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SEPA Environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-960) July 2016 Page 1 of 16
SEPA ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST
A. Background
1. Name of proposed project, if applicable: Solera
2. Name of applicant: Quadrant Homes
3. Address and phone number of applicant and contact person:
Applicant: Corey Watson
Quadrant Homes
15900 SE Eastgate Way, Suite 300
Bellevue, WA 98008
(253) 606-2047
Contact: Jeremy Febus, PE
KPFF Consulting Engineers
1601 Fifth Avenue, #1600
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 926-0675
4. Date checklist prepared: , 2018
5. Agency requesting checklist: City of Renton
6. Proposed timing or schedule (including phasing, if applicable):
7. Do you have any plans for future additions, expansion, or further activity related to or
connected with this proposal? If yes, explain.
No
8. List any environmental information you know about that has been prepared, or will be
prepared, directly related to this proposal.
Geotechnical Engineering Study by Earth Solutions NW, LLC, dated 1/29/2018
Critical Areas Assessment by Soundview Consultants, LLC, dated 2/20/2018
Subsurface Investigation Results and Preliminary CAP for Former Dry Cleaner, by
Aspect Consulting, dated 10/18/2017
Property History and Phase 2 Findings, by Floyd Snider, dated 11/22/2016
June 1
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9. Do you know whether applications are pending for governmental approvals of other
proposals directly affecting the property covered by your proposal? If yes, explain.
None known.
10. List any government approvals or permits that will be needed for your proposal, if known.
Civil Construction – City of Renton
Right of Way Permits – City of Renton
Building Permits – City of Renton
Plumbing and Electrical Permits – City of Renton
Fire Permits – Renton Regional Fire Authority
NPDES – WA Ecology
NFA – WA Ecology
11. Give brief, complete description of your proposal, including the proposed uses and the size
of the project and site. There are several questions later in this checklist that ask you to
describe certain aspects of your proposal. You do not need to repeat those answers on this
page.
Construction of townhomes on unit lots and 2 mixed-use buildings including
approximately 5 appartment units and 3 ,000 square feet of commercial and non-
residential use. The existing retail bank on-site will be retained. New recreation
space, public and private roadways, frontage road improvements, and utility
services and extensions will be constructed to serve the proposed development.
12. Location of the proposal. Give sufficient information for a person to understand the precise
location of your proposed project, including a street address, if any, and section, township, and
range, if known. If a proposal would occur over a range of area, provide the range or
boundaries of the site(s). Provide a legal description, site plan, vicinity map, and topographic
map, if reasonably available. While you should submit any plans required by the agency, you
are not required to duplicate maps or detailed plans submitted with any permit applications
related to this checklist.
2842 NE Sunset Blvd, Renton, WA 98056 within Section 9, Township 23N, Range 5E
See additional plans and maps submitted with this checklist.
151
921
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B. Environmental Elements
1. Earth a. General description of the site:
(circle one): Flat, rolling, hilly, steep slopes, mountainous, other _____________ b. What is the steepest slope on the site (approximate percent slope)?
40% for a rise of up to 6-ft for a portion of the frontage on NE Sunset Blvd.
c. What general types of soils are found on the site (for example, clay, sand, gravel, peat,
muck)? If you know the classification of agricultural soils, specify them and note any
agricultural land of long-term commercial significance and whether the proposal results in
removing any of these soils.
Near surface fill underlain by medium dense to dense sand and silty sand native
soils.
d. Are there surface indications or history of unstable soils in the immediate vicinity? If so,
describe.
None
e. Describe the purpose, type, total area, and approximate quantities and total affected area of
any filling, excavation, and grading proposed. Indicate source of fill.
Up to 30,000 cubic yards of unsuitable fill material may be removed from the site,
and up to 15,000 cubic yards of structural fill material may be importad and placed
on-site. The source of fill will be determined prior to construction.
f. Could erosion occur as a result of clearing, construction, or use? If so, generally describe.
Yes, the site will be substantially cleared and exposed during site development.
g. About what percent of the site will be covered with impervious surfaces after project
construction (for example, asphalt or buildings)?
Approximately 7 %
h. Proposed measures to reduce or control erosion, or other impacts to the earth, if any:
Appropriate erosion control BMP’s including stabilized construction entrance,
inlet protection, perimeter silt fence protection, temporary drainage swales, and
sediment traps, ponds, and/or baker tanks will be used during construction, and
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construction monitoring and reporting will be conducted consistent with COR and
Ecology requirements.
2. Air
a. What types of emissions to the air would result from the proposal during construction,
operation, and maintenance when the project is completed? If any, generally describe and
give approximate quantities if known.
Emisions from construction vehicles and equipment can be expected consistent with
typical land development projects of this size and type. Emissions from new vehicles
after completion will be typical for a project of this type and scale in this region.
b. Are there any off-site sources of emissions or odor that may affect your proposal? If so,
generally describe.
No known.
c. Proposed measures to reduce or control emissions or other impacts to air, if any:
Construction equipment and vehicles will be maintained in good working order.
3. Water a. Surface Water: 1) Is there any surface water body on or in the immediate vicinity of the site (including
year-round and seasonal streams, saltwater, lakes, ponds, wetlands)? If yes, describe
type and provide names. If appropriate, state what stream or river it flows into.
No.
2) Will the project require any work over, in, or adjacent to (within 200 feet) the described
waters? If yes, please describe and attach available plans.
Not applicable.
3) Estimate the amount of fill and dredge material that would be placed in or removed
from surface water or wetlands and indicate the area of the site that would be affected.
Indicate the source of fill material.
Not applicable.
4) Will the proposal require surface water withdrawals or diversions? Give general
description, purpose, and approximate quantities if known.
No.
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5) Does the proposal lie within a 100-year floodplain? If so, note location on the site plan.
No.
6) Does the proposal involve any discharges of waste materials to surface waters? If so,
describe the type of waste and anticipated volume of discharge.
No.
b. Ground Water: [help]
1) Will groundwater be withdrawn from a well for drinking water or other purposes? If so,
give a general description of the well, proposed uses and approximate quantities
withdrawn from the well. Will water be discharged to groundwater? Give general
description, purpose, and approximate quantities if known.
No.
2) Describe waste material that will be discharged into the ground from septic tanks or
other sources, if any (for example: Domestic sewage; industrial, containing the
following chemicals. . . ; agricultural; etc.). Describe the general size of the system, the
number of such systems, the number of houses to be served (if applicable), or the
number of animals or humans the system(s) are expected to serve.
None proposed.
c. Water runoff (including stormwater):
1) Describe the source of runoff (including storm water) and method of collection
and disposal, if any (include quantities, if known). Where will this water flow?
Will this water flow into other waters? If so, describe.
Stormwater runoff from buildings, landscape and hardscape areas, and walkways
will be collected and conveyed to water quality treatment facilities as required and
then discharged by underground storm main to the municipal stormwater
conveyance in NE 10th Street.
2) Could waste materials enter ground or surface waters? If so, generally describe.
No.
3) Does the proposal alter or otherwise affect drainage patterns in the vicinity of the site? If
so, describe.
No.
and NE 12th Street. See Drainage Report submitted
in this package for more details surrounding runoff.
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d. Proposed measures to reduce or control surface, ground, and runoff water, and drainage
pattern impacts, if any:
No impacts are anticipated to existing drainage patterns.
4. Plants
a. Check the types of vegetation found on the site:
__x_deciduous tree: alder, maple, aspen, other
__x_evergreen tree: fir, cedar, pine, other
__x_shrubs
__x_grass
____pasture
____crop or grain
____ Orchards, vineyards or other permanent crops.
____ wet soil plants: cattail, buttercup, bullrush, skunk cabbage, other
____water plants: water lily, eelgrass, milfoil, other
____other types of vegetation
b. What kind and amount of vegetation will be removed or altered?
There is currently very little existing vegetation on-site. Existing lawn, trees, and
landscape areas will be removed.
c. List threatened and endangered species known to be on or near the site.
None known.
d. Proposed landscaping, use of native plants, or other measures to preserve or enhance
vegetation on the site, if any:
Landscaping including tree planting will be provided throughout the development
consistent with COR requirements. See the preliminary landscape plan submitted
with this checklist.
e. List all noxious weeds and invasive species known to be on or near the site.
None observed.
5. Animals a. List any birds and other animals which have been observed on or near the site or are known
to be on or near the site.
Examples include:
birds: hawk, heron, eagle, songbirds, other:
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mammals: deer, bear, elk, beaver, other: rodents and other small animals
typical of the regions urban environment.
fish: bass, salmon, trout, herring, shellfish, other ________
b. List any threatened and endangered species known to be on or near the site.
None known.
c. Is the site part of a migration route? If so, explain.
The project site is located within the broad boundary of the Pacific Flyway, the major
migrating corridor for birds in North America, west of the Continental Divide. However,
the project itself is not a known congregation area for migratory birds.
d. Proposed measures to preserve or enhance wildlife, if any:
No specific measures.
e. List any invasive animal species known to be on or near the site.
Rodents previously mentioned.
6. Energy and Natural Resources a. What kinds of energy (electric, natural gas, oil, wood stove, solar) will be used to meet
the completed project's energy needs? Describe whether it will be used for heating,
manufacturing, etc.
The primary sources of energy will be electric and natural gas.
b. Would your project affect the potential use of solar energy by adjacent properties?
If so, generally describe.
Proposed mixed-use buildings adjacent to Sunset Blvd. NE may shadow properties
across the Blvd to the southeast at certain times of the day and year.
c. What kinds of energy conservation features are included in the plans of this proposal?
List other proposed measures to reduce or control energy impacts, if any:
Energy efficiency and conservation measures will be employed within the proposed
buildings as required by COR code.
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7. Environmental Health
a. Are there any environmental health hazards, including exposure to toxic chemicals, risk
of fire and explosion, spill, or hazardous waste, that could occur as a result of this proposal?
If so, describe.
1) Describe any known or possible contamination at the site from present or past uses.
An area of soil contamination has been identified in the SE-central portion of the
site as a result of a former dry cleaning operation on the site. Existing buildings
may contain hazardous substances such as lead or asbestos.
2) Describe existing hazardous chemicals/conditions that might affect project development
and design. This includes underground hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipelines
located within the project area and in the vicinity.
None known.
3) Describe any toxic or hazardous chemicals that might be stored, used, or produced
during the project's development or construction, or at any time during the operating
life of the project.
Construction materials stockpiled on-site may be a source of contamination if
not properly stored and protected.
4) Describe special emergency services that might be required.
No special services.
5) Proposed measures to reduce or control environmental health hazards, if any:
Contaminated soil will be removed and disposed of off-site at an approved
disposal location as part of the overall site grading operation. An NFA will be
obtained from Ecology.
Construction materials will be stored and protected on-site consistent with COR
and Ecology requirements.
b. Noise
1) What types of noise exist in the area which may affect your project (for example:
traffic, equipment, operation, other)?
The adjacen NE Sunset Boulevard is a State Highway. Otherwise, noise in the
vicinity is typical of the urban environment in this region.
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2) What types and levels of noise would be created by or associated with the project on a
short-term or a long-term basis (for example: traffic, construction, operation, other)? Indi-
cate what hours noise would come from the site.
Noise during construction would be typical of site development activities of this
type in this region. Construction related noise would be limited to the work hours
allowed by COR code. Noise levels following project completion will be typical of
a medium to high density residential and mixed-use development in this region.
3) Proposed measures to reduce or control noise impacts, if any:
Construction equipment will be maintained in good working order, and COR noise
ordinances and construction work hours will be followed during construction. No
specific measures are proposed following project completion.
8. Land and Shoreline Use
a. What is the current use of the site and adjacent properties? Will the proposal affect current
land uses on nearby or adjacent properties? If so, describe.
The site is currently low-rise retail with surface parking. Adjacent properties to north
and east are a mix of low-rise retail and commercial uses. Adjacent properties to the
west are medium density residential uses, and adjacent properties to the south are
public park and library. The proposed project will likely increase use of the adjacent
public park and library, but no other impacts on adjacent properties are anticipated.
b. Has the project site been used as working farmlands or working forest lands? If so, describe.
How much agricultural or forest land of long-term commercial significance will be converted to
other uses as a result of the proposal, if any? If resource lands have not been designated,
how many acres in farmland or forest land tax status will be converted to nonfarm or
nonforest use?
No.
1) Will the proposal affect or be affected by surrounding working farm or forest land normal
business operations, such as oversize equipment access, the application of pesticides,
tilling, and harvesting? If so, how:
No.
c. Describe any structures on the site.
Existing structures on the site are typically low-rise masonry buildings constructed in
phases from 1954 to 1977.
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d. Will any structures be demolished? If so, what?
All existing structures on-site except for the retail bank at the northeast corner of the
site will be demolished.
e. What is the current zoning classification of the site?
Commercial Village (CV)
f. What is the current comprehensive plan designation of the site?
Commercial Mixed-Use (CMU)
g. If applicable, what is the current shoreline master program designation of the site?
Not applicable.
h. Has any part of the site been classified as a critical area by the city or county? If so, specify.
The entire site is within a Level 2 Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA)
i. Approximately how many people would reside or work in the completed project?
Approximately 1,300
j. Approximately how many people would the completed project displace?
There are currently no housing units on the site. The development will displace
approximately 10 existing commercial operations.
k. Proposed measures to avoid or reduce displacement impacts, if any:
None.
L. Proposed measures to ensure the proposal is compatible with existing and projected land
uses and plans, if any:
The proposed uses are allowed outright by COR code.
m. Proposed measures to reduce or control impacts to agricultural and forest lands of long-term
commercial significance, if any:
Not applicable.
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9. Housing
a. Approximately how many units would be provided, if any? Indicate whether high, mid-
dle, or low-income housing.
Approximately 6 middle-income housing units.
b. Approximately how many units, if any, would be eliminated? Indicate whether high,
middle, or low-income housing.
None.
c. Proposed measures to reduce or control housing impacts, if any:
Not applicable. No housing impacts.
10. Aesthetics
a. What is the tallest height of any proposed structure(s), not including antennas; what is
the principal exterior building material(s) proposed?
Townhomes will be typically up to 35-ft in height with a wood exterior. Mixed-Use
buildings may be up to 75-ft in height including rooftop elements, and will use a
variety of exterior materials including glass, brick, and manufactured panels.
b. What views in the immediate vicinity would be altered or obstructed?
None known.
b. Proposed measures to reduce or control aesthetic impacts, if any:
The City staff will conduct a design review of architectural elevations and materials.
11. Light and Glare a. What type of light or glare will the proposal produce? What time of day would it mainly
occur?
Light and glare will typical for townhome and mixed-use develoments. Pedestrian and
vehicular lighting will be provided for public safety as required COR code along the
project frontages and within the development.
b. Could light or glare from the finished project be a safety hazard or interfere with views?
No.
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c. What existing off-site sources of light or glare may affect your proposal?
None known.
d. Proposed measures to reduce or control light and glare impacts, if any:
All new lighting will meet COR code requirements.
12. Recreation
a. What designated and informal recreational opportunities are in the immediate vicinity?
Sunset Neighborhood Park is adjacent to the project across NE 10th Street.
Meadowcrest Playground and North Highlands Park and Neighborhood Center are
approximately ¼-mile north of the site on Jefferson Avenue NE.
b. Would the proposed project displace any existing recreational uses? If so, describe.
No.
c. Proposed measures to reduce or control impacts on recreation, including recreation
opportunities to be provided by the project or applicant, if any:
The project will provide open and recreation space throughout the site as shown on
the project plans submitted with this checklist. Mixed-Use buildings may also include
private amenities available to building residents.
13. Historic and cultural preservation
a. Are there any buildings, structures, or sites, located on or near the site that are over 45 years
old listed in or eligible for listing in national, state, or local preservation registers ? If so,
specifically describe.
The A&H Drugs masonry building is approximately 37,200 square feet in gross floor
area and was constructed in 1958. The Tea Palace and Retail masonry building is
approximately 25,200 square feet in gross floor area and was built in 1964. An
unnamed masonry retail building is approximately 5,300 square feet in gross floor area
and was constructed in 1960. The US Bank building is a masonry structure with
approximately 5,900 square feet in gross floor area and was constructed in 1972.
b. Are there any landmarks, features, or other evidence of Indian or historic use or occupation?
This may include human burials or old cemeteries. Are there any material evidence, artifacts,
or areas of cultural importance on or near the site? Please list any professional studies
conducted at the site to identify such resources.
A property history report was completed (see Section 1 of this checklist). There are no
known historic resources on the site.
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c. Describe the methods used to assess the potential impacts to cultural and historic resources
on or near the project site. Examples include consultation with tribes and the department of
archeology and historic preservation, archaeological surveys, historic maps, GIS data, etc.
The property history report by Floyd Snider conducted historic research including
review of aerial photographs, plat maps, tax assessor property record cards,
newspaper archives, City of Renton building permits, Polk city directories, and
Ecology and local air pollution agency files.
d. Proposed measures to avoid, minimize, or compensate for loss, changes to, and disturbance
to resources. Please include plans for the above and any permits that may be required.
No specific measures are proposed.
14. Transportation a. Identify public streets and highways serving the site or affected geographic area and
describe proposed access to the existing street system. Show on site plans, if any.
NE Sunset Boulevard (SR 900), NE 10th Streeet, NE 11th Street, NE 12th, Street, Kirkland
Avenue NE, Harrington Place NE, and
submitted with this checklist.
b. Is the site or affected geographic area currently served by public transit? If so, generally
describe. If not, what is the approximate distance to the nearest transit stop?
The site is directly served by public transit with bus stops for bus routes 111, 240, and
909 adjacent to the site in Sunset Blvd NE. Bus route 105 also stops within 1-block of
the site on NE 12th Street.
c. How many additional parking spaces would the completed project or non-project proposal
have? How many would the project or proposal eliminate?
All existing parking on-site is associated with the low-rise retail uses that will be
removed. All existing parking therefore will be removed.
The project will construct between 1 and 1.75 parking spaces per dwelling unit which
equals 6 to parking spaces.
d. Will the proposal require any new or improvements to existing roads, streets, pedestrian,
bicycle or state transportation facilities, not including driveways? If so, generally describe
(indicate whether public or private).
See response to question 14.h below.
Jefferson Ave NE. Site plans have been
72 1,176
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e. Will the project or proposal use (or occur in the immediate vicinity of) water, rail, or air
transportation? If so, generally describe.
No.
f. How many vehicular trips per day would be generated by the completed project or proposal?
If known, indicate when peak volumes would occur and what percentage of the volume would
be trucks (such as commercial and nonpassenger vehicles). What data or transportation
models were used to make these estimates?
The proposed project is anticipated to result in a reduction in daily trips in the area with
approximately fewer daily trips. During the weekday AM peak hour, the project would
generate approximately 1 net new trips with approximately 3 inbound and 1 outbound
trips. During the weekday PM peak hour, the project would generate approximately net new
trips with an additional inbound and fewer outbound trips.
Weekday AM and PM peak hour trip generation for the proposed development was estimated
based on the land use size and trip rates from the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ (ITE)
Trip Generation Manual (10th Edition, 2017) for Multifamily Housing (Mid-Rise) (LU #221),
Senior Adult Housing – Attached (LU #252), Shopping Center (LU #820), and Day Care Center
(LU #565) land uses. The ITE Shopping Center (LU #820) land use was used to estimate the trip
generation for the existing uses.
The proposed project trip generation was adjusted for pass-by and internal trips to account for
the localized nature of the commercial uses. Pass-by trips reflect traffic already on streets in
the vicinity of the project site that would visit the commercial components of the project while
driving by the site on the way to its final destination. Based on ITE Trip Generation Handbook
(2017 3rd Edition), the pass-by rates for the retail uses is 34 percent. Internal trips were
calculated based on the method presented in the Trip Generation Handbook.
g. Will the proposal interfere with, affect or be affected by the movement of agricultural and
forest products on roads or streets in the area? If so, generally describe.
No.
h. Proposed measures to reduce or control transportation impacts, if any:
ROW dedications, and frontage road improvements are proposed on NE Sunset Blvd
(SR 900), Kirkland Ave NE, NE 12th Street, and Harrington Place NE. New public roads
internal to the site will connect NE 10th Street to NE 12th Street, and NE Sunset Blvd to
Harrington Place NE. Site plans have been submitted with this checklist. The project
will also be subject to traffic impact fees at the time of building permit application.
15. Public Services
a. Would the project result in an increased need for public services (for example: fire protection,
police protection, public transit, health care, schools, other)? If so, generally describe.
522
8 6098
26
43 17
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Yes, the project will result in increase demand for public services commensurate with
the increased population accommodated by the proposed residences and businesses.
b. Proposed measures to reduce or control direct impacts on public services, if any.
The project will be subject to City of Renton establish impact fees at the time of
building permit application. These include fire, park, and school impact fees.
16. Utilities
a. Circle utilities currently available at the site:
electricity, natural gas, water, refuse service, telephone, sanitary sewer, septic system,
other ___________
c. Describe the utilities that are proposed for the project, the utility providing the service,
and the general construction activities on the site or in the immediate vicinity which might
be needed.
Basic municipal and franchise utilities will be extended from the project frontages,
internal to the site. See site plans submitted with this checklist.