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20191212 Eng Sidewalk Waiver Request.pdfneEMNEERM., INC. December 11, 2019 Rob English, P.E. City Engineer City of Edmonds 2707 Womtr"corc-- A%%r*bimLmt-- KE-Ard--rt-att, WAk 08,201 t -42S.3937.30,20 f 42S.7-SO-1 OS43 RE: Waiver Request,— Sidewalk Planter for Puget Drive Frontage Sundstone Condominium Assoc. 2-Lot SP. Permit Application M PLN20190036 Dear Rob, This letter waiver request is being submitted as requested as part of JoAnne Zulauf's comments for this project dated 11/12/19. Code Section: Ch 18.90 Sidewalks Discussion of Code Sections and extenuating circumstances that would affect desired outcome 18.90.000 Purpose B. "Regulate the construction of improvements which could prevent the implementation of the comprehensive sidewalk plan". Whether this project removes the existing sidewalk along the north side of Puget Drive and constructs a new sidewalk in a location that allows for a 4'planter with street trees will not affect the potential to implement the comp. sidewalk plan in the surrounding area. This is due to the developed nature of the adjacent parcels and the fact that per the City Code, properties are only required to install frontage improvements when the use of the property changes. The adjacent residential and school properties are unlikely to change use since zoning would have to change to allow for it. 18.90.030 Sidewalk Standards This project is covered by two different zones, RS-12 and BN. The sidewalk requirements for these zones are 5-7' or 7-10' wide respectively. The material requirement is "Optional" with the following footnote. "Requirements are optional to encourage flexibility of location, alignment, specifications, and materials to insure compatibility with individual locations and circumstances. The planning director and city engineer shall make the final decision on the requirements after review of pertinent information supplied by the affected neighborhood and/or the architectural design board." This section specifically provides for a review of the sidewalk requirement based on site specific information. This is further supported by 18.90.030.B that states "With the approval of both the planning director and city engineer, the requirements of this chapter may be OMECXAQL .2707 We!�tr"aorc-_ ft%rc-_nu4—­ K=E%r4artatt, WAL 00,201 ne ENGINEERING, INC. waived, if it can be demonstrated by the applicant that there are special circumstances related to topography or other factors which make the construction of the sidewalk economically unfeasible or practically impossible." Since this property is already fronted with a road section containing curb/gutter and sidewalk and well -established and well -maintained landscaping exists behind the sidewalk any removal of the sidewalk to construct the new sidewalk and landscape strip would require removal of the quality landscaping already there. In addition, due to site grades any relocation of the sidewalk further north would require cut slopes and potentially walls to make up the grade change since the existing improvements on the Sundstone property are fixed. The best example of impacts due to grade is the stairs already installed from the public sidewalk onto the site. The stairs are located approximately where the existing water meter serving the condos is shown on the plan sheet There are currently 6 steps necessary to make up the grade difference from the sidewalk to the on - site path. Finally, street trees can be installed behind the existing sidewalk and portions of the existing sidewalk that are damaged andlor do not meet ADA requirements can be repaired as a part of this project to mitigate for not providing the landscaping strip. Discussion of Costs This project is proposing a 2 Lot short plat to break off the portion of the property zoned RS-12 and allow for the construction of one new SFR. Construction of 4004 of sidewalk to replace a functioning sidewalk already there is a cost burden that is not proportional with the scope of the project. Using $24/SY for demolition and disposal of the existing sidewalk, $27/SY for the new sidewalk, $3/CY for excavation an approximate cost for the 4' landscape strip and new 7' sidewalk would be $13,000 for just those items. This cost would not include relocation of utilities (some utility vaults are in the area of the relocated sidewalk), cut wall construction, additional on -site grading/concrete work (stairs and supporting pool deck). Once the additional undocumented costs are added to the base $13,000 the total cost for the 4' landscape strip would be too high relative to the benefit of a single new lot for a SFR. Thank you for taking the time to review the revised plans for this project. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. Sincer I seph M. Smeby, P.E.