21-102066-UP-Modification Request for Driveway-11-24-2021-V1
EJ Walsh, P.E.
Director of Public Works
City of Federal Way
Department of Community Development
33325 – 8th Avenue South
Federal Way, WA 98003
RE: Modification Request to Public Works Development Standards for Driveway Width
Smith Brother’s Farms – Federal Way
Southeast Corner of 9th Ave. S and S. 344th St.
City of Federal Way, King County, Washington
Our Job No. 21537
Dear Mr. Walsh:
This modification request has been prepared in response to the review comment provided in the Public
Works – Traffic Division section of the letter dated September 10th, 2021, to justify the use of 75-foot wide
driveway (measured from back of sidewalk) for truck access along South 344th Street. The total curb cut
required for the proposed driveway would be approximately 107 linear feet measured from the face of
curb and would taper to a standard 40-foot driveway throat.
Section 3.2.14B of City of Federal Way Public Works Development Standard states that “For
driveway cuts that 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 to provide adequate width for vehicles that may be reasonably expected to use
the driveway as determined by the Public Works Director”.
The Smith Brother’s Farms project is a warehouse distribution facility with areas for office, and
dedicated truck loading. The property may also include a storage area for trailers that arrive on the site.
Due to the City’s limitation of truck traffic entering 9th Avenue South, the access along South 344th Street
is intended as the sole access for larger vehicles. 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 a 75-foot-wide driveway for trucks to access the site in a safe manner.
The following are justifications for approval of this modification request.
1. The improvement as required would not be harmonious with existing street improvements,
would not function properly or safely or would not be advantageous to the neighborhood or
City as a whole.
Response: The project is requesting a modification to install 75-foot-wide driveways instead
of the city standard 40-foot wide to facilitate truck access to the site from South 344th Street.
This request would increase the safety of traffic maneuvering and would be advantageous to
the neighborhood and City to allow traffic to function in a safe manner without encroachment
into another lane and pedestrian walkways.
2. Unusual topographic or physical conditions preclude the construction of improvements as
required.
Response: The topography of the project site is relatively steep, sloping toward the south
near 10 percent. The proposed improvements mitigate this change in grade as much as
feasible and the wider driveway would allow safer maneuvering movement from and to the
site.
3. Proper vertical or horizontal alignments cannot be determined because the existing streets do
not have correct alignments.
Response: The need for wider driveways is due to the size of trucks and trailers that will
access this site. Most of the vehicles that are anticipated to use this site are large trucks and
trailers with wide turning radiuses.
4. The required improvement is part of a larger project that has been scheduled for construction
in the city’s adopted six-year transportation improvement program.
Response: The project is requesting installation of wider driveways as part of the road
improvements to accommodate the type of truck traffic accessing the site in a safe manner
without encroaching into other lanes or pedestrian walkways.
We believe that this modification request 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,
Benjamin H. Eldridge, P.E.
Senior Project Engineer
enc: As Noted
cc: Scott Hougham, KGIP
James Carleton, Nelson
Ben Eldridge, Barghausen Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Daniel Casey, Barghausen Consulting Engineers, Inc.