03-06-2023 Spencer WeltonCITY OF
Federal Way
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Natalie Kamieniecki
From: J P <tablasound@live.com>
Sent: Monday, March 6, 2023 3:41 PM
To: Natalie Kamieniecki; Chaney Skadsen
Subject: Rezoning Forested Area NE of the Intersection of 1st Ave. S. and S. 312th St.
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Hello Natalie Kamieniecki and Chaney Skadsen. I hope you are doing well. My name is JP and I am a concerned
resident who lives directly in front of the forested area NE of the intersection of V Ave S. and S. 312th St. It
has been brought to my attention that the owner of this 4.03-acre lot is attempting to have the city of Federal
Way rezone this lot from "single family, high density" to "multi -family housing" instead. I would like to inform
you and the city of Federal Way government on behalf of my family and our entire neighborhood that this
rezoning would have a very negative impact on our neighborhood as well as the entire city of Federal Way if
this proposal was to be approved by the city of Federal Way government. This entire neighborhood is a single-
family home neighborhood and it should continue to stay a single-family home neighborhood. We do not
want this type of apartment complex structure to ruin the currently great structure and design of our single-
family home neighborhood. We also don't want all of the significantly increased crime rate which would
automatically be associated with this type of multi -family housing added to our neighborhood. We already
have enough problems to deal with in our neighborhood because of the Bayview Apartments and the 7-11
store nearby so please don't add fuel to the fire by bringing more of these types of people into our
neighborhood by rezoning this lot as that is exactly what would happen, just as it happened with the Bayview
Apartments and 7-11 store nearby. All I ask is that you put yourself in our shoes and just imagine if this
happened to you and your neighborhood. If you need anything from our neighborhood regarding our strong
disapproval of this rezoning proposal, please let me know what I can do to help avoid this potential disaster
from occurring? Thank you!
FOUNDERS
ROBERT D. CAMPBELL
(1906-2000)
HOLLIS H. BARNETT
Retired - 2021
March 6, 2023
CAB
Est. 1931
CAMPBELL BARNETT PLLC
Attorneys at Law
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
Land Use and Transportation Committee
RE: Public Hearing March 6, 2023
File Number: 22-104461-UP
Parcel No.: 082104-9167, -9076, -9074
Applicant: James K Lee
Dear Committee Members:
ATTORNEYS
STEPHEN A. BURNHAM
JOHN M.FORSYTHE
HILLARY A. HOLMES
SHANNON R. JONES
DANIEL W. SMITH (of counsel)
MADELEINE A SPENCER
JEREMY M. SWANN
Sender's e-mail:
steveb@campbellbamettlaw.com
This letter is presented on behalf James Lee in support of his application for a comprehensive plan and
zoning change to his property described above. Your Committee is holding a Public Hearing to determine
in light of the decisional criteria specified in FWRC 19.80.240 whether to make a recommendation to the
City Council to adopt Mr. Lee's application. In making your decision you are to consider the criteria for
comprehensive plan and rezone amendments provided in FWRC 19.80.150 and may consider certain
factors that may be related to your decision listed in FWRC 19.80,140. The factors are not requirements,
but they are relevant to your consideration. After considering the legislative requirements and
consideration you are required to make a decision by a majority on one of three choices:
(a) Recommend that city council adopt the proposal;
(b) Recommend that city council not adopt the proposal; or
(c) Makes no recommendation.
Based on review of the applicable law and the circumstances of this application it is my professional
opinion Mr. Lee's application is supported by the relevant factors in FWRC 19.80.140 and satisfies all
criteria under FWRC 19.80.240. In these circumstances your Committee should be recommend approval
and send Mr. Lee's application to the Council for further consideration.
Application Background.
James and Mimi Lee own three parcels of undeveloped property in Federal Way totaling approximately
4.03 acres . The respective site addresses are 30901, 31001, and 31200 1 st Ave S in the City of Federal
Way. All three parcels are presently forested and undeveloped. The property borders to the west on 1st
Avenue and to the south S 312th Street both arterials.
317 SOUTH MERIDIAN I PO BOX 488 1 PUYALLUP, WA 98371-0164 1253.848.3513 (P) 1 253.845.4941(F) I CAMP BELLBARNETTLAW.COM
March 6, 2023
Page 3
nervous system of the GMA. It receives and processes all relevant information and sends policy signals
to shape public and private behavior. Along with the comprehensive plan, the GMA requires cities to
adopt development regulations that are "consistent with and implement the comprehensive plan." Woods,
162 Wn.2d at 607 (quoting RCW 36.70A.040(3)(d), (4)(d)).
This hierarchy of land use planning is echoed in the Federal Way Municipal Code. The Staff Report dated
February 15, 2023 goes through the proper analysis of the City Code, Comprehensive Plan and Zoning
regulations and properly concludes Mr. Lee rezone application meets the requirements of FWRC
19.80.080. The application satisfies the three threshold criteria of FWRC 19,80.150 including:
A. Criterion #1 — Whether the same area or issue was studied during the last amendment process
and conditions in the immediate vicinity have significantly changed so as to make the
requested change within the public interest.
Staff notes that this property was initially selected for further review during the 2022 amendment cycle,
however; the request was withdrawn. The same. qualities that made the application proper for review in
2022 remain a proper basis for review in the current amendment cycle. This is an undeveloped site that
was originally zoned for Neighborhood Business (BN) which allowed both business and high density
residential in the past, which was consistent with the commercial development at intersection of 1"Avenue
.
South and South 314th of immediately west of the property and the Greystone Meadows multifamily
apartments immediately south. It is also relevant that a multistory apartment building is just northwest of
this property. These commercial and higher density developments in the immediate vicinity make the
current request within the public interest.
B. Criterion #2 — The proposed amendment is consistent with the overall vision of the
comprehensive plan.
Staff reviewed the City's Comprehensive Plan and found the application was consistent because there is
a high demand for housing opportunity in the City of Federal Way and region generally. The City's
comprehensive plan provides that "The multi family residential land use designation represents an
opportunity to provide a range of housing types to accommodate anticipated residential growth. The
increase in population, aging population, increasing diversity, decline in average family size, and high
cost of single-family homes have created heavy demand for new housing types. The Land Use chapter
encourages the development of housing types, such as duplexes, townhouses, senior housing, quality
apartment units and condominiums in existing multifamily areas and within mixed -use development in
commercial areas" (pg. 11-12). This property was originally zoned for business and higher density
residential use because of its close proximity to transit and the current application for higher density
residential use is consistent with the City's the comprehensive plan goals which Staff properly cites as
"the overarching goal of VISION 2040 related to land use is to focus growth within already urbanized
areas to create walkable, compact, and transit -oriented communities that maintain unique local
character" (pg. 11-3).
This property is on the corner of the intersection of arterials 314th and 1" Avenue. This is not a site
surrounded by low density residential use. These are wide three and four streets that support the use od
this property for higher residential use.
C. Criterion #3 — Whether the proposed amendment meets the existing state and local laws,
317 SOUTH MERIDIAN I PO BOX 488 1 PUYALLUP, WA 98371-0164 1253.848.3513 (P) 1253.845.4941 (F) I CAMP BELLBARNETTLAW.COM
Plan Amendment Application - Narrative, James K. Lee
James K. Lee
Birch Crest Apartments
PO Box 358,
Mercer Island, WA 98040
August 16, 2021
Community Development Department
33325 8t' Avenue South
Federal WA, WA 98003-6325
To Whom it may concern,
I am applying for a comprehensive plan amendment and rezone for three contiguous subject
parcels of. 0821049167, 0821049076 & 0821049074 totaling approximately 4.03 acres
(hereinafter PROPERTY). The respective site addresses are 30901, 31001, and 31200 1" Ave S
in the city of Federal Way. All three parcels are presently forested and undeveloped. The
PORPERTY borders to the west 1 st Avenue and to the south S 312th Street. A vicinity map is
illustrated below.
The PROPERTY's current and proposed Comprehensive Plan and Zoning designations are
summarized in the table below.
_ Comprehensive Plan Zoning
Existing Single Family, High Density RS 7.2
Proposed Multi -Family RM 1800
101
W Mt IVAT6=61J, M.-to
Mom 1IN! 111
Plan Amendment Application - Narrative, James K. Lee
City of Federal Way
iM
RM2400 - 1 Unit / 2,400 Square Feet RS7.2 -1 Unit 17.200 Square Feet
RM1800 - 1 Unit / 1,800 Square Feet BN - Neighborhood Business
The proposal seeks to rezone the subject parcels from RS 7.2 to RM 1800 to allow multi -family.
consistent with a property just northwest (dark orange). Furthermore, additional RM 2400 multi-
family zoning exists just south of the subject parcels (light orange).
Plan Amendment Application - Narrative, James K. Lee
current housing shortage and growing population in the area. With a finite land supply,
increasing the allowed density can address the -housing shortage needs and reduce urban
sprawl.
F. The quantity and location of land planned for the proposed land use type and density and
the demand for such land.
Per the City's housing targets and the Growth Management Act (GMA), additional
housing units are needed to meet demands. Chiefly, more affordable units that are
accessible to all demographics are needed. By allowing an increased density in the form
of RM 1800, costs per unit decrease which typically translates into more affordable rent
for prospective tenants. RM 1800 is available along I" Avenue just northwest of the
PROPERTY and further south (south of S 320`h Street).
G. The current and projected population density in the area.
The City is experiencing population growth as depicted in the graph below taken from the
City of Federal Way Comprehensive Plan:
Projected Growth
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 89,306 people called Federal Way home. As of April
2014, the population had grown to 90,147 (based on the Washington State Office of
Financial Management [OFM] population estimates).
Figure II-3
Population Projection, Federal Way
Population
120WO
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040
-Population
Source: U.S. Cemus and Washin" State of Financial Management
As shown, the City is currently and continued to expect an increasing population rate.
With more population, additional housing units will be needed to accommodate demand.