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4815 Center Street
Tacoma, WA 98409-2319
(253) 474-9449 / sittshill.com
Brent K. Leslie, P.E., S.E.
Kathy A. Hargrave, P.E.
Larry G. Lindell, P.E., S.E.
Michael A. McEvilly, P.L.S.
Andrew J. Boileau, P.E., S.E.
David C. Boileau, AIA
Civil | Structural | Survey
October 14, 2022
CITY OF RENTON
Planning Dividion
1055 S Grady Way
Renton, Washington 98057
TO: Mr. Andrew Van Gordon
SUBJECT: MODIFICATION JUSTIFICATION FOR BUILDING SETBACKS
WSADA BUILDING ADDITION AND IMPROVEMENTS
Dear Andrew,
This letter is being written to provide justification to for the building setback modifications for the
proposed construction of the addition to your existing WSADA office building.
Setbacks – Setbacks are the minimum required distance between the building footprint and the
property line. The required setbacks for the CA zone are: Front yard and secondary front yard: 15 feet,
Maximum front yard and secondary front yard: 20 feet; Rear: none, unless the CA lot abuts a lot zoned
residential, then 15 feet; Side: none unless the CA lot abuts or is adjacent to a lot zoned residential
then 15 feet.
The proposed expansion is approximately 12 feet (12’) from Grady Way SW and approximately
10 feet (10’) from Raymond Ave SW. Both the front yard setback from Grady Way SW and the
secondary front yard setback from Raymond Ave SW are 15 feet (15’). The proposed expansion does
not meet setback requirements. The minimum setback may be modified through the site plan review
process if it can be demonstrated to the Administrator’s satisfaction that all of the following criteria of
RMC 4-2-120C.16 can be met:
i. The perceived scale of the proposed structure that is created by the reduced setback
is compatible with the abutting structures and the surrounding neighborhood; and
Response: See attached Building Elevations A6.0 and Building Renderings T1.1. The proposed
building addition will be designed to the similar scale as the existing building (overall height of 27’-
9” AFF). The building addition roof is being proposed as a shed style to help provide changes in roof
planes and changes in roof form/slope in relation to the remainder of the structure.
ii. The required street frontage landscaping identified in RMC 4-4-070F1 is increased
to fifteen feet (15') along all public street frontages with the exception of walkways,
driveways, programmed pedestrian plazas, and the area of reduced setback; and
Response: See attached Site Plan SP1.0. The landscape buffer to the north (at Grady Way) will be
20’-0” total with 10’ of that being between the building and the property line and the other 10’ of
that being from the property line to the sidewalk at Grady Way. The landscape buffer to the west
(at Raymond Ave) will be 16’-0” total with 10’ of that being between the building and the property
line and the other 6’ of that being from sidewalk and curb at Raymond Avenue.
iii. Enhanced landscaping, such as increased caliper size of trees, increased container
size of shrubs, and/or increased quantity or diversity of plantings, is provided within the
CITY OF RENTON
October 14, 2022
Page 2 of 3
public right-of-way on the street frontage abutting the reduced setback; and
Response: The landscape buffers will be planted in accordance with requirements of item iii.
iv. The project includes a public art installation, subject to review and approval, with
a minimum monetary value of one percent (1%) of the assessed value of the proposed
structure, or when the Administrator determines that it is impractical to install public
art on site, payment of a fee-in-lieu may be approved in an amount of money
approximating one percent (1%) of the assessed value of the proposed structure; and
Response: The public art installation will be installed in accordance with requirements of item iv.
v. The design of the proposed structure complies with all of the following
requirements:
(a) Back of house facilities such as walk-in freezers, bathrooms, breakrooms,
storage rooms, or other rooms that do not contain windows, are not located
along any building facade that fronts a public street; and
Response: See attached Floor Plans A1.0 and A2.0. Comply where feasible by adding
storefront windows at north elevation to offset solid wall.
(b) Floor to ceiling transparent windows are provided for at least fifty percent
(50%) of the ground floor building facade that fronts a reduced setback; and
Response: See attached Building Elevations A6.0. The proposed building addition will have
floor to ceiling transparent windows for 60 percent of the ground floor building façade area
on the north elevation (Grady Way) and 50 percent of the ground floor building façade area
on the west elevation (Raymond Ave). The north side along Grady Way will have an entry
with storefront windows with the storefront windows wrapping around the west and south
sides of the addition to give it more interest from the street level.
(c) The proposed structure includes design features such as step-backs of
upper levels, changes in roof plane, and changes in roof form/slope in a manner
that serves to reduce the apparent bulk of the proposed structure; and
Response: See attached Building Elevations A6.0 and Building Renderings T1.1. The
proposed building addition will step-back and have a change in roof plane, and change in
roof form/slope to fit with the existing building’s architecture.
(d) Canopies or similar design features are provided along any building facade
that fronts a public street, with emphasis provided to the primary entry; and
Response: See attached Building Elevations A6.0 and Building Renderings T1.1. The
proposed building addition will provide horizontal sunscreen devices to match the existing
building and to fit with the existing building’s architecture along the Grady Way and
Raymond Avenue sides.
(e) Structured parking is not located along any building facade that fronts a
reduced setback.
Response: No structured parking is being proposed on this project.
CITY OF RENTON
October 14, 2022
Page 3 of 3
Please feel free to contact our office with any additional questions or comments regarding this project.
Sincerely,
SITTS & HILL ENGINEERS, INC.
David Boileau, AIA
Principal Architect
O:\19600\19682\Permitting\~Master Document List\J_Modification_Setback\J_Modification_Setback_221014_v1.docx