07-105316 Alib, CITY CITY OF HALL
8th Avenue SouthFederal Way Mailing Address: PO Box 9718
Federal Way,WA 98063-9718
(253)835-7000
www.cilyoffederalway.com
•
October 3,2007
Mr.Jim Pakota
Brooklake Community Church
629 South 356th Street
Federal Way,WA 98003-8651
Re: Permit#07-105316-00-AD; ZONING CODE INTERPRETATION
Storage/Shipping Container;35800 Pacific Highway South,Federal Way
Dear Mr.Pakota:
This letter responds to your request for the city to grant land use approval for a shipping container
utilized for storage that has been Iocated on your property for some time.
The subject shipping container is used as a building and is therefore regulated as a building.Like
other buildings,it must comply with dimensional requirements of the code(i.e. setbacks,
maximum height, etc).The container must also satisfy certain design guidelines pursuant to
Federal Way City Code(FWCC)Chapter 22,Article XIX.Applicable guidelines for structures
located in a residential zoning district require a pitched roof,architectural articulation,etc.
The purpose of the design guidelines is to maintain the aesthetic quality of the built environment
within the city,as viewed from adjacent properties and the public right-of-way.There is no public
interest in regulating the appearance of buildings that are not visible from off-site.Therefore, the
city,by interpretation,finds that accessory buildings not visible from off-site are not subject to
the requirements of FWCC Chapter 22,Article XIX,"Community Design Guidelines."Should
such a building become visible from off-site at some future date, design guidelines in effect at the
time would then become applicable.
The subject shipping container meets all setback requirements,building height requirements,and
all other applicable dimensional requirements.Based on its current location,the shipping
container is screened with existing mature vegetation from the east, south,and north,but is
visible from the northwest side from South 356th Street.Therefore,the container must be: 1)
modified to satisfy design guidelines; 2)screened from view on the west side with vegetation
and/or fencing agreeable to the city; 3)relocated to an area entirely screened from off-site; or 4)
removed from the site.
File#07-105316-00-AD Doc.I.D.42547
41111
Mr.Jim Pakota
Page 2
October 3,2007
You may appeal this interpretation by submitting a written letter of appeal to Interim Director
Greg Fewins within 14 days of this notice(5:00 p.m.,October 17,2007).Your letter of appeal
should indicate how the interpretation affects your property and present any relevant arguments
or information on the correctness of the interpretation.You must also include the appeal fee as
established by the City as the appeal will not be accepted unless the required fee accompanies it.
Please contact Senior Planner Isaac Conlen at isaac.conlen(aicityoffederalway.com,or 253-835-
2643, and let him know how you would like to proceed.For your information,fences over six
feet in height require a building permit.
Sincerely,
Greg Fewins,Interim Director
Community Development Services Department
c: Isaac Conlen,Senior Planner
File 407-105316-00-AD Doc.I.D.42547