HomeMy WebLinkAboutEx_13_Tree_Replacement_Narrative4648 Shantel St, Mount Vernon, WA 98274 Cell Phone: 206 714-7161
email: cliff@sitedme.com
Development Management Engineers, LLC
The Developer’s Engineering Advocate
Narrative
Justification for Administrator Approval
Of Tree Replacement
Day Short Plat – PRE19-000033
City of Renton
New Tree Regulations:
Per the proposed new Tree Regulations: The Administrator may authorize the planting of
replacement trees, as an alternative to retaining trees in conformance with subsection
H.1.a of this Section, on the site if provided it can be demonstrated to the Administrator’s
satisfaction that an insufficient number of trees can be retained, the proposed removal
and replacement is the minimum necessary to accomplish the desired purpose, and the
tree replacement complies with the following:.
i. Replacement Criteria: Replacement planting in lieu of minimum tree retention may be
granted for situations where:
(a) There are special circumstances related to the size, shape, topography, location, or
surroundings of the subject property; or
(b) The strict application of the code would prevent reasonable use of property.
The Day Short Plat project includes the joining of 3 parcels for the development of 7
residential lots, a Storm Tract and a Critical Area Tract. The applicant was encouraged by
City Staff to combine the properties and dedicate to the City and construct the SE 186th St
through connection between 116th Ave SE and 120th Ave SE. Providing this through
street will be a direct benefit to the city and the driving public.
We contend that the Day Short Plat project contains special circumstances related to
shape and topography such that in order to accommodate the through street and a 7-Lot
development, tree replacement approval is needed. With the existing topography, the
road connection between 116th Ave and 129th Ave creates a significant amount of cut
which makes it difficult to retain trees. In addition, due to the ROW width required and
the minimum lot size (area and width), the lot sizes cannot be reduced to accommodate
additional tree retention and therefore, one lot would have to be removed from the
development.
If the Day Short Plat project were to be reduced to 6 lots, it would then be appropriate to
drop the concept of providing a through street with the combining of the 3 parcels in
favor of a smaller 5-Lot development on the larger westerly lot with a cul de sac and a
separate single lot development and Storm Tract and Critical Area Tract on the easterly 2
lots. This option results in 6 lots but it is not burdened by the cost of constructing the
through street.
APPROVED
05/26/2023 AMorganroth
PLANNING DIVISION
DocuSign Envelope ID: 73C4A647-87C5-422C-A0E2-D650594AF414
4648 Shantel St, Mount Vernon, WA 98274 Cell Phone: 206 714-7161
email: cliff@sitedme.com
Benefits of Replacement Trees:
Removal of native species and planting of replacement tress can provide ecological and
environmental benefits to a project. The following is an excerpt from a Memo submitted
by the project Arborist for another project. “There is a trend amongst municipalities to
favor the retention of native tree species. Research from WSU Puyallup (URL below)
has clearly demonstrated that nonnative trees can offer equal or greater ecological and
environmental benefits over retaining native trees. (As example: non-native conifers such
as Austrian black pine or Incense cedar have the equivalent foliage mass and rain
intercepting capability as an equivalent-sized native Douglas-fir or Western hemlock.
Additionally, a single tree will provide limited benefit, as a single species, regarding
wildlife habitat, cover and food source, compared to a mix of species and canopy cover
heights, which could be achieved if more trees are removed, and new landscaping
installed.)”
https://wwv.isa-arbor.com/events/conference/proceedings/2013/CHALKER-
SCOTT_Native_Species_Biodiversity.pdf
Hazards of Retained Trees:
Retained trees do not remain in perpetuity, they eventually die or get blown down. For
example, the former HOA President of the 167-unit Woodside PUD in Mount Vernon
which includes wetland critical areas, Forested Buffers, and NGPAs reported that 27 trees
have been blown down since the community was first opened 6 years ago. Western
Washingtonians are all too familiar with the property damage and fatalities caused by
fallen trees during heavy windstorms that frequent the region. As described in the
Chalker-Scott study, replacement trees are surely a plus for new developments when it
comes to public safety and ecological and environmental benefits.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 73C4A647-87C5-422C-A0E2-D650594AF414