15-100456ACITY OF
§�_ Federal Way
February 13, 2015
Ms. Sandy Allen
Bannum Inc.
2546 Success Drive
Odessa, FL 33556
CITY HALL
33325 8th Avenue South
Federal Way, WA 98003-6325
(253) 835-7000
www. cityoffederalway.. com
Jim Ferrell, Mayor
FILE
Re: File #15-100456-00-AD; ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION
Zoning Inquiry for Bannum Inc. Residential Re -Entry Center, Federal Way
Dear Ms. Allen:
The city is in receipt of your January 29, 2015, request letter, with supplemental information received on
February 5, 2015, for an inquiry regarding the applicable zoning designation in the City of Federal Way for a
residential re-entry center. The center is described as having approximately 60 individuals that would reside at
the facility, while another 30 potential program participants would reside at home under home confinement
restrictions and would be subject to electronic monitoring. Bannum would provide housing and related
services to residents of Federal Way and the immediate surrounding area.
Zoning Classification
A residential re-entry facility is classified as a group home and an essential public facility (EPF)..Federal Way
Revised Code (FWRC) 19.05.070 ("G" definitions) defines group homes type III as follows:
"Group homes type ITT' means privately or publicly operated residential facilities for adults under the
jurisdiction of the criminal justice system who have entered a pre- or post -charging diversion
program, or been selected to participate in state -operated work/training release or other similar
programs as provided in Chapters 137-56 and 137-57 WAC. Such groups also include individuals
who have been convicted of a violent crime against a person or property, have been convicted of a
crime against a person with a sexual motivation, or have been convicted as a sexual or assaultive
violent predator. This category also includes "significant impact businesses" as defined in FWRC
12.60.020. This category excludes full-time detention facilities.
The submitted materials indicate that the proposed group home facility likely qualifies as a class II EPF, per
FWRC 19.05.050. The group home would provide housing and related services to residents of Federal Way
and the immediate surrounding area. Per FWRC 19.105.020.1.b, class II facilities shall be reviewed under the
zoning provisions and processes found in their respective zoning districts (see Review Process section, below).
Once a complete application is submitted, a formal determination as to whether the facility is a class I or class
iI EPF would be made. Class i facilities are subject to the provisions of FVv'RC 19.105.020, 19.70, and those
of their respective zoning districts.
Ms. Sandy Allen
Page 2
February 13, 2015
Review Process
There are no zoning designations where group homes are permitted outright. Group homes type III may
locate in the Community Business (BC) or Commercial Enterprise (CE) zones with a Process IV approval. A
Process IV approval requires public notice and a public hearing before the city's Hearing Examiner. The
Hearing Examin s de c s irii pealable to King County Superior Court.
The zoning designatioa%w chl in the RNRC contain detadcd requirements for group homes in the
following code sections: 19.220.090 (BC) and 19.240.180 (CE). If the facility is classified as a Class I EPF,
then the additional criteria in FWRC 19.105.020.2 need to be met.
According to the current fee schedule, a Preapplication Meeting is $478.00, the Process IV application fee is
$3,975.50, and if SEPA is required, the SEPA fee is $965.50. The estimated processing time for a Process IV
application is 6-8 months. You may contact the Permit Center at 253-835-2607 anytime for updated fee and
application processing time estimates.
In summary, a residential re-entry center is classified as a group home type III, which requires siting in
specific zoning designations (BC or CE) and review and approval of a Use Process IV land use application.
Once a complete application is submitted a determination of whether or not the facility is a class I or class II
essential public facility would be made (subject to the additional criteria in F\VRC 19.105.020.2, if applicable).
If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact me at stacey,.welsh@cityoffederllN%,mv.coru, or
253-835-2634.
Sincerely,
Stacey Welsh, AICP
Senior Planner
I k 6-1004G6-00-AD D- LD. 67876
g-Q #IS-lo09-5G
BANNUM, INC.
2646 SUCCESS -DRIVE
ODESSA, FLORIDA 33556
DUNS # 113209258
SANDRA ALLEN
VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
January 29, 2015
Isaac Conlen, Planning Manager
Planning Division
33325 8th Ave South
Federal Way, WA 98003
Dear Mr. Conlen;
OFFICE: (727) 372-9213
F'Ax: (727) 376.7927
The United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has issued a "Request
for Proposals" (RFP) for a Residential Re-entry Center (RRC) program to be located in the King
County, Washington, Metro area. The government estimates that approximately 60 individuals
will reside at the facility. Our company, Bannum Inc., has been contracting with the federal BOP
for over twenty-nine years providing these services and we currently operate eight such programs
for the BOP in six states. My company intends to submit a proposal in response to this federal
government solicitation and, as such, we need certain zoning information from your office.
Please provide us with the classifications for this type of program and the zoning districts
within the city limits of Federal Way where a facility of this type may be located "by -right". If
there is no "by -right" zoning for this type of program, please provide us with the zoning districts
or classifications in which such a facility may be located and the process involved in obtaining
zoning approval to include the estimated cost and number of weeks from application submittal to
approval/denial. This information is needed so that our local realtor may conduct a search
for property, which meets the RFP specifications as well as your zoning requirements.
Given Bannum's lengthy history of operating such programs, we are aware that community
concerns can often arise, even though they may be unfounded. We have learned through
experience that public education, (i.e., communication and dissemination of correct information
and the community benefits of such programs) can mitigate these concerns and the "not in my
backyard" syndrome. It is our belief that the more information that City/County officials and
community leaders have about the benefits of programs, the better they can evaluate our program.
Hopefully, the following discussion will provide more insight into the RFP process and certain
aspects of the RRC program.
We are confident and proud of our operations in other cities and counties across the country
where we believe we have demonstrated our ability to be a beneficial corporate citizen. We expect
to seek membership in local business organizations; to continue to empanel our Community
Relations Advisory Board with membership open to neighboring business, community leaders and
City/County officials; to continue to offer a Community Service Work Program wherein our
RECEIVED
JAN 21 Z015
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
CDS
program participants volunteer their time to provide services to not -for -profit agencies and the
city; to continue to have a Volunteer Program wherein community volunteers interact and assist
our program participants; to continue to have a Public Information and Education Program wherein
our staff will maintain working relationships with other criminal justice agencies, conduct open
houses and facility tours and speak to local groups and organizations; and to participate in faith -
based initiatives.
The term of the proposed contract is to begin around April 1, 2016 and may run for five
years inclusive of contract option periods. The estimated government requirement specifies 60;
however, it is also estimated that an additional 30 potential program participants will reside at
home under home confinement restrictions and will be subject to electronic monitoring. These
numbers reflect the BOP's best estimates of bed space needs at this time. The BOP may exceed its
original estimates if there is an unanticipated need for additional bed space in this area.
The BOP has a long history of transferring individuals who are within a few months of
release to a contractor -operated RRC for transitional programming. These individuals have often
been removed from the community for an extended period of time. Sound correctional practice
suggests that RRCs enhance public safety by offering these individuals the opportunity to find
employment, establish residence, and re-enter the community from which they came through a
structured, supportive environment.
The BOP takes its responsibility for contract oversight very seriously. Contract language
establishes requirements for individual accountability, programming, life safety, staffing,
discipline, urine and alcohol surveillance, and a variety of other areas. These requirements are
closely monitored by BOP staff, who provide training and conduct both scheduled and
unannounced on -site inspections.
Federal placements at the program will come from three sources: individuals who are
transferred from an institution to the RRC for pre-release programming, individuals who are
committed directly to the RRC by the Federal Courts, and individuals under the supervision of the
U.S. Probation Office for whom residence at the RRC is a condition of supervision. Nationwide,
the average RRC placement is three to four months in length, although longer placements are
sometimes made.
Bannum will provide housing and related services to those persons from the city of Federal
Way and the immediate surrounding area that are returning to their homes and family. Our
residents will go to work daily and return to the facility after work to sleep. Then, as long as they
are honoring their agreement to qualify for the program, they can go visit their family and friends
if they wish. They would then return to the facility on weekday evenings at their individual curfew
time. Many residents would be allowed to check out on Friday and would not return again until
their Sunday night curfew.
Bannum will monitor each resident's movement in the community by periodic on -site and
telephone verification of their employment, educational pursuits, family visits, or other
whereabouts. Bannum will assist the resident to find employment if they are not employed by
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making referrals to local employment agencies and local employers which have expressed interest
in employing these residents.
Since this is a period of transition for these persons, Bannum simply assists them in re-
establishing employment and family ties, locating suitable housing and preparing to function
normally within the community to which they are returning. Bannum also makes referrals to local
community agencies as appropriate.
Bannum's personnel monitor the program on a 24-hour basis, but there are no locks, bars,
or other physical restraints. Bannum will employ a professional staff to include social workers to
monitor and guide the residents through this period of transition. If a resident violates his
agreement to remain in the program by missing curfew, by unexcused absence from work, etc., or
if the resident fails to return to the facility or decides to leave the facility without our permission,
we cannot and will not stop them. In these cases, we simply report the resident to the appropriate
Federal authorities. Penalties include a return to incarceration.
Bannum's staff are not peace officers, are not permitted to carry weapons of any kind, and
are not authorized to physically restrain any person. Bannum's staff do not wear uniforms or
possess any other form of identification or powers than any other citizen of the city of Federal
Way.
We look forward to servicing the city of Federal Way and working with you and other city
officials in establishing this program and ensuring its success.
If I can provide any additional information to expedite this request, please do not hesitate
to contact me -I thank you for your time and attention, and look forward to your timely response.
Sincerely,
N . Pa*r-'�7 eq-(
Sandy Allen
sandra.allen@bannuminc.com
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