09-102292CITY OF
Federal Way
June 22, 2009
Ms. Jacqueline L. Doman
TLC Property Management Company
27013 Pacific Highway South
Des Moines, WA 98198 -9250
CITY HALL
FILE
33325 8th Avenue South
Mailing Address: PO Box 9718
Federal Way, WA 98063 -9718
(253) 835 -7000
www. cityoffederalway.. com
RE: FILE #09- 102292- 00-AD; RESPONSE TO INQUIRY
Blue Ridge Apartments Proposed Sign Height, 28606 Pacific Hwy South, Federal Way
Dear Ms. Doman:
The city's Department of Community Development Services is in receipt of your June 18, 2009, letter
requesting administrative relief from maximum height regulations prescribed to multifamily signage.
Your letter indicated that recent city improvements to Pacific Highway South, adjacent to the subject
property, resulted in an engineered slope that negatively affects your proposed monument sign. As
proposed, the height of the sign would measure six feet; Federal Way Revised Code (FWRC) prescribes
maximum height of five feet.
The city's construction standards allow minor deviations from the dimensional standards of the sign code
with the exception of maximum sign height. FWRC 19.140.170(d) states: "[m]inor deviations from the
dimensional standards for signs, except for maximum sign height (emphasis added), may be approved by
the administrator if he or she concludes that the resulting sign does not significantly change the relative
proportion of the sign base to the sign face."
Due to provisions within FWRC 19.140.170, the Department of Community Development Services
is unable to grant your administrative height deviation request.
If you are unable to redesign the monument sign to conform to height regulations, you may submit a
Process IV Master Land Use application requesting a variance from the sign code. Sign variances require
a public hearing with a decision made by the Hearing Examiner. The Hearing Examiner will grant a
variance if the six criteria listed in FWRC 19.140.180(3) are met.
If you have any questions regarding this letter or you would like further information on the sign variance
process, please contact me at 253- 835 -2638 or matt.herrera @cityoffederalway.com. The code sections
cited in this letter can be accessed online at http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/FederalWaY/.
Since rely
ely
M r—rer�a –--�
Associate Planner
c: Grace Skidmore, Development Specialist
Doc. ID. 50493
TLC Property Management Company
vvYvm7LCPR0PMWffA=
June 17, 2009
Isaac Conlen
Planning Manager
City of Federal Way
33325 — 8e' Ave S.
P. O. Box 9718
Federal Way, WA 98063 -9718
RE: Blue Ridge Apartments — Signage Permitting
28606 Pacific Hwy S., Federal Way, WA 98023
Parcel #332204 9157
Dear Mr. Conlen:
oj� 91 -1 171 -00 A6
27013 Pacific Highway So. #294
Des Moines, WA 98198
PH: 253 - 945 -9595
FAX: 253 - 945 -9603
I was discussing the new signage issues for the Blue Ridge Apts with Grace at your Permit Counter.
She suggested I contact you to see if the city might consider a minor deviation due to the new "hill" that
was created on this property via the City's revision of Pacific Hwy S. When the contractors rebuilt the
hill & driveway in front of the apt bldgs , it was at the steepest grade allowable by code (very steep). So
when my sign contractor measured for installing a 4' X 8' sign along the entry driveway, no matter
where it is placed, one end is always much longer than the other, in order to keep the sign
perpendicular. The driveway slope was not this way at all before the City took it away from us. Now the
slope is so steep, that if I have a one foot base on the east side of the sign, I end up with 3' on the lower
West side of the sign. Giving an average of 6' tall for the sign. Any lower and the sign will likely end up
damaged or covered with grass on the uphill side. As you know, the code says 5 feet maximum, but
this steep hill was not something we had before & now it has created a problem.
Since the City itself created the steep grade (they could have made a gentler one, but for some reason
they made the wall quite low at the point of the easement road.), I am hopeful that the City would
consider accommodating this slight deviation on the sign in the name of steepness created by the
Municipality and not owner. Please let me know if you think the City will consider the deviation without
going thru a formal "variance" which I cannot afford.
Our plan is to have a big "V" shape of 2 - 8 foot signs intersecting, lowest apex point is16 feet directly
east from the FENCE installed by city on the wall at Pacific Hwy S. I have attached some initial photos,
maps and pics of the proposal, which will follow with a formal sign permit of course.
Please note that currently we have NO SIGN at the Blue Ridge Apartments because the city forced us
to remove ours & then their contractors damaged the original ones we had (cry! sob!). My cell phone #
is 206 -422 -7656 or home phone 253 - 945 -9595.
1 would appreciate any input on this matter swiftly, as it will take a while to get the permit through and
the sign constructed.
Sincerfer
"�.Z� E®
Jacque
/Owner
JUN 18 20r;9
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
CDS
MAJIM2
a �
y
sRp
x
r
y
J 9f 4
fi
al
vil
3
gg Is
rZ �
Y �
z
0 V
5z uj `v
f� m 00 �L
z
I
V
v
C
CL
T
c Y
C 00 L
a 3
d X c
O o
a
a
c_
iz m 15
V
v
0
O
0
O
N
0
O
0
Of
C
j Q C
C a) a.
c 7 c
V
o 0
m
d
O
O
W
M
I
J
V
C
7
O
1 D,
A
Y >
LL fl
+
'O
C �
o
CL
N
C 11
V a E
ro N V
3 N O V
= >o0a
c
01
N
O
.3 v
v L
'v N
o c
o
O/
l/T
"O
v
CL
aa)
V
C
7
O
m
> N
O
L G
Y a
in
m C O
A
ML
ro v
V 0 �
QJ
d Q
i
o O Y
� O V
�oaa
G
O1
Z'H
O
N
> Y
_ L
— of
V L
` t
a
O �
o c
N O
N
N
� C
Y C
r (U
Q
Cy -0
C
C
O
.Y
m
c
O �
O_ O
Q
=M
C Y N
C,
W_
d
0
c
e+
d
0
CL
Y
V1
$ O
y �n
a
m
V
a
a
p
Z
cW
Q
d
Q
L W
d
F W d W
N V 0 7
V G m
0
0
0
I N
f O 6 Z
O O h zz
M
K O '40
N
L
0 O G
c O co OI
L N 'N
V
c
a
ci
o
60p
oia o
A y y i+
0 2u
a n
a O
0 no
w a d c
N
0
f IDE
X0
o u
= a
C c
al
N R
d CCC$
9
a
L
F
r'I
,�
"al?MtlQJ�I s3wJ5
1S'Y'N"13)5 SYLL
QAdV
A9
NOISIA3a
eI�9'ZS'Z�3'+ 8X3§
Vl -OMLI V
VI-0M21
ss szw9s S _ _ _ - a9 a I -
AeM 1ejaPaj
-1'11HW l
90 AAE)
a'cw 3wo�sN we
00IliVLLL 03dA..1 NI dV0A 301A0Nd 10
3d1LL'WVIO "NI 9V 3IOHNVW 30V1d3N El
" I.-Ad NO Z 1 31O ltlH3N3033S £
3nrov ONV 31OHNVW l0MJlSN0032J
'SON1211N3W1SOfOv M3N
31OHNVW .Z V.40 NOU lWISNI 0NV
114NVW 230 NOIlO3S 31400 ONV SONIN
1snm d0IVAO1II13N 31-11 SEIM03
30Vi]O 03HSINId Ol lsnfOV l
ON NOacInIl1SNOO EJNIAVd
$21Q0,
H.9llOt Z6£+-0965
N A "4 14311430
eI�9'ZS'Z�3'+ 8X3§
Vl -OMLI V
VI-0M21
ss szw9s S _ _ _ - a9 a I -
�' .ZO IZ =1
.G99E =1
a Aooc =N
.9o.3
CO3AR1f1-0 0 �
L E�L6 S
21.0 "9 N31N30
6211{0 211X3
114 l 0 5 ,.; .,.6.... ....
.-V9-N IIVM
NOLLISNV81 NMONO
ON 3ANOO
0NIAVd H1d3011O3
S11Wf70NIAVd rccccc'c
I.-OAd OMO 31003H0S H0V021ddV
AVM3AIN0 33S'AVM3AI2f003SOdONd
G ON9 ON3031
ln�
ins jno � °) � 1n3 --_ in:) —
\ Q' sand 211X3
o_ �--�'-'��
/ 143 1NV1d ON3 �..
9 +�
— ,-, rl
£a o
0
N
N
)jr �
> m
Q �
6bZiS N3dV1.OW 114
TTM 'Aty .�:] 'NZZ I