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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPN_Project_Narrative_Overview-180119_v1January 22, 2018 1 Renton CUP Project Narrative – PSE Energize Eastside Project name, size, and location of the site Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) Energize Eastside project (Project) will upgrade approximately 4 miles of two existing 115 kV lines with two 230 kV lines beginning at the City of Renton’s (“City”) northern boundary with Newcastle and ending at the existing Talbot Hill substation. The upgrade is located entirely within PSE’s existing 100-ft electrical transmission utility corridor. Upgrading requires replacing approximately 144 existing wood and steel poles (H-frame designs) with approximately 41 steel monopoles of either single-circuit or double-circuit design. Within the Talbot Hill substation, additional breakers and associated controls will be added to accommodate the new lines. The Project’s southern extent is PSE’s Talbot Hill substation located at 2400 S. Puget Drive. From the substation, the Project continues north along the existing PSE transmission line corridor to the northern city limits, between I-405 and the eastern city limits. Land use permits required for proposed project Within the City of Renton, a Conditional Use Permit, Grading Permit, and Shoreline Exemption will be required. Zoning designation of the site and adjacent properties The property is located within multiple zoning designations, including: Commercial Arterial (CA), Commercial Office Residential (COR), Center Village (CV), Light Industrial (IL), Residential-1 (R-1), Residential-10 (R-10), Residential-14 (R-14), Residential-4 (R-4), Residential-6 (R-6), Residential-8 (R-8), Resource Conservation (RC), and Residential Multi-Family (RM-F). Current use of the site and any existing improvements The Project site is currently occupied by PSE’s existing 115 kV transmission lines. Special site features (i.e. wetlands, water bodies, steep slopes) Multiple critical areas are mapped along the Project corridor including wetlands, streams, steep slopes, landslide hazards, coal mine hazards, and wellhead protection areas. These impacts are discussed in detail in the Renton Critical Areas Report. The study area corridor is primarily located in the Cedar-Sammamish Watershed (WRIA 8). Within WRIA 8 the Project area lies within three drainage basins. The north end of the study area is within the May Creek basin, the middle portion is within the East Lake Washington basin, and the southern portion is in the Lower Cedar River drainage basin. No wetlands or streams were identified in the impacted portion of the East Lake Washington basin. At the southern end of the corridor, near the Talbot Hill substation, the study area drains into the Black River basin of the Duwamish-Green Watershed (WRIA 9). January 22, 2018 2 Wetlands. There are seven wetlands in the Project area in Renton. They are generally located near the Cedar River and between SE Cedar Ridge Drive and the Shadow Hawk neighborhood. Streams. A total of four streams are located along the Project corridor in Renton. Stream MR01 (Honey Dew Creek) is located on the north side of Renton, north of SR-900, and is a tributary to May Creek. The corridor also crosses the Cedar River further south, near the Maple Valley Highway. Streams NR01 (Ginger Creek) and NR02 are tributaries to the Cedar River, located between the Talbot Hill substation at the corridor’s southern extent and the Shadow Hawk neighborhood. No lakes are present in the Project area. Steep slopes and landslide areas. Localized natural areas of sensitive and protected steep slopes and moderate or unclassified landslide hazard areas in the Project area include the Honey Dew Creek drainage and the Cedar River drainage, which have slopes greater than 40 percent with a 15-foot vertical elevation rise. Seismic areas and coal mine hazards. The only mapped seismic hazard area in the study area is associated with the Cedar River and lands immediately adjacent to the river. Coal mine hazards are mapped from the southern end of the study area, including the Talbot Hill substation, to the Shadow Hawk neighborhood. Wellhead Protection Areas. The study area spans wellhead protection areas mapped as Zone 1 and Zone 2. Zone 1 encompasses the Cedar River. Zone 2 surrounds Zone 1, excludes the Talbot Hill substation, and extends north. Details related to these areas are provided in the Renton Critical Areas Report (Watershed 2018). Statement addressing soil type and drainage conditions Surface soils in the Project area include mainly silty gravel, silty sand, and silt. Soils along the proposed route provide adequate support for the new poles (GeoEngineers 2017; see Appendix C of Critical Areas Report). To minimize impacts to soil, a Sediment and Erosion Control Plan will be addressed in the Project-specific Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control (or “TESC”) Plan and Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (CSWPPP). Areas of disturbance will be limited to the minimum necessary within geological hazard areas, including limiting equipment access. See Renton Critical Areas Repot at Sections 4.3.5; 5.2.2; 7.1.2; and 8.3. All disturbed areas will be restored. Drainage patterns will not be changed as a result of the Project. Proposed use of the property and scope of the proposed development PSE proposes replacing two existing 115 kV transmission lines with two 230 kV transmission lines. The upgrade is located entirely within PSE’s existing 100-foot electrical transmission line utility corridor. Use of the existing corridor (which has housed transmission lines since the 1920s and 30s) minimizes new environmental impacts and impacts to adjacent uses to the fullest extent feasible. The transmission line replacement will reduce the number of poles within the corridor by over 70% -- from 144 to 41 poles. The Project does not overly concentrate a particular land use, as it merely replaces the existing utility facilities. The utility corridor is also January 22, 2018 3 part of the existing character of the area and future City plans for the area. By selecting this route through Renton, PSE limits new impacts and ensures consistency with adjacent uses. For plats indicate the proposed number, net density and range of sizes (net lot area) of the new lots No plats are associated with the Project. Access Construction vehicle access to pole replacement sites will be made from existing roads or newly constructed temporary access roads. During design, PSE worked to locate poles near existing accessible routes to minimize impacts construction-related impacts. During construction, PSE will work with the City to maintain access to roads and recreation sites while providing a safe working area for crews and the public. Proposed off-site improvements (i.e., installation of sidewalks, fire hydrants, sewer main, etc.) No off-site improvements are required or proposed as part of the Project. Total estimated construction cost and estimated fair market value of the proposed project The estimated construction cost/fair market value of the Project in Renton is approximately $18 million. Estimated quantities and type of materials involved if any fill or excavation is proposed The Project entails removing 144 poles and installing 41 new ones. The installation of the new poles will require approximately 450 to 650 cubic yards of excavation. The annulus between the outside of the hole and the pole is typically backfilled with crushed rock. Number, type and size of any trees to be removed A total of 339 trees could be removed along the Project corridor, 238 of which are classified as significant under the City’s code. Details regarding the type and size of these trees are provided in the Tree Removal Inventory. Explanation of any land to be dedicated to the City Dedication of land to the City is not required nor proposed as part of the Project. Any proposed job shacks, sales trailers, and/or model homes No job shacks, sales trailers, or model homes are being proposed in Renton. Any proposed modifications being requested (include written justification) At this time, PSE is not requesting any modifications. For projects located within 100 feet of a stream or wetland, please include the distance in feet from the wetland or stream to the nearest area of work It is anticipated that vegetation removal or management will occur immediately adjacent to streams and wetlands. These streams and wetlands are not jurisdictional shorelines. January 22, 2018 4 Consistent with Renton’s code, PSE will work to minimize construction-related activities in or adjacent to critical areas (see Critical Areas Report for details). For projects located within 200-feet of Black River, Cedar River, Springbrook Creek, May Creek and Lake Washington please include the following additional information: Distance from closest area of work to the ordinary high water mark. The Project includes replacement of aerial wire across the Cedar River (shoreline per Renton Municipal Code [RMC] 4-3-090.B.2). The Project proposes the replacement of poles outside of jurisdictional shorelines and the aerial wire crossing does not require any disturbances in the shoreline. The approximate location of and number of residential units, existing and potential, that will have an obstructed view in the event the proposed project exceeds a height of 35- feet above the average grade level The Project corridor currently has transmission lines poles that exceed 35-feet in height. The average pole height being proposed in Renton is approximately 85 feet under the variance option and approximately 95 feet if a variance is not issued. However, actual heights are location dependent. A 70% reduction in the number of poles (144 down to 41) being proposed by the Project will not obstruct views and in many cases may improve conditions. Visual simulations of the upgraded transmission lines are available as part of the CUP application materials. Existing land uses in the Project area are predominantly vacant (42%). Non-vacant land uses are primarily transportation and single-family residential uses located adjacent to the existing transmission lines. Approximately 185 parcels are immediately adjacent to the existing corridor, including the residential neighborhoods of Honey Creek Ridge, Shadow Hawk, Liberty Ridge, Glencoe, and Sunset (Renton Highlands). Honey Creek Ridge, Shadow Hawk, Liberty Ridge, and Glencoe are predominantly single-family and multi-family planned-developments with designated park spaces. Sunset (Renton Highlands) is one of Renton’s older developed areas and is comprised of commercial and residential uses; it is currently being redeveloped with new multi-family, parks, library, and commercial land uses. Several parks are along the corridor, including May Creek Greenway, Honey Creek Greenway, and the Cedar River Natural Zone.