04-101919CITY OF CITY HALL
Federal Way 33530 1st Way South • PO Box 9718
Federal Way, WA 98063 9718
(253) 661-4000
www.cityoffederalway.com
June 10, 2004
Betty Sanders, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
City of Federal Way
PO BOX 9718
Federal Way, WA 98063-9718
Re: Permit #04-101919-000-00-SM; THOMPSON PARK
2202 S 333rd Street * Right of Way Modification Response
Dear Ms. Sanders:
The Public Works Department has received your request to waive the required planter strip for
the right-of-way improvements, modify the sidewalk improvements to not include the eastern 55
feet of frontage on S 333rd Street, and to waive the installation of streetlights along the frontage.
Staff has evaluated the existing conditions along S 333rd Street, Federal Way City Code (FWCQ
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 245 feet of frontage on S 333rd Street.
Existing frontage improvements for this street section consist of five feet of curb, gutter and
sidewalk on the south (opposite side) of S. 333"d Street, an approximate paved width of 28.5 feet,
all within a 60-foot wide right-of-way. The planned roadway section for S 333rd Street is a
Type-R street, which consists of a paved width of 40 feet, with curb, gutter, a_ four -foot wide
planter strip with street trees, a five-foot wide sidewalk, and streetlights, all within a 66-foot
right-of-way.
The required planter strip improvements would not be harmonious with existing street
improvements. Due to topography, it would require a significant amount of vegetation on the
park property to be removed. Therefore the request to waive the planter strip requirement is
granted. The sidewalk may end where shown at the east end of the park; however on the west
side, the sidewalk must be extended to the property line.
The new sidewalk will require an asphalt transition that meets ADA standards at both ends, and
the street widening on S 333rd shall be tapered. The Parks Department will be required to
Betty Sanders
City of Federal Way
June 10, 2004
Pager 2
dedicate an additional three feet of right-of-way to the City. Please complete the Statutory
Warranty Deed worksheet and return it promptly to Kim Scattarella at the post office box
address listed above.
Streetlighting along the frontage on S 333'd Street must comply with City of Federal Way
Illumination Standards. Therefore, this modification request is denied. Two streetlights shall be
provided along the frontage. Prescribed City Standards require 100-Watt lights, 30-foot
streetlight height above the ground, and a spacing of 195 feet between streetlights. These lights
may be mounted on existing poles, and coordination with Puget Sound Energy - Intolight will be
required.
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) 661-4132.
Sincerely,
Ken Miller, P.E.
Deputy Director Public Works
KM:KS/dl
Enclosure
cc: Project file/ KS
Day file
1: \csdc\docs\save\ 16191425028.doc
OL(-(vtq(g -SM
A
CITY OF
Federal Way
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 13, 2004
Topic: Thompson Park Property
Right -of -Way Improvement Modification Request
The following information was provided in the Preapplication Letter from Deb Barker, dated
March 11, 2004. The comments are from Raid Tirhi:
South 333rd Street is a Type R street, consisting of a 40 foot street with curb,
gutter, four foot planter strip with trees, six-foot sidewalk, and street lights in a
66 foot right-of-way.
Staff would support a modification request to provide half street improvements for
parking and widening of the existing traffic lane to current standard with curb
and gutter, and a six-foot sidewalk.
Modification Requests:
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 190 feet long, of a total 245 feet street frontage.
Explanation: On the west end of the property, -an existing rockery precludes
development of this corner. On the east end of the property is the stream buffer. We feel
that the stream buffer should remain undisturbed in this location, to serve as a filter strip
adjacent to the Hylebos Creek. The street and sidewalk layout as planned will allow
pedestrian access to the existing driveway, which will be re -used as the new point of
access into the park. A widened street length of 190 feet will allow parking of at least six
cars, which is adequate to serve the park.
Reason: Unusual topographic or physical conditions preclude the construction of
improvements as required.
2. Planter Strip with Trees: The Type R street section calls for a four -foot wide
planter strip between the curb and sidewalk. We are proposing to eliminate the planter
strip.
Explanation: The site is heavily wooded now, and shade is already an issue on the site.
An existing 6 foot high embankment at the street edge is being regraded, to allow
visibility into the site. A small basketball court will be sited approximately 33 feet from
the back of the sidewalk. Because basketball courts are one of the places in parks that
can attract undesirable behavior, it has been placed close to the street so that it is easily
visible to neighbors and police. We would like to maintain good visibility into the heart
of the park as well, as vandalism in the parks has increased substantially in the last few
years.
The small 2.8-acre site will retain 71 significant trees, and will retain more than 120 trees
between 6" and 12" diameter. This project will plant an additional 57 trees. About four
or five deciduous trees will be placed between the sidewalk and the basketball court,
allowing visibility into the park. They are placed at a more random spacing than street
trees, since this is a street with no existing street tree planting.
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.
3. Street Lights: The Type R street section also calls for street lights. It is proposed
to provide no street lighting.
Explanation: There are two existing poles that could accommodate a street light. One is
toward the west end of the property. A light here is likely to have enough overspill that
play on the basketball court might become attractive to users, beyond the normal park
hours of dawn to dusk. The other pole is next to the Hylebos Creek,: within the stream
buffer. A light in this location could have an undesirable affect on the stream and
associated wildlife.
Reasons: 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.