20-103019 - Project Narrative 08-05-2020
11321-B N E 1 2 0 th S tr e e t | K i r kl a n d , WA 9 8 0 3 4 | ( 4 2 5 ) 285-2390
1 0 1 S o u t h W e n a t c h e e Av e . , S u i t e C 3 | W e n a t ch e e , W A 9 8 8 0 1 | ( 5 0 9) 293-7731
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Site Planning
Civil Engineering
Landscape Architecture
Land Use Consulting
Project Management
July 27, 2020
City of Federal Way
Community Development Department
33325 8th Avenue South
Federal Way, WA 98003-2609
Re: WoodSpring Suites Federal Way, CPH Nos. 0128-15-001.016
Preapplication Project Narrative
City Review Staff,
The WoodSpring Suites Federal Way hotel project proposes to build a 123-key hotel along with a building
pad and services for an approximately 3,600 square-foot future general retail building on a single,
approximately 2.65-acre real parcel located within the City of Federal, Washington (King County tax parcel no.
292104-9039). The site is generally square with some irregularities along the north and east boundaries. It is
located at the southwest corner of the intersection of SR99 (Pacific Highway South) and South 356th Street. The
site has a zoning designation of Commercial Enterprise (CE) General and the proposed hotel and general retail
uses are permitted in the CE zone. The project would complete the binding site plan process subsequent to the site
development and building permits to subdivide the site into two real parcels to separate the hotel and retail uses
and facilities and to define shared parking areas and other common benefits.
EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS
The site is currently vacant and forested. Its topography slopes moderately from a knoll near the north-
central portion of the site with the majority of the slope tending south and east. The lowest elevation of the site
occurs in the very southeast corner of the property. The site is fronted on the north by South 356th Street and the
east by SR99 which are both improved with wide concrete sidewalks, vertical curb and gutter, and some
landscape amenities. The property immediately west of the site is zoned Suburban Estate (SE), which is a single-
family designation, and is full developed for a church use including an expansive parking lot. Two properties
zoned Office Park (OP), a commercial designation, are immediately adjacent to the site’s south boundary.
STORM DRAINAGE
Grading efforts on the site are expected to involve onsite cut-to-fill efforts to “level” the property by raising
elevations at the south and east boundaries and lowering grade in the north, central and portions of the west
boundary. Storm drainage improvements will be provided for the project in accordance with current City surface
water standards. This will include flow control and water quality treatment via onsite facilities that are currently
anticipated to be below-grade vaults. The treated and controlled release of storm water will be discharged to
the recently installed roadway drainage system in SR99 in the vicinity of the southeast corner of the site. This
concept is illustrated on the enclosed Figure 2, Conceptual Grading and Storm Drainage Plan.
CRITICAL AREAS
Our team has reviewed the latest City maps available online and the King County IMap website to identify
potential critical areas on the site. No critical areas are expected to exist on or in the vicinity of the site based on
the review of these data resources.
WoodSpring Suites Federal Way July 27, 2020
Preapplication Project narrative Page 2 of 2
CPH Project No. 0128-15-001.016
SITE ACCESS
Access to the site is proposed by two new commercial driveway approaches at the existing public roadway
frontages at South 356th Street and SR99. Storm drainage treatment and discharge controls will require onsite
facilities in accordance with City engineering and surface water standards.
WATER AND SANITARY SEWER
Public water and sanitary sewer facilities exist in the vicinity of the site. Extension of these systems will be
required to service the site. These facilities are and/or will be owned, operated, and maintained by Lakehaven
Utility District (LUD). An existing 8-inch sewer main flows east in a 10-foot easement over the south portion of the
site. This public main will be extended to serve the new commercial uses on the site. Both an 8-inch water main
and 8-inch sewer main are in an easement on the adjacent property to the west. Domestic water and fire supply
for the site will be provided by new extensions from this 8-inch main. The enclosed Figure 3 provides the current
concept for the proposed water and sanitary sewer improvements for the site.
APPLICANT QUESTIONS
The following are a few questions that are team has developed so far during our feasibility and early
design efforts that we would appreciate your response to:
1. What is the classification of the stream identified on the east side of SR99 on the City’s 2016
Critical Areas Map? Does this stream still exist?
2. It is our understanding that the building must step 2’-0”+ every 60 feet of the façade. Will this
building be subject to any additional design review requirements?
3. The proposed hotel building is more than 100 feet from the residential-abutting property line. The
building is currently designed to be under 40-foot maximum. Are there any additional height
restrictions for this project?
4. Is the Design Review process part of the building permit review or is it a separate process?
5. Are all civil/site improvements permitted through the Land Surface Modification (LSM) permit
process?
6. Can the LSM and building permit applications be submitted for review while the land use reviews
are still in process?
I appreciate your time and assistance with this project, and I look forward to your formal response to
our pre-application submittal. Thank you.
Sincerely,
CPH Consultants
Matthew J. Hough, PE
President
Enclosures: Master Land Use Application
Vicinity Map, 8.5x11
Figure 1 – Conceptual Site Plan
Figure 2 – Conceptual Grading and Storm Drainage Plan
Figure 3 – Conceptual Water and Sanitary Sewer Plan