01-21-2020 School Siting Regulations1
City of Federal Way
Presentation to the City Council
Ratification of Amendments to the Countywide Planning Policies regarding School Siting
January 21, 2020
Should the City Council ratify the amendments to the Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) adopted by the King County Council that sets out best practices for cities and the county working
together with school districts to build new schools and school facilities within the Urban Growth Area (UGA)?
Policy Question
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The City has received a request from King County to ratify an amendment to the King County Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) related to the siting of schools.
The Growth Management Planning Council (GMPC) originally developed and adopted the CPPs.
The GMPC is made up of elected officials from King County, Seattle, Bellevue, the Suburban Cities, and Special Districts.
Background
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The CPPs were first adopted by the King County Council and ratified by the cities in 1994.
Subsequent amendments are recommended by the GMPC, adopted by the King County Council and ratified by the cities.
Background
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Amendments become effective when ratified by ordinance or resolution by at least 30 percent of the city and county governments representing 70 percent of the population of King County.
A city is deemed to have ratified the amendments if it either sends a letter in support of the amendments or does nothing.
City Council Action
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If the City council desires to disapprove the amendments they must take legislative action by January 23, 2020.
City Council Action
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Identify surplus public properties that could work as new school sites.
Assist with identifying private properties that could be available for new school sites.
Look for opportunities for shared use of buildings, fields, parking, and other facilities between the city or county and the school district.
Summary of Proposed Amendments
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City Response: If approached by the School District, the City through its Geographical Information System (GIS) division can assist with this identification.
City Response: The City has an interlocal agreement with the School District for joint use of the parks at Saghalie, Sacajawea, and Lakota Middle Schools.
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Consider options and zoning for mixed-use development that could accommodate a school.
Investigate how regulations and processes can be modified to make challenging sites work for new, expanded, and renovated school facilities and consider the feasibility of allowing playfields
in the Rural Area adjacent to schools located in the UGA and with direct access from the UGA.
Summary of Proposed Amendments
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City Response: Schools are allowed in the Neighborhood Business (BN), Community Business (BC), City-Center Frame (CC-F), and City-Center Core (CC-C) zones, which all allow schools and
mixed-use development. There is an Early Learning Center at Uptown Square, a recently constructed mixed-use development complex.
City Response: Flexible regulations include height restrictions, maximum lot coverage, and parking standards.
The City’s zoning regulations do not presently include such flexible regulations; however, the City accepts requests for code amendments, which could address flexible standards for schools
The City does not have any authority for location of school facilities in the UGA outside of the City or Rural Area, as they are presently under King County’s jurisdiction.
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Broaden the number of zone classifications within which schools are permitted to locate.
Coordinate the permit review process to improve certainty for school districts and to shorten the permitting process time (using priority permitting as appropriate).
Implement a phased review of school development so the school site may be modified as needed over time, and so portable facilities may be sited and/or replaced in an efficient manner.
Summary of Proposed Amendments
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City Response: Schools are an allowable use in all zones except the Commercial Enterprise (CE) zone, which is the City’s equivalent of an industrial zone. However, business schools,
vocational schools, and trade schools are allowed in the CE zone.
City Response: The Building Division does offer the option for a third-party review at the applicant’s expense, which would expedite the review and approval process.
The City completed review of land use permits for four schools during the last year with all schools being approved.
City Response: The zoning code has provisions for phased review for addition of portables to a developed school site or when proposing development of a new school.
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Work with school districts to establish site-specific Transportation Demand Management (TDM) protocols to encourage more walking, biking, and transit ridership to reduce the need for
parking.
Partner with school districts in the planning and financing needed to improve, if appropriate, based on topography and surrounding neighborhood characteristics, walking, and biking routes
to school.
Summary of Proposed Amendments
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City Response: The City does not presently have site-specific TDM protocols to encourage more walking, biking, and transit ridership to reduce the need for parking.
However, the Plan Review Process addresses TDM and the City worked closely with the School District in the development of four new schools on facilities enhancing walking, biking, and
bussing.
In addition, the City has a number of goals and policies in Chapter 3, “Transportation” of the comprehensive plan, to encourage more walking, biking, and transit ridership.
City Response: The City does not have an existing policy of partnering with the School District in the planning and financing for the improvement of walking and biking activities. Any
financing decisions are made by the City Council in a particular situation.
However, the City does have zoning regulations related to providing “Complete Streets” in Federal Way Revised Code (FWRC) 19.135.205. This policy states that the City will plan for,
design, and construct all new and retrofitted transportation projects to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodation for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users of all ages
and abilities, creating a comprehensive, integrated, connected network for all modes of travel, including walking and biking.
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The City has existing zoning regulations, Comprehensive Plan goals and policies, and best practices in the plan review process to comply with all of the amendments except for the last
one related to partnering with school districts in the planning and financing.
Any financing decisions would be up to the City Council’s discretion.
Summary
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The City Council has three options:
1. Send a letter in support of the amendments to the CPPs to King County, which would have the effect of ratification.
2. Do nothing, which also is considered to be ratification.
3. Adopt a resolution opposing the amendments to the CPPs.
City Council Options
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The Mayor recommends that the City Council approve the proposed amendments to the CPPs contained in Ordinance 18991(GMPC Motion No. 18-1) related to best practices jurisdictions can
take to facilitate the development and renovation of public schools within the Urban Growth Area (UGA) and direct staff to draft a letter to King County for the Mayor’s signature.
Mayor’s Recommendation
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Questions?
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