HomeMy WebLinkAboutP_Landscape_Memo_&_Exhibit_180216_v1NAKANOASSOCIATES
DESIGN FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Memo
1 | Page LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
853 Hiawatha Place S
Seattle WA 98144
Tel. 206 292 9392
www.nakanoassociates.com
Project RHA Sunset Multi-Service & Career
Development Center
Date 02/09/2018
From Paula Gilmour, PLA, ASLA
Subject CUP – Code compliance of existing landscape
This memorandum addresses City of Renton CUP criterion #8 Landscaping:
Landscaping shall be provided in all areas not occupied by buildings, paving, or critical areas. Additional
landscaping may be required to buffer adjacent properties from potentially adverse effects of the
proposed use.
To this end, this memorandum addresses compliance of the existing landscape with Renton Municipal Code.
RETENTION OF EXISTING LANDSCAPING AND EXISTING TREES ENCOURAGED:
RMC 4-4-070 Section G.3
This requirement is met. Existing landscape and trees will be retained.
STREET FRONTAGE LANDSCAPE AND FRONT YARD TREES:
RMC 4-4-070 Sections F.1 and F.3
These requirements are met with a wide landscape bed and four large mature cedar trees along the front of the
property. See Area C on L002.
PARKING LOT LANDSCAPE:
RMC 4-4-070 Sections F.6.a, F.6.b, H.4, and H.5
Renton Municipal Code requires 15 square feet of interior parking lot landscaping for each parking space. There
are 26 existing stalls. No modifications to layout of the existing parking lot are proposed for this building
remodel project. Per code 390 square feet of interior parking landscape is required for 26 stalls. The existing
parking lot includes a total of 72 square feet of interior parking landscape in two parking islands. These parking
islands are vegetated with mature evergreen shrubs. See Area C on drawing L002. Pole lighting for the parking
lot is located in each parking island. These islands do not include trees. Installation of trees in these islands
would conflict with illumination of the parking lot.
The perimeter parking landscape area between the parking lot and the right-of-way boundary at the edge of the
public sidewalk exceeds 17 feet in width. See Area C on drawing L002. This width is greater than code required
10 feet minimum perimeter parking lot landscaping. Four large cedar trees create a nearly continuous canopy
over the landscape area. This landscape bed is gently bermed (See drawing L002, View 8). There are no shrubs
or groundcover plants in this landscape bed. Establishment of a new planting of shrubs or groundcover under
these mature trees would be very difficult and attempts to do so could compromise the health of the cedars.
NAKANOASSOCIATES
DESIGN FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Memo
2 | Page LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
853 Hiawatha Place S
Seattle WA 98144
Tel. 206 292 9392
www.nakanoassociates.com
The tree roots are near the soil surface, cedars inhibit growth of plants within their root zone, and a new
planting would require irrigation. Even if shrubs could be established under the trees, these shrubs could
negatively impact safety by blocking surveillance of the parking area and building entry from the street. The
cedars provide a buffer between the street and parking area.
PROJECTS ABUTTING LESS INTENSIVE ZONES OR USES:
RMC 4-4-070 Section F.4.a,
Renton Municipal Code requires a fifteen-foot (15’) wide partially sight-obscuring landscaped visual barrier, or
ten-foot (10’0) wide fully sight obscuring landscape visual barrier along common property lines for a
Nonresidential Developments in Residential Zones.
Perimeter Landscape Areas (See attached drawings L001 through L003)
AREA A – North portion of property:
The area north of the building is heavily vegetated. There are numerous large trees. No changes are proposed
for this area. This landscape provides a wide visual buffer between the building and neighboring residential
properties. Sight-obscuring code requirements are met.
AREA B - East property boundary:
Code screening requirements are exceeded along this stretch of the property boundary. This wide band of
naturalized landscape with trees and understory plants is greater than fifteen feet in width.
AREA D – South section of west property boundary:
The existing landscape with numerous trees and several understory plants creates a landscape buffer between
properties, but it does not provide a visual barrier. See drawing L002 for images, a description of the landscape
area, and proposed actions to increase screening along this property boundary.
AREA E – Property boundary west of the building:
The existing landscape with five large, mature, cherry trees creates a landscape buffer between properties, but
it does not provide a visual barrier. See drawing L002 for images, a description of the landscape area, and
proposed actions to increase screening along this property boundary.
PERVIOUS AREAS SHALL HAVE LANDSCAPE TREATMENT:
RMC 4-4-070 Section F.5.
Landscape Area F currently has a landscape treatment of bark mulch over soil (See drawing L003). Shrubs and
groundcover are not present in this area. Nearly half of this area is within the dripline of large cherry trees along
the property boundary. Roots of these trees are visible at the soil surface and extend far from the tree trunks
and extend beyond the dripline. See drawing L003 for images and proposed actions to enhance the landscape in
this area.
END OF MEMO