The city of Federal Way has received a notice of master land use application to construct a 7.2-acre warehouse for Orca Bay Seafoods on the former Weyerhaeuser property.
If approved, the 68-foot-tall, 314,424-square-foot building would include office and food processing space with parking for 310 cars and 35 truck-trailers. There will also be “associated site work including wetland filling” on the 19-acre site.
Currently, the acreage is home to a forested area to the east of the former Weyerhaeuser building. The proposed site is located on two parcels with the addresses 33700 32nd Ave. S. and 3120 S. 344th St. in Federal Way.
“I think that it’s hard to give up the trees, and I’m hoping [the applicant will] develop the property with minimal impact by preserving some trees that will shield the property,” Federal Way City Councilman Mark Koppang said, stressing that he was speaking for himself and not on behalf of the City Council. “To clear-cut and put in a parking lot and a building would not be a good thing.”
Koppang said it’s a matter of redeveloping the land with the least amount of impact, as he’s positive about the opportunity to bring new jobs to Federal Way.
“Hopefully they’ll buy lots of food and commerce will be good,” he said. “It’s one of those things: Things are going to change, we just didn’t know how.”
Mayor Jim Ferrell said the proposed development falls under current zoning uses, and any new construction on the property will follow the normal permitting process.
“This is a positive development for our community, and we remain committed to working to bring jobs and new investments to Federal Way,” Ferrell said, adding that as many as 275 jobs will be created by the warehouse.
The applicant, Chill Build Seattle, LLC, is requesting a Use Process III permit, among others. Preferred Freezer is the company that will build the facility.
The property was among the 430 acres Weyerhaeuser Company sold to Industrial Realty Group, LLC, in February for $70.5 million. Weyerhaeuser announced they would move their headquarters from Federal Way to Seattle in the middle or later part of this year.
Residents in the community and city leaders have frequently discussed what could be done with the large, unique property – some were hoping for a college campus and others said an employer providing middle- to upper-income jobs is what was needed for Federal Way to grow.
According to the notice, any concerned residents or citizens can submit written comments on the Use Process III application to the city of Federal Way’s director of community development by Aug. 22. Only the applicant, people who submitted written documents to the director or people who specifically requested a copy of the original decision may appeal the director’s decision.
The city’s acting community development director is Scott Sproul, who can be reached at scott.sproul@cityoffederalway.com.
Community members can review the official project file at the city’s Community Development Department, located on the second floor of City Hall, 33325 8th Ave. S. in Federal Way.
The Mirror will update this report as more information becomes available.
