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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 Page 3 of 4 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 Page 4 of 4 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