16-102012 CITY OF CITY HALL
33325 8th Avenue South
�... Federal Way Federal Way,WA 98003-6325
(253)835-7000
www.cityoffecleralway.com
Jim Ferrell, Mayor
May 16, 2016
Mr. Mark Freitas
33516 9th Avenue South,Unit 5
Federal Way,WA 98003-6322
Re: File#16-102012-00-AD; RESPONSE TO INQUIRY
Freitas;No Site Address
Dear Mr. Freitas:
. You inquired as to what zoning districts in the city,if any,allow private campgrounds. Private campgrounds
are not listed as an allowable use in any zone in the city.
In interpreting the code,it is often useful to understand how existing uses,which are similar to that of the
inquiry, are treated.Within city limits there is a public campground,Dash Point State Park;as well as Camp.
Kilworth,a private facility owned by the Boy Scouts of America. Both of these properties are located within
the Suburban Estates (SE) zoning district. Both were established prior to adoption of the current zoning
code. Dash Point State Park is an allowed use in the SE zone under the category"Public Park."Camp
Kilworth may be allowed under the category of"Community Recreation";although I have not studied this
question in detail. If not,it would be considered a legal nonconforming use.
Public Park and Community Recreation Area are the uses allowed in the city that are most similar to a private
campground. Could a private campground be interpreted to be allowed under either of these categories?
Public Park
The conclusion is that a public park is too dis-similar to a private campground to be allowed by interpretation
under the Public Park category.The main distinction is the difference between a public amenity vs. a private
facility.The city has a much greater degree of control over public facilities.Public parks are allowed
throughout residential zoning districts in the city.Allowing what could be a large commercial use in the city's
residential zones may be inconsistent with comprehensive plan goals and policies intended to preserve the
character of single-family zones (Federal Way Comprehensive Plan LUG3 and LUP14).
Community Recreation
The definition of Community Recreation is (emphasis added),"an area devoted to facilities and equipment
for recreational purposes, such as swimming pools, tennis courts,playgrounds,community clubhouses and
other similar uses,which area is maintained and operated by a nonprofit club or organization whose membership is limited
to the residents within a ipeczfied development or geographic area."
cESPLiNfhl CE
•
Mr.Mark Freitas
Page 2
May 16,2016
While certain aspects of this definition may be similar to a private campground, the definition clarifies that it
is intended to be a membership type facility and that the use of the facility is limited to"residents within a
specified development or geographic area."A private campground would be open to anyone who wanted to
use the facility.
Allowing private campgrounds in residential zones or elsewhere in the city may be in the public interest;
however,it is a question that should be considered legislatively,through an amendment to the zoning code. If
you would like the City Council to consider such a request,you can docket the request at any time by filling
out and returning the enclosed form.Planning staff will then inform you at the end of July that you can apply
for a zoning code amendment. If you submit a request prior to the deadline of September 30,2016,it will be
presented to the.City Council with all other requests for selection. If the Council determines that the request
should go forward for further consideration,staff will research the request relative to city code and make a
recommendation to the Planning Commission in a public hearing.The Planning Commission's
recommendation will be forwarded to the city's Land Use/Transportation Committee(LUTC),who will then
forward their recommendation to the Council for a final decision.To be clear,zoning code amendments can
take a considerable amount of time to process.
Please let me know if you have any follow-up questions. I can be reached at 253 835 2643,or
isaac.conlen@cityoffederalway.com.
Sincerely,
Isaac Conlen
Planning Manager
enc: Docketing Form
File#16-I02012-00-AD Doc.I.D.73346