04-102117(0'4 - /0 Z 11-7--9�
RECEIVED
mAY 2 7 2004
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CITY OF Ci7Y ❑F FE:DERALT AY
Federal Way BUILDING DE
Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department
33530 1st Way South
PO Box 9718
Federal Way, WA 98063-9718
To: Cary Roe, Public Works Director
From: B Sanders, Park Planning & Development Coordinator
Date: May 24, 2004
Topic: Armstrong Park Property
Right -of -Way Improvement Modification Request
The following information was provided in the Preapplication Letter from Jane Gamble, dated
March 11, 2004. The comments are from Raid Tirhi:
151h Avenue SW is a Type W street, consisting of a 28 foot street with curb,
gutter, four foot planter strip with trees, five-foot sidewalk, and street lights in a
52 foot right-of-way.
SW 356`h Street is a Type C street, consisting of a 72' street with curb, gutter, 6'
planter strip with trees, 8' sidewalk, and streetlights in a 106' right-of-way.
Staff would support a modification request to provide an additional eight foot
wide paved street for parking with curb and gutter, and a five foot sidewalk for a
portion of the road that accommodates the required number of parking stalls. At
a minimum, street illumination at the intersection with SW 360`h Street shall be
provided.
Note: SW 356th Street is already constructed to full development standards, including sidewalk
and street trees. Two existing street trees are dead, and the project proposes to replace these.
Modification Requests for 15th Avenue SW:
The following items are proposed to be designed and constructed to conditions other than the
standard for this street type.
1. Length of Right -of -Way Improvements:
The length of area to receive street paving, curb and gutter, and sidewalk improvements
is proposed to be approximately 100 feet long.
Explanation: Most of 15"' Avenue SW is located within the wetland buffer. A widened
street of 100 feet in length, 8 feet wide will allow parking of three cars. This amount of
parking is adequate to serve the park, and is located near the playground, outside the
wetland buffer.
Reason: Unusual topographic or physical conditions preclude the construction of
improvements as required.
2. Planter Strip with Trees:
The Type W street section calls for a four -foot wide planter strip between the curb and
sidewalk. We are proposing to place the sidewalk directly adjacent to the parking, and to
substitute the existing vegetation for the planter strip.
Explanation: The edge of the site adjacent to the street is vegetated with native and non-
native volunteer. plants in this area. We are proposing to maintain the desirable
vegetation that is in good condition. This would help to maintain the natural appearance
of the park and would bemore appropriate than a traditional street tree planting.
The site will retain 16 significant trees along the street frontage, and many more smaller
trees within the body of the site. This project will plant an additional 9 trees.
Reason: 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.
CITY OF CITY HALL
Federal Way Feder 1 st Way South • Box 9718
Federal Way, WA 98063-9-9718
(253) 661-4000
www.cityoffederalway.com
June 21, 2004
Betty Sanders
City of Federal Way - PRCS
PO Box 9718
Federal Way, WA 98063-9718
Re: Permit #04-102117-000-00-SM; ARMSTRONG NEIGHBORHOOD PARK
*no site address*
Dear Ms. Sanders:
The Public Works Department has received your request to waive the required planter strip for
the Right -of -Way improvements and modify the sidewalk improvements for approximately 100
feet of frontage on 15`h Avenue SW. Staff has evaluated the existing conditions along 151h
Avenue SW and SW 3561h Street, Federal Way City Code (FWCC) Sections 22-1496, 22-1477,
and considered past direction provided by the City Council. The Public Works Director is
allowed to modify, defer, or waive required street improvements only after consideration of four
specific reasons under FWCC Section 22-1477 "Modification of Improvements Along Property
Frontage ". The reason most applicable to your request is FWCC 22-1477(1) which states:
"Improvements 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_ "
The development proposal is a City -owned park with 1,286 feet of frontage on 151h Avenue SW
and 376 feet of frontage on SW 356th Street. Existing frontage improvements for 151h Avenue
SW consist of an approximate paved width of 23 feet all within a 60-foot wide Right -of -Way.
The planned roadway section for 15th Avenue SW is a Type W street that consists of a paved
width of 28 feet, with curb, gutter, a four -foot wide planter -strip with street trees, and a five-foot
wide sidewalk all within a 52-foot Right -of -Way. Since there is no proposed access on SW 356th
Street, frontage improvements were not required there.
The required planter strip improvements would not be harmonious with existing street
improvements. Therefore the request to waive the planter strip requirement has been granted.
The installation of 100 feet of frontage, that includes widening of that portion of 15th Avenue SW
by approximately 12 feet, was meant to include the beginning to the end of the parking area and
would provide parking for a minimum of four cars. Thus, the sidewalk will need to be extended
for approximately 25 feet further to the north than shown on the plans, to allow for parking of
four cars. There must also be an asphalt transition at the north end of the sidewalk that meets
ADA standards. In addition, a raised refuge island crosswalk shall be installed at the
Betty Sanders
Re: Permit #04-102117-000-00-SM; Armstrong Neighborhood Park
Page 2
intersection of 151h Avenue SW and SW 3561h Street. For design information on this feature,
please contact Raid Tirhi, P.E., Senior Traffic Engineer, at (253) 835-2744.
The conditions of this Right -of -Way modification will be applicable for one year from the date
of this letter. If a building permit is not issued within the one-year time limit, the Right -of -Way
modification will be void and a new request for modification must be submitted. If you have any
questions, please contact Kim Scattarella, P.E., Senior Engineering Plans Reviewer, at (253)
835-2731.
Sincerely,
Ken Miller, P.E.
Deputy Director Public Works
KM:KS/dl
Enclosure
cc: Jane Gamble, Associate Planner
Raid Tirhi, P.E., Senior Traffic Engineer
Project file/ KS
Day file
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