HomeMy WebLinkAboutProject Narrative_CODE23-000104_4903 and 4909 SE 2nd St2023April20PlanningCustomerServiceCityofRentonICEDIPlanningDivision11055GradyWay6thFloorRenton,WA98057Subj:CodeCaseNo:CODE23-000104,Violation24902&4903SE2St,Renton,WA98059ArboristreportandadditionalinformationAtt:(A)ArboristReportforParcel6928000420and6928000490,Dated4-11-23Ref:(1)WarningofViolationCodeCaseNo:CODE23-000104,datedMarch21,2023(2)RentonMunicipalCode,asviewedatthetimeofthisletter’swriting(3)KingCountyDepartmentofAssessmentsparceldetailNE15-23-05,dated10/3/2022ToWhomitMayConcern,WereceivednotificationinReference(1)thatthe13treesremovedfromthepropertylinebetweenourhouseswereinviolationofRentonCitycodes,whichrequiredapermitfortheirremoval.Tostartoff;pleaseacceptourapologiesfortheoversight,wedidnotknowthatapermitwasrequiredforthisactivity,andwelookforwardtoworkingwiththeCityofRentontoresolvethisissue.Forbackgroundandadditionalcontext,thesetreeswereremovedaftercarefulconsiderationfrombothhouseholdsasthetreesproximitytothepropertylinemadeitunclearwhichlottheyactuallywereapartof.Whileweallfeltthattheywereawonderfulfeaturetoourhomes,weultimatelyconcludedthattheywouldinevitablycausesignificantdamagetooneorbothhomesandthattheresponsiblecourseofactionwastoremovethempriortothatoccurring.Inhighwindsthesetreeswouldroutinelydroplargebranchesontovehiclesparkedineitherdriveway,anddirectlyontotheroofofthehouseat4902,causingdamage.Manytreesshowedsignificantbaresectionswherelimbshaddiedduetolightstarvationfromtheirneighbors.Therootsystemwaspushingupandcrackingthepavementofthedrivewayat4903.WeneedtheCityofRentontoempathizewithoursituationandunderstandthatwedidnotmakethisdecisionapathetically,butaftercarefulconsiderationofthesituationasweunderstoodit.AsfurtheraddressedinAttachment(A),ofthe13treesremovedonly12weresignificantasdefinedinsection4-11-200ofReference(2).Additionallyall13wereHigh-Risktrees,qualifyingthemforremovalinexcessofthelimitsallowedunderminortreeremovalactivities.Attachment(A)alsodocumentsthedamagethatoccurredtothedrivewayat4903duetotheirrootsystem,anotheraspectthatqualifiedthetreesforremovalpersection4-4-130ofReference(2).Wenotethatsection4-4-130ofReference(2)alsooutlinesaminimumof30treecreditspernetacre.Thepropertyat4902measures2,792ft2andwouldrequiresixtreecreditsberetained,andthepropertyat4903measures9,361ft2andwouldalsorequiresixtreecreditsberetained.BasedonthemeasurementsinAttachment(A)4902hasatotalof42retainedtreecredits,and4903hasatotalof32retainedtreecredits,withoutthe13treesthathavebeenremoved.WethereforecallattentiontothePage1f2
factthatthepropertiesrespectivelyhave7and5timestheminimumnumberandsizeoftreesthattheCityofRentonrequires.Inconclusion,weaskthattheCityofRentoncloseViolation2ofCodeCaseNo:CODE23-000104andacceptthesituationas-isonthebasisofthefollowing:1.Thetreesremovedrepresenttheextentoftreesremovedfromeitherpropertyintherecentpast,andtherearenoremovalsexpectedinthefuture.2.ThetreesmettheCity’sdefinitionforHigh-Risk.3.Thetreeswerecausingobviousdamagetobothproperties.4.Bothpropertiesarewellabovetheminimumtreeretentionrequirementswithoutthetrees.Sincerely,DebraNash4903SE2ndst‘IA/r/MorganNash(ParkerBoltzLelandBoltz4902SE2ndSPage2of2