bld20080509 ht memo.pdfDATE: August 28, 2008
CITY OF EDMONDS
MEMORANDUM
PLANNING DIVISION
425.771.0220
TO: BLD -2008-0509 Building Permit File
FROM: Kathleen Taylor, Associate Planner lzl_�
RE: PCC RAINWATER TOWER HEIGHT CALCULATIONS
9803 EDMONDS WAY
On behalf of the Planning Division, I have reviewed the height calculations submitted by
the PCC for the rainwater tower, located within the northeast corner of the site. There
has been verbal speculation from citizens that the height calculations provided by the
applicant are inaccurate, and ultimately allow for the rainwater tower to be higher than
would be allowed by the Edmonds Community Development Code (ECDC).
The definition of height is contained within ECDC 21.40.030A, which states, `Height
means the average level of the undisturbed soil of the site covered by a structure, to the
highest point of the structure.' The level of undisturbed soil, often referred to as the
original grade is shown on the approved site plan submitted by Albertson's in 1980.
A portion of the approved site plan is attached, which shows the northeast corner of the
site. The topography lines shown as dashed lines indicate the original grades prior to site
development. I have super -imposed the location of the rainwater tower onto the 1980 site
plan, and identified the four corners of the height rectangle. The height calculations,
conservatively estimated, are as follows 318' + 318' + 320' + 320' = 1,276'/4, resulting
in an average grade of 319'. The maximum elevation would be 319' + 15' = 334'.
The calculations submitted by the applicant show the average grade as 318.79', which
translates into a maximum elevation of 333.79. The actual elevation of the rainwater
tower is 332.8', which is approximately 1' under the maximum submitted by PCC, and a
conservative 1.2' under the maximum when compare to the original grades. Therefore,
the height calculations submitted by PCC appear accurate, if not an underestimate of the
original grade.
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