ROW Modification RequestOctober 22, 2019
Mr. EJ Walsh, P.E.
Public Works Director
City of Federal Way
33325 81h Avenue S
Federal Way, WA 98003
RE: Right -of -Way Modification and Improvement Waiver Request
The Woodlands at Redondo Creek
Dear Mr. Walsh:
Job No. 1352-023-019
Please accept this letter as our revised request for a modification of street standards for a
portion of South 304th Street as provided in FWRC 19.135.070 - Modification, Deferments
and Waivers. Specifically, we are proposing to modify the improvements where a two-way
left turn lane is not warranted.
The subject property includes 21.85 acres to be subdivided into 68 single-family lots. The
primary proposed access will come from the existing 20th Avenue South that extends from
South 304th Street, with a secondary access point adjacent to 201h Avenue S and S 300th
Street. The project site abuts Highway 99 (Pacific Avenue) and South 304th Street.
The ROW dedication and frontage improvement requirements are due to an element of the
Comprehensive Plan that depicts a 3-lane east -west principal collector road extending from
Pacific Avenue to Military Road, to accommodate a Type X" street with a 78-foot ROW.
ESM previously submitted a ROW Modification Request dated April 9, 2019, requesting a
reduction of right-of-way improvements along the subject site's entire frontage of S 3041h
Street. Excerpted from the previous request: `The proposed improvements include providing
a 12' drive path from the existing road center line in addition to 0.5' for curb and gutter.
Additionally, a 5' sidewalk from the edge of curb will be provided for non -motorized uses
An additional 1 ' foran approved handrail will be provided as required between the sidewalk
and wetland, where elevation begins to slope down from the roadway. This equates to an
approximate 0.5' - 1.5' expansion of improvements that provides for safe vehicular and
pedestrian paths "
33400 8th Ave. S. Ste 205 Tel (253) 838 6113
Everett (425) 297 9900
Civil Engineering
Land Planning
Federal Way, WA 98003 Fax (253) 838 7104
Toll Free (800) 345 5694
Land Surveying
Landscape Architecture
www.esmciviL.com
3D Laser Scanning
GIs
Mr. EJ Walsh, P.E.
October 22, 2019
Page 2
Preliminary feedback from City Staff included a desire to evaluate the potential need for the
center turn lane both now and in the future. Despite the highly unlikely scenario of future
turning movements occurring along the road segment spanning the wetland area on both
north and south sides of S. 304th, it was agreed that prudent analysis would include looking
at turn -pocket storage and taper requirements for potential left turn lanes at both the
intersection at 20th Avenue S. and Pacific Hwy. Formal study of these potential future design
features was included in the Traffic Impact Analysis performed by Traffex and confirm that a
center turn lane can be omitted from the segment spanning the wetland while providing for
requisite turn -pocket storage and taper at the two intersections either side.
Proposed Street Improvement Modification
This modification request proposes to dedicate the required 9' width to public right-of-way
and a reduction of right-of-way improvements along a portion of the subject site's frontage
of South 3041h Street.
The proposed improvements include providing the standard half -street improvements for
most of the site's frontage of S 3041h Street, including half (6) two-way left turn lane, 11' travel
lane, 5' bike lane, 6' planting strip, 8' sidewalk and 3' utility strip. These improvements will
begin from the western edge of improved 201h Avenue S to where the turn lane tapering
begins, approximately 100' west towards SR 99. The two-way left turn lane tapers for 180'
westward, where the left turn lane is then completed. All other street improvements are
proposed to be provided for the remaining approximately 265' of street frontage.
Please refer to the Preliminary Plat Plan Set and Traffic Impact Analysis included with the
Preliminary Plat submittal.
Modification Request Justification
We are requesting to modify street improvements along the South 304th Street right-of-way
due to the following justifications:
FWRC 19. I35.070(l) 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.
South 304th Street is currently improved with an approximately 24' roadway with
shoulders along the corridor between Pacific Hwy South and Military Road South.
Except for the subject site and the property across the right-of-way (fully encumbered
by critical areas), all parcels of land are fully developed according to the current
zoning and land use designation established by the City of Federal Way. The
approximately 550' of subject frontage improvements makes up less than 5% of the
specific South 3041h South corridor. That said, it is highly unlikely that any additional
future development will provide Type K right-of-way dedications or improvements
elsewhere in the corridor.
Mr. EJ Walsh, P.E.
October 23, 2019
Page 3
A left turn lane warrant analysis was performed for eastbound to northbound left
turns from S 3041h Street to 20th Avenue S by Traffex. They determined that future
conditions, including subject project volumes, will not warrant a left turn lane at the
time of project completion. However, full Section K half -street improvements are
provided with the proposed project to facilitate future construction of the turn lane
once south side ROW dedications and improvements are made with future projects,
if any.
As referenced from the Traffic Impact Analysis provided by Traffex, page 5,
"Assuming that ultimately there will be a left turn lane warranted on S 304th both at
20th [Ave] S and also at SR 99, the site frontage widening would need to allow for ...
future left turn lanes and associated tapers." The recommended tapering
configurations for both 201h Avenue S and SR 99 are described on page 5. Ultimately,
the extents of needed left turn lanes and their tapering do not overlap the portion of
the subject site near the onsite wetland.
2. FWRC 19.135.070(2) Unusual topographic or physical conditions preclude the
construction of the improvements as required.
A forested wetland encumbers the subject site close to the edge of the property
abutting South 304th Street. This wetland is an outfall of drainage from Steel Lake
that requires a buffer of 150'. While the existing conditions of the proposed 9' right-
of-way dedication into the wetland buffer is permanently altered due to previous
ROW improvements and stormwater infrastructure (as noted in the Critical Areas
Report provided by Sewall Consulting), narrowing the frontage improvements and
retaining mature vegetation as proposed will minimize impacts to the critical area.
As noted, the applicant of this preliminary plat requests modification of improvements along
South 304th street frontage, where a two-way left turn lane and is not warranted and the
frontage with tapering associated with the proposed turn lane.
We look forward to working with you through the City's review and approval process and
would welcome the opportunity to discuss this request at your convenience. Should you
have any questions, or require additional information, please contact me at (253) 838-6113.
Sincerely,
ESM CON„ULTINQ ENGINEERS, L.L.C.
JO VN EVERETT
Panning Director
Enc: As Noted
cc: Dmitriy Mayzlin (w/enc)
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