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The city of Federal Way has determined the Wild Waves property to be suitable for manufacturing uses, but is allowing the public time to comment on or appeal the decision.
On Oct. 30, Federal Way Community Development Director Keith Niven determined the proposed amendment to the development agreement for Wild Waves to allow manufacturing as a primary use does not have a “probable significant adverse impact” on the environment and an environmental impact statement is not required.
The local theme and water park officially closed its doors on Nov. 1 because former park operator Jeff Stock said the park was no longer financially viable to operate. He then explored several possibilities for the location before settling on the Podium I-5 project.
The separate application for the Podium 1-5 project is currently under review and includes removing all of the existing site improvements and construction of a tilt-up concrete, industrial shell building of approximately 1 million sq. ft. for warehouse use and office space. Other site improvements would include access, parking, landscaping, utilities and stormwater improvements.
The current Concomitant Development Agreement (CDA) for the Wild Waves property, which prescribes allowed uses and conditions, was initially adopted in 1998 for a 30-year term. The current proposal is only to amend this CDA to allow manufacturing on the property, not to approve the Podium I-5 project. The accompanying State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Checklist completed by principal planner Stacey Welsh only looked at the impact changing the use of the property would have on the environment.
Welsh stated changing the CDA would not immediately have an impact on water discharge, air emissions, noise production or the production, storage or release of hazardous substances, but a future manufacturing project could increase all of these items with an increased number of trucks accessing the site and manufacturing operations. However, she said plants, animals, fish or marine life on the property were not likely to be affected because the property has already been developed. While the site does have a wetland subject to critical areas regulations, it does not contain a public park, wilderness, wild and scenic river, threatened or endangered species habitat, floodplains or prime farmlands.
Future development on the property, like the Podium I-5 project, will require “site and project specific review for compliance with applicable city code and development standards, including those intended for protection of the environment.”
Welsh said a project proposal will likely generate more traffic and the city has prepared trip generation estimates showing vehicle trips associated with the property would increase with a change of use. A professional transportation impact analysis report would be required as part of future project review.
The city of Federal Way will not act on the proposal for 14 days and comments can be submitted by 5 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2026, to the Department of Community Development at [email protected].
Unless modified by the city, the determination will become final following this deadline, but people can still file an appeal after, by Dec. 1, with a written letter stating the reason for the appeal of the determination, along with the required appeal fee. The appeal should make specific factual objections and contain specific statements of the reasons why the decision is alleged to be in error.
