Design Board Backs 228-Unit Western Trails Project
Olympia's Design Review Board recommended conceptual approval of a proposed multifamily development on Sleater Kinney Road NE, with three conditions attached.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Landscaping
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The Olympia Design Review Board recommended approval of the conceptual design for Western Trails, a proposed 228-unit multifamily development at 607 and 709 Sleater Kinney Road NE. The recommendation was made at a meeting on Nov. 5 and will be forwarded to the Olympia Community Development director for further review.
Why it matters
The recommendation moves the project forward while requiring revisions to perimeter landscaping, lighting and the 6th Avenue pedestrian entrance. It shapes how the site's driveways, parking areas and walkways will appear and function for nearby residents in Olympia.
The proposal covers 228 units across eight three-story residential buildings, a leasing office, garage structures and pedestrian paths. The board attached three design conditions and did not require a reduction in parking, and final review by the Community Development director is still pending.
The players
Olympia Design Review Board
The Olympia Design Review Board is the city panel that reviews the design of proposed developments against local design criteria before they advance.
Rockefeller Group
The Rockefeller Group is a real estate development firm that presented the Western Trails project plans to the review board.
Sage Homes
Sage Homes is a residential homebuilder that appeared alongside the Rockefeller Group in presenting the Western Trails plans.
The details
The board adopted the staff recommendation without requiring changes to the overall site layout, which includes a proposed roundabout near 6th Avenue and Sleater Kinney Road. Representatives of the Rockefeller Group and Sage Homes said plans include landscaped islands and a planted pedestrian connection between the garage structures.
Timeline
Nov. 5: Design Review Board meets and recommends conceptual design approval for Western Trails.
Landscaping Context
Olympia's multifamily design criteria require staff to review perimeter landscaping and visual impact of parking and driveways before approval. The Western Trails review applies those standards to a 228-unit site, asking for revised landscaping to soften the view of parking areas along Sleater Kinney Road NE.
Residents near Sleater Kinney Road NE may see revised landscaping and lighting plans shape how the site looks and how traffic moves once construction proceeds. Pedestrians may notice a more recognizable 6th Avenue entrance if the final conditions are adopted.
The takeaway
Design conditions on landscaping, lighting and entrances can change how a large development fits its surroundings, so readers following local projects should watch the Community Development director's decision on these revisions.
What happens next
The recommendation will be forwarded to the Olympia Community Development director for further review, though no date for that review was provided.
Further reading
For more on how landscaping shapes local projects, explore Landscaping coverage in Olympia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by - The JOLT News Organization, A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization.
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