Vondoenhoff BLA Preap SummaryCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 33325 8th Avenue South Federal Way, WA 98003-6325
253-835-7000
www.cityoffederalway.com
Jim Ferrell, Mayor
June 21, 2021
Ms. Savanna Nagorski
ESM Consulting Engineers
33400 8th Avenue South, Suite 205
Federal Way, WA 98003
savanna.nagorski@esmcivil.com
Re: File #21-101964-00-PC, PREAPPLICATION CONFERENCE SUMMARY
Vondoenhoff BLA, 1414 South 376th Street, Federal Way
Dear Ms. Nagorski:
Thank you for participating in the preapplication conference with the City of Federal Way’s Development
Review Committee (DRC) held on June 3, 2021. We hope that the information discussed at that meeting
helped you understand the general requirements for your project as submitted.
This letter summarizes comments given to you at the meeting by the members of the DRC. The members
who reviewed your project and provided comments include staff from the city’s Planning and Building
Divisions, Public Works Department, and representatives from Lakehaven Water & Sewer District and South
King Fire & Rescue. Some sections of the Federal Way Revised Code (FWRC) and relevant information
handouts are enclosed with this letter. Please be advised, this letter does not represent all applicable codes. In
preparing your formal application, please refer to the complete FWRC and other relevant codes for all
additional requirements that may apply to your project.
I, Jim Harris, am the key contact for your project and may be contacted at jim.harris@cityoffederalway.com
or 253-350-9283. For specific technical questions about your project, please contact the appropriate DRC
representative as listed below. Otherwise, any general questions about the preapplication and permitting
process can be referred to me.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The proposal is to adjust boundary lines for three consecutive parcels. The parcels are located both within the
City of Federal Way and unincorporated King County. The proposal is on three parcels with the following
King County tax parcel numbers: 322104-9063 (Federal Way & King County); -9162 (King County); and -
9163 (King County).
Ms. Savanna Nagorski
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June 21, 2021
21-101964-00-PC Doc ID:81383
MAJOR ISSUES
Outlined below is a summary of the major issues of your project based on the plans and information
submitted for preapplication review. These issues can change due to modifications and revisions in the plans.
The major issues section is only provided as a means to highlight critical requirements or issues. Please be
sure to read the comments made by all departments in the following section of this letter.
• Planning Division
The proposed BLA as presently drawn and described above would effectively result in a short plat of
property within the City of Federal Way (one lot before and two lots after) and would not meet the BLA
scope in FWRC 18.10.010.
DEPARTMENT COMMENTS
Outlined below are the comments made by the representatives of each department present at the preapplication
conference. Each section should be read thoroughly. If you have questions, please contact the representative
listed for that section.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – PLANNING DIVISION
Jim Harris, 253-350-9283, jim.harris@cityoffederalway.com
1. Boundary Line Adjustment Process – According to FWRC Title 18, Chapter 18.10, “Boundary Line
Adjustments,” BLA applications are administratively processed through the Department of Community
Development under FWRC 18.10.020 et al. The administrative review process requires that the Director
of Community Development issue a decision on the BLA request. Contact the Permit Center for the
BLA application fee.
2. BLA Proposal – The proposal is to adjust the lines of three existing parcels. Currently, two of the parcels
are within unincorporated King County and one parcel is within the City of Federal Way. The proposal is
to adjust and revise the property lines which will ultimately result in two lots in the city and one lot in
unincorporated King County.
The proposed BLA as presently drawn and described above would effectively result in a short plat of
property within the City of Federal Way (one lot before and two lots after) and would not meet the BLA
scope in FWRC 18.10.010, as the BLA proposal would result in creating an additional new lot within the
city. Per FWRC 18.10.010, a BLA shall not increase the number of lots.
3. BLA Design – According to FWRC 18.10.010(4), all lots resulting from a boundary line alteration shall be in
conformance with the design standards of FWRC Title 18. Below are FWRC 18.55.010 and 18.55.020. This
is not a complete list of all FWRC design criteria, but are some of the major design requirements. Please
consult the FWRC for all applicable regulations https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/FederalWay.
FWRC 18.55.010 Land division design.
“(1) Land divisions should be designed so that traffic is distributed in a logical manner toward a
collector street system, to avoid intrusion and over-burdening of residential streets, and to connect
with planned or existing streets.
Ms. Savanna Nagorski
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“(2) Streets should be coordinated with existing intersections to avoid offsetting new intersections,
and should intersect at a 90-degree angle plus or minus 15 degrees.
“(3) No street, or combination of streets, shall function as a cul-de-sac longer than 600 feet.
“(4) Block perimeters should be no longer than 1,320 feet for nonmotorized access, and 2,640 feet
for streets.
“(5) Land divisions on steep slopes should be designed so that streets are constructed generally
parallel, rather than perpendicular, to the slope.
“(6) Streets should be designed in conformance with adopted standards for sight distance at
intersections, as prescribed in FWRC 19.135.300 et seq.”
18.55.020 Lot design.
“(1) All lots should be of ample dimensions to provide a regular shaped building area which meets
required setbacks.
“(2) All lots shall be designed to provide access for emergency apparatus.
“(3) All lots should be designed to take advantage of topographic and natural features, view
orientation and privacy.
“(4) In general, all lots shall be accessed by a public street right-of-way. In certain cases, lots may be
accessed by an ingress/egress and utilities easement or alley subject to the requirements established in
the city of Federal Way public works development standards. Residential lots should not have access
onto arterial streets.
“(5) Alley access is encouraged for lots in zero lot line townhouse to avoid a garage-dominant front
yard streetscape.”
4. Lot Size – The zoning for the subject site within the City of Federal Way is Residential Single Family, RS
7.2. The minimum lot size is 7,200 square feet.
5. Setbacks – Existing and future residences must conform to the following structural setback minimum
requirements of FWRC 19.200.010, “Detached Dwelling Units”: front yard, 20 feet, side yard, five feet,
and rear yard, five feet. Any BLA and/or short plat must depict these typical building setback
requirements for existing structures.
6. Environmentally Critical Areas – Based on information on the map submitted with the preapplication
submittal, and based on existing city generalized wetland inventory information, there are regulated
wetlands on and near the subject property. With any BLA or other land use application, the appropriate
critical area studies per FWRC 19.145.080, and necessary permitting applications related to the critical
area feature must be provided to the city as they apply to the proposal. A current wetland delineation,
classification, and associated wetland report prepared by a qualified wetland biologist in accord with
FWRC Chapter 19.145, Article IV, must be provided with any BLA or short plat application. According
to FWRC 19.145.080(3), the critical area report will be reviewed by the city’s third-party consultant at the
applicant’s expense. All critical areas and buffers must be shown on any BLA map or short plat map.
The wetland report must identify the presence of any on-site and off-site wetlands within 300 feet of the
subject property. City maps indicate the likely presence of several wetlands on and near the subject
property, which could impact a BLA and/or short plat design and development of the site.
7. State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) – The proposed BLA is exempt from environmental review under SEPA.
Ms. Savanna Nagorski
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8. Short Plat Content Requirements – If the proposal is revised as a short plat, then the proposal is subject to
FWRC Title 18, and FWRC Chapter 18.55 et.al. For an itemized list of the required information to be
included in the short plat, please refer to the enclosed bulletin 010, “Short Subdivision.” The city’s
subdivision code (FWRC Title 18) and zoning and development code (FWRC Title 19) can be accessed at
https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/FederalWay. Preapplication meetings are optional for short plats.
9. King County Jurisdiction – City staff did not consult with King County staff on this preapplication. City
comments pertain to the property within the jurisdiction of the City of Federal Way. King County
regulations apply to the unincorporated property. Any proposal that crosses over jurisdictional
boundaries will require review and decision by both agencies.
10. Comprehensive Plan Amendment – The comprehensive plan amendment for 376th was briefly discussed at the
meeting. This amendment is in process, for status updates please contact City Traffic Engineer Rick
Perez at rick.perez@cityoffederalway.com.
PUBLIC WORKS – DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIVISION
Kevin Peterson, 253-293-6577, kevin.peterson@cityoffederalway.com
1. BLA’s do not meet the thresholds for any stormwater requirements or engineering review; therefore,
Public Works Development Services has no comments on the BLA as proposed.
PUBLIC WORKS – TRAFFIC DIVISION
Sarady Long, 253-835-2743, sarady.long@cityoffederalway.com
1. The Public Works Traffic Division has no comments on the BLA proposal at this time as a BLA does
not meet the thresholds for public improvements or a concurrency permit.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – BUILDING DIVISION
Greg Kirk, 253-835-2621, greg.kirk@cityoffederalway.com
1. No buildings are proposed; therefore, no comment.
LAKEHAVEN WATER & SEWER DISTRICT
Brian Asbury, 253-946-5407, basbury@lakehaven.org
Lakehaven has no comment on this proposed BLA. Future property development will almost certainly include
water/sewer system development and extension.
SOUTH KING FIRE & RESCUE
Sean Nichols, 253-946-7242, sean.nichols@southkingfire.org
No comment.
Ms. Savanna Nagorski
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CLOSING
This letter reflects the information provided at the preapplication meeting and is intended to assist you in
preparing plans and materials for a formal application. We hope you found the comments useful to your
project. We have made every effort to identify major issues to eliminate surprises during the city’s review of
the formal application. The completion of the preapplication process in the content of this letter does not
vest any future project application. Comments in this letter are valid for one year as per FWRC 19.40.070(4).
As you know, this is a preliminary review only and does not take the place of the full review that will follow
the submission of a formal application. Comments provided in this letter are based on preapplication
materials submitted.
Modifications and revisions to the project as presented for this preapplication may influence and modify
information regarding the development requirements outlined above. In addition to this preapplication letter,
please examine the complete FWRC and other relevant codes carefully. Requirements that are found in the
codes that are not addressed in this letter are still required for your project.
If you have questions about an individual comment, please contact the appropriate department representative
noted above. Any general questions can be directed towards me, the key project contact Jim Harris, at 253-
350-9283, or jim.harris@cityoffederalway.com. We look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Jim Harris
Senior Planner
c: Kevin Peterson, Senior Engineering Plans Reviewer
Sarady Long, Senior Transportation Engineer
Brian Asbury, Lakehaven Water & Sewer
Sean Nichols, South King Fire & Rescue
Roger VonDoenhoff, rvond@comcast.net