Letter Becky Chapin, City of Federal Way 1-2-2020Laurie Ault -Sayan
2007 S 301s' St
Federal Way, WA 98003
206-310-7799
January 2, 2020
Becky Chapin, Senior Planner
Federal Way Community Development
City of Federal Way
33325 81h Avenue S
Federal Way, WA 98003-6325
Beck.chapin@cityoffederalway.com
Dear Ms. Chapin:
I have the following objections to the development of "The Woodlands at Redondo Creek". My
objections are based on the critical impact that this development will have on the quality of life
on my family, my neighbors on 301st Street, the wildlife who live in the wetlands
Traffic
The plan has traffic using 20th Avenue S. to dump traffic onto 304th Street. 304th is already an
overburdened street. Although never intended to be a thoroughfare, People use 3041h to drive
from Military to Pacific Hwy and from 304th across Pacific Hwy to Military. Since the traffic
control was installed at 3041h and 28th Avenue, cars back up on 304th from Pacific Hwy past 20th
Avenue S. to 21s' Avenue S during rush hour.
The intersection of Pacific Hwy and 3041h heading east or west has no left or right turn lane.
The lack of a left turn lane or signal has caused many collisions especially since one has to deal
with inexperienced and rushed drivers coming out of the high school. Also, the through traffic
heading east causes many of us heading west trying to turn left to sit through at least one light
to accommodate all the through traffic. It can take 2 or 3 lights to get through at rush hour or at
2:00 — 2:20 when the high school gets out. Also, customers from Steel Lake Village use 304th to
enter and exits the businesses there (and sometimes to bypass the light) and the business on the
South side of 3041h frequently has vehicles entering or exiting its business off of 304th, which has
caused at least one collision that I personally witnessed.
Since there are businesses on either side of 3041h at Pacific Hwy, (Mechanics Northwest 30402
Pacific Hwy S., and the other small businesses on the north), this intersection cannot be
enlarged to add right or left turn lanes without dislocating these small businesses. The city
Becky Chapin, Senior Planner
City of Federal Way
January 2, 2020
Page 2 of 5
should be encouraging small businesses and not using eminent domain to force them out of their
current space to another space with higher rent.
More accidents
The limited sight distance on 3041' between Pacific Hwy and 201h Ave S. would mean that traffic
slowing to enter 20ch Ave South could not be seen from an adequate distance by traffic
approaching on 3041h (Ask anyone who already lives in 201h Ave S.). Together with the drivers
who speed on this street this means more accidents.
Pedestrian safety
3041h has no sidewalks and a very narrow shoulder. Dumping more traffic onto this street makes
it even more dangerous for those of us who walk. If this development is allowed, the developer
should be required to put in Sidewalks on 3041' Street. Other cities require the developer to pay
for this, why isn't Federal Way?
Wetlands
The Redondo Creek is a sensitive ecosystem. It provides habitat for many species of birds. The
proposed development plans for wetlands protection is pitiful. It only allows for 112 feet in
certain places. Buffers around wetlands as necessary to reduce the adverse effects of
development. I Buffer effectiveness increases with the buffer width. The buffer should extend
200 to 300 feet beyond the wetland. The buffer needs to be heavily planted with native shrubs
to stabilize the soil, absorb water, and provide nesting and food for wildlife.
Washington State requires a buffer of up to 300 feet to combat and recommends a "chemical -
free zone surrounding the entire wetland of densely vegetated buffer strip to provide extra
filtering capacity to prevent chemicals from reaching the wetland. With more homes this means
more cars being washed outdoors, more vehicle oil and other fluids, more fertilizer, and more
animal waste draining into the wetlands. A buffer of 50 to 150 feet is necessaryjustto protect
the wetland from direct disturbance like trampling and debris. z This development has some of
the buffer extending into owner's property. A buffer that is on private property has little chance
of succeeding. An owner will use this area to dump their yard debris, cat litter, and other
garbage they are too cheap or lazy to properly recycle or take to the dump.
The proposed buffer does not consider the steep slope from Pacific Hwy. Where there is a steep
slope the buffer should be wider to reduce the erosion hazard. Erosion will cause sediments to
enter the wetland and affect water quality. It could kill certain species of fish spawn and
amphibians. There are not plans for adequate mitigation while this massive construction is
taking place. Mere
1 Wetland Buffers: Use and Effectiveness, Washington State Department of Ecology, February 1992, Page ii
Becky Chapin, Senior Planner
City of Federal Way
January 2, 2020
Page 3 of 5
Noise
More noise in our neighborhood, under the flight path to SeaTac will greatly lessen our quality
of life. Tree buffers also help to mitigate the noise and light pollution of development. The dense
mature trees help to lessen the traffic noise from Pacific Hwy. A 100-foot wide strip of trees and
shrubs can reduce noise by 5 to 8 decibels.3 Mature trees also act as a buffer against overhead
airplane noise. The noise is absorbed by trees and shrubs absorb the noise. The noise is
bounced off Houses and roof tops. 4ice rather than More noise in our neighborhood, under the
flight path to SeaTac will greatly lessen our quality of life. Wildlife cannot exit if it is subject to
high caliber noise and disturbance. Construction of this large project will undoubtedly cause
erosion and sedimentation from which the wetland may never recover. The Department of
Wildlife states that waterfowl will be disturbed even at the distance of 200 to 300 feet.
The proposed buffer will be cut by the proposed easements for water and sewer which can lead
to catastrophic results to this ecosystem if either fails. Additionally, this proposed buffer does
not even consider the existing polluters. There is already a used car lot at 30390 Pacific Hwy S
that allows its vehicles to leak fluids onto the pavement.
Additionally, the developer proposes to cut the trees. These trees are necessary to shade this
wetland to allow temperature moderation. The decayed trees are necessary for certain species.
A pair of Pileated woodpeckers have visited these woods for the past 10 summers. They were
undoubtedly displaced by other development allowed by Federal Way. This rare bird needs
dead and decaying trees to find insects and to roost. The Department of Ecology states that
3 Arbor Day Foundation, Landscape Design, Using Trees and Shrubs to Reduce Noise.
4 Federal Aviation Administration, "About Airports
Becky Chapin, Senior Planner
City of Federal Way
January 2, 2020
Page 4 of 5
Pileated woodpeckers nests within 492 feet of water, most nest within 164 feet. 5 If you only
provide for 112 feet of buffer where does this leave the woodpecker?
These woods are also the nesting site of many other species of birds including Downy
woodpeckers, Flickers, Anna's Hummingbirds, Rufus Hummingbirds, Chickadees, Purple
Finches, Doves, Swifts, warblers, nuthatches, wrens, finches, sparrows, juncos, Steller's jay and
bats. (I am leaving out the crows because there are too many of them already). Cooper's hawks,
Bald eagles and peregrine falcons hunt here. An Osprey unsuccessfully tried to nest here.
Bushtits and grosbeaks pass through to feed and rest in the trees. Robins come to this wetland
to raise young. A steady decline in habitat has caused a decline in these iconic American birds.
Where are these birds supposed to go when you allow this development?
These mature woods provide shelter for all these species when there is severe weather like wind
or our Pacific Northwest rain. These mature trees also provide a windbreak. If you remove these
trees, then the trees in my neighbors' yard will be subject to more wind stress and will be more
likely to break or fall in a heave windstorm.
Steel Lake species
Steel Lake into which Redondo Creek drains has native species of brown bullhead, largemouth
bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish and yellow Perch. Largemouth bass need shallow water to spawn.
Yellow perch also need in shallow areas or low current tributary streams in which to spawn.
Water Pressure
Those of us living on 30151 Street have pitiful water pressure. Ours is barely over 40 psi. It is
impossible for us to take a shower and run a load of clothes at the same time. We are told it is
because the water is pumped up hill. This is hard to understand when the water tower is
behind the house at 2004 301s' Street. But, anyway, the development has no plans to deal with
this issue other than to connect these 68 homes to the same water supply.
Sewer
Lakehaven Water and Sewer told you in 2015 that its sewer treatment is at capacity. Any great
change in population will require capital improvements. Since you already allowed 800 units
into our water and sewer district, will this development be the last straw in exceeding capacity?
Homeless encampments
This plan does not address the homeless who live on either side of the wetlands. If the stream
and its ecosystem is going to be preserved, the developer needs to pay for an 8-foot-tall fence
with barbed wire. Only this measure will keep the homeless out and to keep them from
polluting this area with their human waste and garbage. Only this measure will keep the cats
512
Becky Chapin, Senior Planner
City of Federal Way
January 2, 2020
Page 5 of 5
and dogs (and their feces) of the additional 68 homes out of this area to allow birds to nest
undisturbed.
just because the police are weary from chasing out the homeless from this area (they do not do a
good job at this), does not mean this land should be exploited. The owner should not be
rewarded for failing to take adequate measures to keep people out. Three cement barriers that
the homeless just walk around was never enough. The owner should be required to fence off this
area with an eight -foot fence with only one gates entrance.
Fact on local Schools
All the children of these 68 homes will go to our local schools. Federal Way High School already
has 1,568 students with a capacity of 1,600 with a student to teacher ratio of 21:1 which is higher
than the 19:1 level for the State. The nearest middle school, Sacajawea Middle School has 718
students. It is not scheduled for new construction under 2023. The school was built on the old
"save money build an open design" that does not provide adequate safety for school shootings.
Wildwood Elementary, built in 1967, is under construction with a new capacity of 600.
Since you allowed the massive housing (800 units) "Uptown Square" on 3201h the local schools
have had to deal with the increase in students from low income families who require more time
and attention and free or reduced lunches. You allowed this without any additional resources to
the schools.
In conclusion, I do not agree with this proposed development at The Woodlands at Redondo
Creek. The development plan does not adequately address any of the above issues. I intend to
fight this development and if necessary, I will petition my neighbors. Many of us in this older
subdivision, "Steel Lake Estates", feel that the City of Federal Way does not care about us. The
City has done nothing for us. The city has not many any capital improvements. The City has not
put sidewalks into our neighborhood to increase pedestrian safety. The police do not target
speeders. Nothing was done about our water pressure complaints. Our elementary school,
Wildwood was allowed to decay and become very low rated by the state. The City pushed the
traffic congestion from 304,h and 28Ch Street to 304,h Street 21sc Avenue, completely ignoring its
impact to those of us who use 304th Avenue to get to our home.
Please reconsider this proposed development.
Sincerely yours,
Laurie Ault -Sayan