09-104649 ` CITY OF CITY HALL
33325 8th Avenue South
Federal Nay Mailing Address: PO Box 9718
Federal Way,WA 98063-9718
(253)835-7000
www.cityoffederalway.corn
December 22,2009
Mr. Gian Singh F ILE
29830 le Avenue South
Federal Way, WA 98003-4202
Re: File#09-104649-00-AD; SINGH WIND TURBINE INQUIRY
29830 18th Avenue South, Federal Way,WA
Dear Mr. Singh:
I am in receipt of your November 22, 2009,inquiry as to the zoning requirements and restrictions for a
back yard wind turbine' to convert wind and produce electricity on your property located at the above
referenced site. Your property is located in a single family zoning district. Different uses are permitted
within the residential zoning district, including single family structures, schools, and churches, etc. as
provided in Federal Way Revised Code(FWRC) 19.200. The property is approximately 16,719 square
feet in size and contains a 4,000 square foot single family residence with an attached Accessory Dwelling
Unit(ADU).
The FWRC does not have any specific regulations about wind turbines within residential zones. A use/
structure that is not specifically addressed in the FWRC could possibly be considered as an accessory use/
structure within that zone; however, the City needs more information about the proposed wind turbine
before determining if a wind turbine could be permitted on the residential property as an accessory use/
structure,much like a gazebo or a shed is an accessory structure to a residential use.
Any accessory use must be found to be"...subordinate and incidental in size, scale, design, or purpose to
the principal use or structure on the subject property, and must support the principal use or structure
without displacing or dominating it...,"based on the definition of an accessory use in FWRC 19.05.010
"A definitions."The director of community development services is authorized to determine if a
particular accessory use,building, or structure is normally associated with, clearly secondary to, and
actually accessory to the particular permitted principal use,building, or structure per FWRC 19.265.10.
Please note that the maximum height for any accessory structure is 30 feet above average building
elevation and that an accessory use/structure may not be located in the required yard areas,within
easements, or any area that meets the definition of a critical area, including steep slope areas.
' As`defined'in Wikipedia:A wind turbine is a rotating machine which converts the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical
energy. If the mechanical energy is used directly by machinery,such as a pump or grinding stones,the machine is usually called
a windmill.If the mechanical energy is instead converted to electricity,the machine is called a wind generator,wind turbine,
wind power unit(WPU),wind energy converter(WEC),or aerogenerator.
File#09-I04946-00-AD Doc.I .52392
Mr. Gian Singh
Page 2
December 22,2009
In order to evaluate if a proposed wind turbine can be reviewed as an accessory use/structure in the single
family zoning district, I'll need additional information about the wind turbine and its proposed location on
your property. Please provide me with specific information about the following:
o Type of turbine you are interested in installing,including manufacturer and specifications;
o:;t.Vver l,pieig it of the tower and blades combined;
0: 'ota dt i o :and number of blades;
o Amount of no produced by the turbine under different conditions;
o Start up wind'speed and maximum wind speed;
o Proposed location of the wind turbine and the distance to any property line, any structure,
and any mature vegetation;
o Method for converting energy; and
o Location of conversion facility.
When submitting this information,please use the enclosed Resubmittal Information form and forward it
to my attention. Once the information is received, it will be reviewed by City staff to determine if a wind
turbine meets accessory use criteria; what, if any, impacts will the wind turbine create; and what sort of
permits will be required.
As noted, the City of Federal Way does not have any regulations that control wind turbine usage,nor is
there any state or local wind turbine requirements. Any changes to current codes to specifically address
wind turbine regulation would require that the City Council adopt a code amendment that includes
specific code provisions for wind turbines. If you are interested in pursuing such a code amendment,
please contact Senior Planner Margaret Clark at 253-835-2646.
Please contact me at 253-835-2642 if you have any questions about this letter, or if I can be of further
assistance.
Sincerely,
^V z," is' _ ' L,iA____---
Deb Barker
Senior Planner
Enc: FWRC Sections as Referenced
Resubmittal Information Form
c: Scott Sproul,Assistant Building Official
Margaret Clark,Senior Planner
File#09-104946-00-AD Doc.1 D 52392
# °9 — /(74-647-00
RECEIVED BY
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
NOV 2 5 2009
11/22/2009
GIAN SINGH
29830 18 th ave s
federal way wa 98003
ISAAC CONLEN
Planning Manager
City of Federal Way
PO BOX 9718
Federal Way WA 98063-9718
Dear Planning Manager
I am interested to instal a wind turbine in my backyard to produce elecricity. Please
advise me about zoning requirements and restrictions for the installation of a wind turbine in a
residential neighborhood.
Backyard Dimensions 90 x 67. with good wind
Sincerely
C/LeIN1 s7d
GIAN SINGH