HomeMy WebLinkAbout5-PN_BWProject_Narrative_230316_v1
Public Works Department
Memorandum
DATE: March 2023
TO: Jill Deng, Senior Planner
FROM: Troy Solly, Surface Water Utility Engineer
SUBJECT: Burnett Ave S and Williams Ave S Storm System
Improvement Project – Environmental Review
Project Narrative
Project Narrative
The purpose of the Burnett Ave S and Williams Ave S Storm System Improvement
Project is to improve water quality in the Cedar River watershed by installing water
quality treatment facilities. The water quality portion of the work is being funded
through a Water Quality Combined Financial Assistance Agreement between Ecology
and the City (Agreement No. WQC-2020-Renton-00214).
The project also includes replacing existing undersized stormwater conveyance pipes
within the project area with new, larger pipes to minimize flooding, and will include
removal and in-kind restoration of asphalt surfacing, concrete sidewalks, grass, and
other surface features as necessary to install the stormwater improvements. A Civil
Construction Permit, and Construction General Permit will be filed for the project.
The project is located near downtown Renton, south of the Cedar River and west of
Interstate 405 (I-405). The project area is approximately 136,000 sf (3.17 acres) located
entirely within City of Renton Right-of-Way on Burnett Ave S and Williams Ave S
between 2nd Street S and the Cedar River; and S Tobi n Street between Burnett Ave S
and Williams Ave S.
Burnett Ave S and Williams Ave S are located within the City’s Center Downtown area
and are lined by a variety of commercial businesses and other mixed-use properties and
contain several other utilities, both public and private. The area is zoned CD – Center
Downtown. Construction cost is estimated to be approximately 3.6 million dollars and
will require the excavation and replacement of approximately 2,900 cubic yards of
material. The road surface will be restored to its current state following construction.
There will be no change to land use, zoning, or access as a result of the project.
Storm drain improvements are planned to address undersized pipes in the existing
system by upsizing existing pipes to meet the current City storm drainage design
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March 16, 2023
guidelines and to address identified deficiencies in pipe condition and material. The
existing pipe in Burnett Ave S, Williams Ave S, and S Tobin St within the project area will
be replaced with new pipe. Two modular wetland facilities, one in S Tobin St and one in
Williams Ave S, will also be installed to provide water quality. The new pipe in S Tobin St
will be upsized to 36” and will function as a stormwater control structures. Sewer
improvements are planned within a portion of Burnett Ave S to improve clearance from
the proposed storm system and replace pipes that have reached their useful lifespan .
Water improvements are planned to replace existing infrastructure and services that
will be impacted by the proposed storm system improvements and to facilitate
construction of the proposed stormwater improvements.
A portion of the project is within 200-ft of the Cedar River, existing storm drain
structures and piping within the project area on Williams Ave S and S Tillicum St will be
replaced and one MWS-Linear Modular Wetland will be installed. This work will be
confined to the existing paved roadway, which is not within the FEMA 100-year
floodway and will not result in any obstructed views. The Cedar River is contained in an
engineered channel in this location with pedestrian walkways along both sides of the
river. The replacement of the storm drain qualifies for a Shoreline Exemption per City of
Renton Code 4-9-190.C. as detailed below:
4-9-190.C. EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMIT SYSTEM:
The following shall not be considered substantial developments for the purpose of this
Master Program and are exempt from obtaining a Shoreline Substantial Development
Permit (SSDP). An exemption from an SSDP is not an exemption from compliance with
the Act or the Shoreline Master Program, or from any other regulatory requirements.
3. Maintenance and Repair: Normal maintenance or repair of existing structures or
developments, including damage by accident, fire or elements.
a. “Normal maintenance” includes those usual acts to prevent a decline, lapse, or
cessation from a lawfully established condition.
b. “Normal repair” means to restore a development to a state comparable to its original
condition, including but not limited to its size, shape, configuration, location and external
appearance, within a reasonable period after decay or partial destruction, except where
repair causes substantial adverse effects to the shoreline resource or environment.
c. Replacement of a structure or development may be authorized as repair where such
replacement is the common method of repair for the type of structure or development
and the replacement structure or development is comparable to the original structure or
development including, but not limited to, its size, shape, configuration, location and
external appearance and the replacement does not cause substantial adverse effects to
shoreline resources or environment.