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20-102489-Variance-Driveway-2020-06-02-V1-DraftJune 2, 2020 Stacey Welsh, Principal Planner City of Federal Way Department of Community Development 33325 – 8th Avenue South Federal Way, WA 98003 RE: Request for Variance to Public Works Development Standards for Driveway Width Pape Kenworth NW – Federal Way Northeast Corner of South 320th Street and I-5 City of Federal Way, King County, Washington Our Job No. 20833 Dear Stacey: This variance request has been prepared in response to the review comment provided in the Public Works – Traffic Division section of the letter dated April 24, 2020 to justify the use of 50-foot wide driveways for the half street improvements along 32nd Avenue South. Section 3.2.14B of City of Federal Way Public Works Development Standard states that “For driveway cuts t hat serve uses other than single-family residential uses, the maximum driveway width is 30-foot for a two-lane, two-way driveway and 40-foot for a three-lane, two-way driveway. Driveway cut widths may be increased in order to provide adequate width for vehicles that may be reasonably expected to use the driveway as determined by the Public Works Director”. The PAPE project is a truck maintenance facility with areas for office, showroom and parts warehouse and a separate structure to be used as a body shop. The property may also include a storage area for trailers that arrive on the site in association with maintenance or repair. Most traffic to and from the site will be large trucks with wide turning radiuses. The project driveways will need to accommodate safe movements of traffic in and out of the site. Enclosed are truck maneuvering diagram exhibits which show the need for 50-foot wide driveways for trucks to access the site in a safe manner without encroaching onto the sidewalk. The following are justifications for approval of this variance as required by the city. a. “That the variance will not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the limitations upon uses of other properties in the vicinity and zone in which the subject property is located.” Response: Granting this variance will not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the limitations upon uses of other properties. The design of these driveways as proposed will meet the requirements of the traffic movements in a safe manner based on the use of the subject property. b. “That the variance is necessary because of special circumstances relating to the size, shape, topography, location, or surrounding of the subject property to provide it with use rights and privileges permitted to other properties in the vicinity and zone in which the subject property is located.” Response: The variance is necessary due to the size of trucks that will access this site to provide safe maneuvering of traffic to and from the subject property which is consistent with the allowable use of the subject property. City of Federal Way Department of Community Development -2- June 2, 2020 c. “That the granting of the variance will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to the property or improvements in the vicinity and zone in which the subject property is located.” Response: Granting this variance will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to the property or improvements in the vicinity and zone in which the subject property is located because these driveways are being constructed in accordance with city standards and have been allowed in other similar project zone in which the subject property is located. d. “That the special circumstances of the subject property are not the result of the actions of the owner or the subject property.” Response: The need for wider driveways is not the result of the actions of the owner of this development and is based on the use of the property allowed under subject property zoning. We believe that this variance should be granted for this project, since it is demonstrated that the use of a wider driveways would accommodate better traffic movement on the public road accessing the site and is in the public interest for safety. Please review at your earliest convenience and please feel free to contact me with any questions or need additional information. Thank you. Sincerely, Daniel K. Balmelli, P.E. Executive Vice President DKB/yg 20833c.003.doc enc: As Noted cc: Quinn Closson, Pape Group Bart Dickson, Cobalt Development Howard Kimura, H.G. Kimura Architect, PLLC Ali Sadr, Barghausen Consulting Engineers, Inc. Ben Eldridge, Barghausen Consulting Engineers, Inc.