Council to consider public hearing on vacating part of 16th Avenue South near Federal Way High School

Leonard Spadoni presented a resolution to set a public hearing on vacating a portion of 16th Avenue South between South 304th Street and South 305th Place adjacent to Federal Way High School and Pacific Highway South. Staff said the subject right-of-way is currently used as a parking lot and bus turnaround for the high school and estimated the area at about 375 linear feet (roughly 19,317–19,375 square feet). A third-party appraisal dated July 1, 2024 valued the parcel at about $347,706.

Spadoni said the Federal Way School District proposes to acquire the vacated area, continue allowing public parking for stadium events and assume rights, obligations and liability for upkeep and maintenance. As required by city code and state law, half of the revenue received by the city for such a vacation must be dedicated to acquisition, improvement and maintenance of public open space or transportation capital projects; the remainder would go to street operations.

Council members asked why the item had returned to the committee; staff said it was originally identified during the high-school redevelopment and later missed in final plans. Council President Susan Honda requested the district consider adding additional accessible parking spaces in the area because the existing disabled stalls are often full. The committee voted unanimously to forward the resolution and set an April 21 public hearing.