20-102489-Variance-Driveway-2020-06-02-V1-DraftJune 2, 2020
Stacey Welsh, Principal Planner
City of Federal Way
Department of Community Development
33325 – 8th Avenue South
Federal Way, WA 98003
RE: Request for Variance to Public Works Development Standards for Driveway Width
Pape Kenworth NW – Federal Way
Northeast Corner of South 320th Street and I-5
City of Federal Way, King County, Washington
Our Job No. 20833
Dear Stacey:
This variance request has been prepared in response to the review comment provided in the Public
Works – Traffic Division section of the letter dated April 24, 2020 to justify the use of 50-foot wide
driveways for the half street improvements along 32nd Avenue South. Section 3.2.14B of City of Federal
Way Public Works Development Standard states that “For driveway cuts t hat serve uses other than
single-family residential uses, the maximum driveway width is 30-foot for a two-lane, two-way driveway
and 40-foot for a three-lane, two-way driveway. Driveway cut widths may be increased in order to provide
adequate width for vehicles that may be reasonably expected to use the driveway as determined by the
Public Works Director”. The PAPE project is a truck maintenance facility with areas for office, showroom
and parts warehouse and a separate structure to be used as a body shop. The property may also include
a storage area for trailers that arrive on the site in association with maintenance or repair. Most traffic to
and from the site will be large trucks with wide turning radiuses. The project driveways will need to
accommodate safe movements of traffic in and out of the site. Enclosed are truck maneuvering diagram
exhibits which show the need for 50-foot wide driveways for trucks to access the site in a safe manner
without encroaching onto the sidewalk.
The following are justifications for approval of this variance as required by the city.
a. “That the variance will not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the
limitations upon uses of other properties in the vicinity and zone in which the subject property
is located.”
Response: Granting this variance will not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent
with the limitations upon uses of other properties. The design of these driveways as proposed
will meet the requirements of the traffic movements in a safe manner based on the use of the
subject property.
b. “That the variance is necessary because of special circumstances relating to the size, shape,
topography, location, or surrounding of the subject property to provide it with use rights and
privileges permitted to other properties in the vicinity and zone in which the subject property
is located.”
Response: The variance is necessary due to the size of trucks that will access this site to
provide safe maneuvering of traffic to and from the subject property which is consistent with
the allowable use of the subject property.
City of Federal Way
Department of Community Development -2- June 2, 2020
c. “That the granting of the variance will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or
injurious to the property or improvements in the vicinity and zone in which the subject
property is located.”
Response: Granting this variance will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or
injurious to the property or improvements in the vicinity and zone in which the subject
property is located because these driveways are being constructed in accordance with city
standards and have been allowed in other similar project zone in which the subject property
is located.
d. “That the special circumstances of the subject property are not the result of the actions of the
owner or the subject property.”
Response: The need for wider driveways is not the result of the actions of the owner of this
development and is based on the use of the property allowed under subject property zoning.
We believe that this variance should be granted for this project, since it is demonstrated that the use of a
wider driveways would accommodate better traffic movement on the public road accessing the site and is
in the public interest for safety. Please review at your earliest convenience and please feel free to contact
me with any questions or need additional information. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Daniel K. Balmelli, P.E.
Executive Vice President
DKB/yg
20833c.003.doc
enc: As Noted
cc: Quinn Closson, Pape Group
Bart Dickson, Cobalt Development
Howard Kimura, H.G. Kimura Architect, PLLC
Ali Sadr, Barghausen Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Ben Eldridge, Barghausen Consulting Engineers, Inc.