Street Modification LetterFebruary 7, 2022
Barghausen Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Attn: Ben Eldridge, P.E.
18215 72nd Ave S.
Kent, WA 98032
RE: Permit #21-105179-00-SM; SMITH BROTHERS FARMS, 34520 9TH AVE S
Response to request for waive street improvements and modify the driveway width
Dear Mr. Eldridge:
This letter responds to your request to waive the required street improvements along both 9th Avenue South and
South 344th Street, both of which abut the referenced project, and to also modify the width of the driveway on
South 344th Street, as part of the proposal for the development of the project referenced above. After evaluating
your proposal and the existing conditions along the referenced streets, review of Federal Way Revised Code
(FWRC) provisions (Sections 19.135.070 and 19.135.090) and direction provided by the City Council, the Public
Works Department hereby conditionally approves your request to waive the street improvements along both
streets, as noted below:
9th Ave South is classified as a Principal Collector planned as a Type “K” street, consisting of a 44’ paved
roadway with 5’ bike lane, curb and gutter, 6’ planter strips with street trees, 8’ sidewalks, and street lights in a
78’ right-of-way (ROW). Existing improvements on 9th Ave S consist of a 36-foot paved roadway with shared
bike lane markings, curb and gutter, and a 5-foot sidewalk adjacent to the back of curb. The existing ROW width,
at 39-feet along the project side, is consistent with our current standard. Existing street lighting along this frontage
consists of 3 lights mounted on very old wood poles.
S 344th Street is also a Principal Collector planned as a Type “R” street, consisting of 40’ paved roadway with
curb and gutter, 4’ planter strips with street trees, 6’ sidewalks, and street lights in a 66’ right-of-way (ROW).
Existing improvements on S 344th St consist of a 36- to 37-foot (+/-) paved roadway with curb and gutter, and a 5-
foot sidewalk adjacent to the back of curb. The existing ROW width, at 33-feet along the project side, is
consistent with our current standard. There are currently no street lights along this frontage.
Construction of the required improvements would not be harmonious with the existing improvements, nor would
they be advantageous to the neighborhood or the City as a whole.
As a condition of this approval, the applicant is required to:
1) Construct new ADA compliant ramps at the SE and NE corners of the intersection of 9th Ave S and S
344th St, and to also construct a new ADA ramp that is directed westerly across 9th Ave S that aligns with
an existing ramp on the west side of 9th, just north of the USPS bulk mail facility driveway;
2) Construct new City-standard street lighting (including new metered service) along both frontages, and
remove the existing street lights mounted on wood poles, as part of the development.
You have also requested that a non-standard width driveway of approximately 75-feet be allowed for the truck
access driveway on S 344th St.
FWRC Section 19.135.270(3) stipulates that ‘for driveways that serve uses other than single-family residential
uses…the maximum driveway width is 30 feet for a two-lane two-way driveway and 40 feet for a three-lane two-
way driveway. This code section also allows that driveway widths may be increased in order to provide adequate
width for vehicles that may be reasonably expected to use the driveway, as determined by the public works
director.
After review and analysis of your request, the Public Works Department hereby denies this request as follows:
Public Works acknowledges that a driveway width that exceeds our City Standard Commercial Driveway
Approach (Detail 3-6A) may be necessary that can accommodate the expected truck traffic using this driveway.
However, the requested 75-foot width exceeds any driveway width that has been previously approved with similar
situations, and we propose that something less than 75-feet can accommodate the project. It’s recommended that
the design engineer coordinate a final design with the City’s traffic division during the engineering plan review
process. This is consistent with similar driveway width modification requests reviewed by the City for previous
development projects.
The approval and conditions of this letter will be applicable for a period of one year. If a permit is not issued
within the one-year time period, this waiver will be void, and a new request for modification must be submitted.
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Kevin Peterson, Senior Engineering Plans
Reviewer at Kevin.Peterson@cityoffederalway.com
Sincerely,
Desireé Winkler, P.E.
Deputy Public Works Director
DW/KP:ss
cc: Becky Chapin, Senior Planner
Project file (kp)
Day file