Why weren't people in Olympia told and polled about creating a Missing Middle-type housing plan ?
We don't know, but have our suspicions.
During the first Missing Middle "process," the plan was developed and finalized behind the scenes. Neither the public nor neighborhood associations nor subarea groups were notified that the plan was being created.
Olympia generally keeps its residents well-informed about things like recycling changes, Christmas tree pickups, water quality, etc. with glossy brochures included with utility bills, or with banners above State Avenue. But not for Missing Middle. Unless you were working with the City, you had no idea.
A handpicked committee with no power reviewed the MM plan and made no changes. An online survey providing only generalities in describing MM (the details are the alarming part) was put out, but again, there was no general announcement that it existed. This was meant to be kept a secret until its passage, because MM advocates knew most residents would not want this plan.
