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Home My WebLink About1.0 Kalaloch Project DescriptionKalaloch Cabins Project Project Description Background Project Location The property is currently known as SeaCrest and is developed with 2 cabins currently used as vacation rentals. The property is approximately 23.52 acres and split into 5 separate parcels (APN: 413273006, 413273002, 413273007, 413273004, and 413273005.) The property is located within the Undesignated Rural Residential zone within Jefferson County’s West End Planning Area (WEPA) and within the Quinault Indian Nation’s reservation. The property is just North of the Queets River and approximately one half mile South of the Olympic National Park boundary. The property is also bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the West. Highway 101 runs North and South and bisects the property. Existing site conditions East of Highway 101 The portion of the property East of Highway 101 is approximately 4.11 acres and is relatively flat at approximately the same elevation as the highway. The site is mostly cleared with gravel placed over most of the property. The property is accessed directly from Highway 101 at its North end. West of Highway 101 The western portion of the property is split into 3 unique areas. 1) The portion furthest to the West is along the ocean and relatively flat and rocky with a significant amount of ocean debris such as logs. Within this area there is a relatively large wetland. 2) On the eastern boundary of the wetland there is a steep, treed slope that extends North and South from one end of the property to the other. 3) The top of the slope is approximately 80 ft in elevation. The portion of the property between the top of slope and Highway 101 is relatively long (North and South) and narrow (East and West). See the site plan in Appendix A. The portion of the property between the top of the slope and the highway is partially developed with 2 small cabins (one cabins is 702 square feet and the other cabin is 600 square feet). The cabins each have dedicated septic tank (2 total) and a shared leach field. There is also a shared propane tank for heating and cooking. Access to the existing cabins is off Highway 101 towards the North end of the property. A private gravel drive provides internal circulation. Previous Development Efforts . At one point there was an effort made to develop the site into an RV park or camp ground. Portions of the property were partially cleared for camp sites and access to the sites. The existing well and electrical infrastructure seems to have been sized to meet the demand of the full build out of the property. Proposed Project Overview The goal of the proposed project is to build 24 additional 1 bedroom luxury cabins for public use as short term rentals. The cabins will be built off site and set on the bluff between the top of slope and Highway 101. A preliminary site plan has been created with a goal of providing the best view possible from each cabin while impacting the property as little as possible. Existing conditions have been thoughtfully considered in the site plan development. Zoning The proposed project will still be zoned Rural Residential with a designation as a small-scale recreational and tourist uses per JCC section 18.20.350.1q. Parking and Access The natural topography of the site and the locations of the existing access roads were considered when determining the locations of the proposed access roads and parking areas. The existing roads and clearings will continue to be used for vehicle access. Instead of providing vehicle access at each cabin, there is a paved pedestrian path that connects clustered parking areas and the proposed cabins. The path also connects each cabin and provides access to each fire pit. The existing access point from Highway 101 is paved and provides for 2way traffic. The asphalt entrance transitions into a single lane, private gravel drive with turnouts and additional driveways approximately 150 ft apart. The existing gravel roads will be utilized to minimize the impacts to the property and minimize the total impervious area required for the proposed project. Parking spaces for the proposed cabins will be provided in or adjacent to existing clearings and along the existing gravel private drive. There is a ratio of 1 parking spot per cabin (assigning parking spaces is under consideration by the applicant) and will be located along the driveways with additional overflow parking spaces along the main drive. The additional overflow parking spaces increase the total parking ratio to 1.5 parking spaces per cabin. Cabins The proposed cabins are all 1-bedroomenergy-efficient luxury cabins. To minimize construction impacts, the cabins will be built-off site and placed onto foundations. Each cabin will also have a bathroom, small kitchen and a small living space. There will be two types of cabins. One type of cabin will be slightly larger and will be at grade with a 10 foot deck extending into the slope setback. The other type of cabin will be smaller and some will be elevated up to 5 feet off the ground to provide a “tree house” feel and maximize the view potential. These cabins will also have decks. The total cabin square footage (existing and proposed cabins combined will remain under the 12,000 square foot threshold imposed by the code.). The cabins have been placed in a way to minimize the clearing of mature trees and placed within existing clearings, when possible. The use of pier foundations will also minimize the impact to trees and other vegetation by reducing the required earthwork. Pier foundations will be drilled with an auger. The hole for each pier will be approximately 16 inches in diameter and 5 feet deep. Utilities Underground utilities will be installed within the limits of the existing private gravel drives and driveways and new pedestrian path whenever possible and will comply with separation standards set by the IBC, State of Washington and Jefferson County. Existing utilities will be utilized as much as possible to minimize construction impacts and ground and vegetation disturbance. Electrical Electrical infrastructure has already been installed for the site and it is believed the electrical infrastructure is adequate for the proposed project. This assumption will require verification through the design process. Each cabin will receive electrical power through underground trenching and conduits. Water The water quality and quantity produced by the existing well was tested and the results show the well is adequate for the project. A report has been prepared showing the findings of the well test and establishes that the project will remain below the 5,000 gallons per-day maximum usage threshold. (The report is attached as Appendix E). A water storage tank will be required for fire storage and water quality reasons and to provide a buffer for any peak demands (ensuring that the project will stay below a 5,000 gallon maximum draw in any given day). Each cabin will have a dedicated water service. Sewer A site investigation was conducted by Zenovic and Associates. It was determined by their team of engineers that a series of septic tanks and a common leach field is the best option for this property and project. The entire bluff section has approximately 6 feet of a top layer that is unsuitable for a leach field; accordingly, the southern portion of the property is the best location for the leach field. In this area, the applicant proposes to remove the top 6 feet of soil and replace with sand. (A narrative has been supplied by the septic designer, Zenovic and Associates, and included in Appendix F). Gas It is the applicant’s understanding the current cabins use propane as the primary source for heating and cooking. The applicant proposes to continue to use propane for heating and cooking in the existing cabins. The applicant is considering propane for the remaining cabins as well and will be compared to electrical heat and cooking options. Storm Water Added impervious area has been minimized through use of the existing private gravel drive and driveways. New impervious area will include the additional cabins and gravel parking stalls, the pedestrian path. Additionally, each cabin will include a splash pad to minimize erosion. A preliminary grading and drainage plan has been prepared as part of the preliminary site plan. The preliminary plan (Sheet 4 in Appendix A) shows 8,500 cubic feet of additional storage will be required to contain a 2 year, twenty-four hour rain event. The applicant plans to contain this additional runoff in swales adjacent to the access roads. (Additional storm water information can be found in Appendix H.)