The Federal Way City Council will decide Sept. 2 during a public hearing whether to sell a portion of the South 320th Street right-of-way to Quadrant Corporation.
The builder has petitioned the city to vacate the land — between 32nd Avenue South and the South King Fire and Rescue station on South 320th Street — and allow the property to be purchased for up to 100 percent of its appraised value: $57,900.
If the council gives the OK to sell the approximately 10-foot strip of the right-of-way, no other property owners will be affected, said John Mulkey, street systems project engineer.
“It’s excess right-of-way that the city basically doesn’t need,” he said.
Before a vacation of the property is granted, the city council must confirm that selling the land benefits the community. A sale will be approved only if vacating provides a public benefit, fits into the city’s Comprehensive Plan objectives and does not interfere with future development in the area, according to an Aug. 7 staff report to the Land Use and Transportation sub-committee. The property cannot abut a body of water or be needed for public use, according to the report.
The city council already approved the developer’s application to build. Quadrant secured an amendment to the city’s Comprehensive Plan and a zoning change, which allows for single-family detached lots in a multiple family zoning area.
Quadrant must mitigate its construction by widening South 320th Street near the housing project, called South 320th Place. The strip would be turned into a landscape buffer between the widened street and the development, said Wally Costello, Quadrant Corporation senior vice president.
“It really ends up being a benefit to the city and us,” Costello said.
Quadrant is ready to purchase the strip at its full appraised value, he said. Costello does not expect the city council to reject the petition to vacate, he said. The sale of the land and subsequent building on the property would not adversely affect nearby property owners, Mulkey said. It would allow for a mutual benefit to the city and the developer, he said.
“There’s a benefit to the city to get rid of unused property and to be able to collect property taxes on (the Quadrant homes),” he said.
If the council gives the go-ahead, a few orders of business must first take place before the land is turned over to Quadrant. Overhead utility lines are present on the property, as well as gas and water pipelines, according to the staff report. The city must obtain easements for the pipelines and place the overhead lines off location and underground, according to the same report.
Contact Jacinda Howard:
jhoward@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.
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The public hearing on this topic will occur at 7 p.m. Sept. 2 at City Hall, 33325 8th Ave. S. Anyone wishing to voice concerns or comments about vacating the land will get a chance to address the city council at this time.
