Multicare Director DecisionCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 33325 8th Avenue South Federal Way, WA 98003-6325
253-835-7000
www.cityoffederalway.com
Jim Ferrell, Mayor
June 14, 2021
Mr. Jim Beatty
Multicare Health Systems
PO Box 5299
Tacoma, WA 98415
jim.beatty@multicare.org
Re: File No. 21-100350-UP; PROCESS I “DIRECTOR’S DECISION”
Multicare Stormwater System Modification; Parking Lot Addition & Landscape Modification;
29805 Pacific Highway South, Federal Way – APN 042104-9157
Dear Mr. Beatty:
The Community Development Department has completed the review of your Process I Master Land Use
(MLU) application for the addition of 20 surface parking stalls and modification of the stormwater detention
system from a surface pond to an underground stormwater vault. The proposal is at the existing Multicare
medical facility located at 29805 Pacific Highway South. The Process I application is hereby approved
according to the findings and conclusions noted below.
FINDINGS
• The zoning district for the subject property is Community Business (BC). The existing Multicare Off-
Campus Emergency Department medical facility use of the site is permitted in the BC zoning district per
Federal Way Revised Code (FWRC) 19.220.010. The existing Multicare medical facility was originally
approved by the City of Federal Way on May 29, 2018, via a Process III Site Plan Approval decision
under city file number 18-100013-UP. The existing Multicare building and associated site improvements
were constructed in 2020-2021.
• In summary, the proposal includes site revisions in the southern portion of the subject property. The
proposal includes changing the existing aboveground stormwater detention pond into an underground
stormwater detention vault. The proposal also includes adding 20 parking stalls and associated drive aisles
to be located on the surface above the proposed underground stormwater vault.
There is no expansion of the existing building.
Mr. Jim Beatty
Page 2 of 4
June 14, 2021
21-100350-UP Doc ID 81425
• The site modifications are subject to Process I review according to FWRC 19.15.030(1). A Process I is an
administrative land use review process according to FWRC Chapter 19.55, “Process I – Director’s Approval.”
• This application and decision include two proposed landscape modifications according to FWRC 19.120.050
and 19.125.100, addressed in a separate section below.
• The proposed minor site revisions do not trigger nonconforming development compliance requirements
in FWRC 19.30.090. Development on the site conforms to current FWRC standards as the site was
recently developed and completed. No nonconforming development is created as a result of this decision.
• The proposal includes adding 20 surface grade parking stalls and associated parking lot drive aisles and
improvements. The site will have a total of 55 parking stalls, which exceeds the minimum required
parking stall count of the FWRC for medical office use.
• A new pedestrian delineated walkway from the building to the new proposed parking area is shown on
the site plan per FWRC 19.115.050(4), “Community Design Guidelines.” A detail of the pedestrian path
is not shown on the plans. The pedestrian path must be a similar or the same material and finish as the
existing pedestrian crossing near the northeast corner of the subject site; shall be shown on the final
engineering plans; and completed at the time of final inspection.
• The proposal to modify and substantially change the stormwater system is subject to review and
compliance with the 2016 King County Surface Water Design Manual (KCSWDM) as adopted and amended
by the City of Federal Way. Review and approval of an Engineering Permit (EN) are required.
• The proposed site changes do not generate any additional vehicular trips; therefore, the proposal is not
subject to transportation concurrency review and/or transportation impact fees.
• The proposed improvements do not reduce the amount of required landscaping, buffering, or screening,
except as noted under the landscape modification section below. The proposed improvements meet all of
the applicable minimum zoning standards in FWRC Title 19.
CONCLUSIONS
Various sections of the zoning and development code indicate that certain developments, activities, or uses
are permitted only if approved using Process I, “Director’s Approval.” Based on the findings above, the
proposed improvements to the developed site meet the following Process I approval criteria and land use
review thresholds of FWRC 19.15.030 and 19.55.020:
1. The proposed improvements are consistent with applicable chapters of FWRC Title 19
including, but not limited to: “Permits and Review Processes”; “Process I – Director’s
Approval”; “Community Business (BC)”; “Community Design Guidelines”: and
“Landscaping.”
2. The health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the city are preserved.
3. The city issued a SEPA Addendum for the proposed action on June 14, 2021, under city file
number 21-100351-SE.
Mr. Jim Beatty
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June 14, 2021
21-100350-UP Doc ID 81425
LANDSCAPE MODIFICATION REQUEST
The applicant has also requested two landscape modifications for the subject property according to FWRC
19.120.050 and 19.125.100, as discussed below.
The first landscape modification request is to eliminate the required minimum three-foot-wide landscape strip
as required by FWRC 19.120.120(3) at the base of the recently constructed retaining wall near the west
property line. The three-foot-wide landscape strip is shown on the approved landscape plan under permit 18-
102604-CO. In summary, the applicant in their description of the landscape modification request submitted
to the city on June 3, 2021, identifies that a modification is necessary to allow emergency vehicle access and
because the area is located at the rear of the building. The applicant in their request and “Deferred Landscape
Plan” by Barghausen, May 25, 2021, show the plants eliminated from this area in front of the retaining wall
total approximately 382 square feet of landscape area, and this 382 square feet of landscaping will be added to
an existing landscape area at the northeast portion of the site.
This retaining wall landscape modification request is approved based on FWRC 19.120.050 because the retaining
wall is located behind the building, making the area less visible. In addition, there is no feasible and reasonable
alternative (FWRC 19.120.050[1][a]) without removing new pavement and reducing the drive aisle width.
The second landscape modification request is to eliminate the required five-foot-wide perimeter landscape
buffer area (FWRC 19.125.060[6]) along the west property line abutting 16th Avenue South, for a length of
approximately 277 linear feet (1,388 square feet). In summary, the applicant in their description of the
landscape modification request submitted to the city on June 3, 2021, identifies that a modification is
necessary to reduce and modify the required five-foot landscape strip along the top of the wall along the west
property line in this location as the steep slope in this area makes it not feasible to plant the trees and
landscaping for the required perimeter Type III landscape buffer. There is existing natural unmaintained
vegetation in this area. The applicant proposes to relocate the eliminated plant quantities from this area
elsewhere on the subject property as shown on the Barghausen Deferred Landscape Plan, May 25, 2021.
This landscape modification to relocate the required perimeter Type III landscaping meets the criteria of
FWRC 19.125.100 by preserving existing natural vegetation and is necessary due to the existing unique
topography (steep-slope) in the location of the eliminated landscaping.
The completion of all the site landscaping, including implementation of the two above landscape
modifications, shall be completed at the time of final inspection approval of the new parking lot area.
ENGINEERING PERMIT ISSUANCE REQUIRED
The proposal to modify and substantially change the stormwater system is subject to review and compliance
with the 2016 KCSWDM as adopted and amended by the City of Federal Way. Review and approval of an
Engineering Permit (EN) are required. No work may begin until the EN permit is issued.
APPEALS
The effective date of this decision is June 17, 2021, or three days from the date of this letter. According to
FWRC 19.55.050, any person who received notice of the administrative decision may appeal this decision to
the Federal Way Hearing Examiner within 14 calendar days, or by July 1, 2021. Any appeal must be in the
form of a letter delivered to the Department of Community Development with the established fee. The
Mr. Jim Beatty
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June 14, 2021
21-100350-UP Doc ID 81425
appeal letter must contain a clear reference to the matter being appealed and a statement of the alleged errors
in the director’s decision, including the identification of specific findings and conclusions made by the
director, disputed by the person filing. You may waive your right to appeal, if desired, by writing the city a
letter to this effect.
APPROVAL DURATION
Unless modified or appealed, the Process I decision is valid for one year from the date of issuance of the
decision. A one-year time extension to the decision may be requested before the lapse of approval following
the provisions listed in FWRC 19.15.110. The improvements must be substantially completed within the one-
year time period, or the land use decision becomes void.
CLOSING
This land-use decision does not waive compliance with future City of Federal Way codes, policies, and
standards relating to this development. This Process I approval does not constitute approval of the building
permit or authorize construction, which is still under review. If you have any questions regarding this
decision, please contact Senior Planner Jim Harris at 253-350-9283 or jim.harris@cityoffederalway.com.
Sincerely,
Digitally Signed June 14, 2021, at 3:31 PM
Brian Davis
Community Development Director
Reference: Approved Site Plan A-100, by Philo Wilke Partnership, Off-Campus Emergency Department, Federal Way, WA,
revised April 22, 2021
Barghausen Landscape Deferral Plan, May 25, 2021
c: Jim Harris, Senior Planner
Cole Elliott, Development Services Manager
Teresa Fortino, yourgirlfridayllc@gmail.com
Dan Balmelli, dbalmelli@barghausen.com
Tom Roberts, troberts@barghusen.com