Change of Use -SignedCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 33325 8th Avenue South Federal Way, WA 98003-6325
253-835-7000
www.cityoffederalway.com
Jim Ferrell, Mayor
July 15, 2020
Mr. Alex Bogomaz
1909 South 341st Place
Federal Way, WA 98003
Re: File #20-100735-00-AD; CHANGE OF USE
Voice of Hope Church, 1909 South 341st Place, Federal Way
Dear Mr. Bogomaz:
The Department of Community Development at the City of Federal Way received your Change of Use
application submittal on February 20, 2020, and resubmittal on July 7, 2020, from broadcast studio use to a
church use. The site is zoned Commercial Enterprise (CE). The previous use of the building was for
broadcasting. No site modifications are planned.
ZONING COMPLIANCE REVIEW
Federal Way Revised Code (FWRC) 19.15.025 addresses a change of use at a developed site as follows:
“19.15.025. Zoning and use review process for new tenants – Change of use at a developed site.
The purpose of this section is to review and determine compliance with applicable zoning and
development code requirements when a new use is proposed to occupy an existing building or
site. When a land use changes from one use category in the zoning charts to another use
category, a zoning compliance review shall be performed as part of the use process review, when
required, or in conjunction with the required business registration and/or building permit review.
Each paragraph in a zoning chart is a use category. If the new use is in the same use category as
any previous legal use of the site, no zoning compliance review is required.”
The existing and proposed uses are located in different zoning charts; therefore, a zoning compliance review
is required. Per FWRC 19.15.025(1), any new use shall comply with only those standards of the use zoning
charts that are directly related to the new use as determined by the director. Examples include parking, use-
specific setbacks, use-specific special regulations and notes, and nonconforming surface water quality
improvements identified in FWRC 19.30.120. Other nonconforming aspects of the site which are not made
nonconforming as a result of the change of use are not required to be brought into conformance as a result
of this subsection.
Mr. Alex Bogomaz
Page 2 of 2
July 15, 2020
20-100735-00-AD Doc. I.D. 80610
CHANGE OF USE ANALYSIS
The subject property is zoned Commercial Enterprise (CE). Churches are a permitted use pursuant to FWRC
19.240.160, “Churches.”
Use-Specific Regulations and Notes – No external changes to the existing building are proposed.
Parking Requirements – Per FWRC 19.240.000, the previous tenant space use of retail had a
minimum parking requirement of one parking space for every 300 square feet of gross floor area.
The proposed church use requires one parking space for every five seats. The sanctuary has a
total of 210 seats, which requires 42 parking stalls.
The submitted site plan and aerial photo of the parking spaces details 54 parking spaces. There is
adequate amount of parking for the proposed use.
Setbacks – Required minimum setbacks for the proposed use in the CE zone are 20 feet front, 0
feet side, and 0 feet rear. No additions are proposed; the existing building meets the setbacks.
CONCLUSION
In summary, the proposed zoning Change of Use for this developed site is acceptable. This letter is not
intended to identify all issues, as modifications to the building require additional review processes, including,
but not limited to, building permit review. Also, you will need to obtain a city business license through the
City Clerk’s Office before occupying the building. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please
contact me at chaney.skadsen@cityoffederalway.com.
Sincerely,
Chaney Skadsen
Associate Planner