

  • Base Rent: $10.00 annually, due October 1; $1.00 late charge.
  • Additional Rent: OlyCAP pays any County assessments, fees, or taxes (e.g., fire protection, noxious weeds) arising from property ownership.
  • Fiscal impact unknown; County loses rental/development value of premises for 42 years, offset by unhoused shelter location.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: "Approve the lease with OlyCAP as presented today" (motion by Greg Brotherton, seconded).
  • Vote: Unanimous (Ayes: all; no Nays or Abstentions recorded).
  • Next Steps:
  • Correct scrivener's error (extra space on page 24) and execute lease (Effective Date = last signature).
  • Public Works and OlyCAP to discuss proposed parking lot location and County access road details.
  • OlyCAP to proceed with Washington State Department of Commerce grant application (end-of-August 2022 deadline).

Background Materials

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