HomeMy WebLinkAboutD_Springbrook Apartments Tree Removal_250206_FinalDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
LUA25-000007_D_Springbrook Apartments Tree Removal_250206_Final
PLANNING DIVISION
ROUTINE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PERMIT
EVALUATION FORM & DECISION
DATE OF DECISION: February 6, 2025
PROJECT NUMBER: LUA25-000007, RVMP
PROJECT NAME: Springbrook Apartments Tree Removal
PROJECT MANAGER: Nichole Perry, Associate Planner
OWNER: Carey McIntosh
5301 Talbot Rd S, Renton, WA 98055
APPLICANT/CONTACT: Laci Young
A Plus Tree, LLC
6412 S 900 E, Suite 200, Murray, UT 84121
PROJECT LOCATION: 5301 Talbot Rd S, Renton, WA 98055 (APN 3123059023)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant, Laci Young, is requesting a Routine Vegetation Management
Permit (RVMP) to remove thirteen (13) trees located at 5301 Talbot Rd S, Renton, WA 98055 (APN
3123059023). The subject property is approximately 558,439 square feet (12.82 acres) in area and situated
within the Residential-14 (R-14) zone and the Talbot Community Planning Area.
An Arborist Report, prepared by A Plus Tree, LLC, dated October 28, 2024, was included with the application
(Attachment A). The report proposes the removal of thirteen (13) trees, twelve (12) Black Cottonwoods
(Populus fremontii) and one (1) red alder (Alnus rubra), due to their hazardous conditions. All thirteen (13)
trees show signs of hazardous leans, structural instability, and potential for collapse. To differentiate
between the trees, the ISA Certified Arborist (Sarah Gaskin) has numbered them 1-13 as noted in the photos
in the Arborist Report (Attachment A) and the Tree Risk Assessment Forms (Attachment B).
CRITICAL AREA: Regulated slopes (>15% & <=25%), Moderate Landslide Hazard Areas, and a Wetland
Buffer.
GENERAL REVIEW CRITERIA RMC 4-9-195D.4:
YES 1. The lot shall comply with minimum tree density requirements pursuant to RMC 4-4-130,
Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations.
Staff Comments: In accordance with Renton Municipal Code (RMC) 4-4-130.H,
compliance with tree credit requirements necessitates a minimum of 30 tree credits
per net acre. The subject property, which is approximately 558,439 square feet (12.82
acres), is located at 5301 Talbot Rd S, Renton, WA 98055 (APN 3123059023). Based
Docusign Envelope ID: 59F72B0D-BA8F-4713-A747-FC3097EE2855
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit
Springbrook Apartments Tree Removal LUA25-000007, RVMP
Permit Date: February 6, 2025 Page 2 of 5
LUA25-000007_D_Springbrook Apartments Tree Removal_250206_Final
on the property size, a total of 385 tree credits is required (30 tree credits per acre X
12.82 acres = 384.6 credits).
The Tree Risk Assessment Forms (Attachment B) indicate that thirteen (13) hazardous
trees – twelve (12) Black Cottonwoods (Populus fremontii) and one (1) red alder (Alnus
rubra) are proposed for removal. The Arborist Report (Attachment A) identifies these
trees as having poor taper, severe leans over high-use areas, low crown ratios due to
understory competition, and inherent species characteristics that limit stability. In
addition, the majority experienced failure during a recent weather event. The red alder,
specifically, poses a hazard due to its full canopy lean over an active roadway.
The Tree Credit Worksheet (Attachment C) confirms the retention of 346 trees for a
total of 1,701 tree credits. The property would continue to meet the minimum tree
credit requirements after the removal of the thirteen (13) hazardous trees, ensuring
compliance with RMC 4-4-130.H.
YES 2. The land clearing and tree removal shall be consistent with restrictions for critical
areas, pursuant to RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations, and
RMC 4-3-050, Critical Areas Regulations.
Staff Comments: According to the city’s mapping system, portions of the subject
property may contain regulated slopes (>15% & <=25%). The Arborist Report
(Attachment A) identifies Tree #2, a red alder (Alnus rubra), as being in a stream.
However, the City of Renton’s mapping system does not show a stream at this location
within the streams layer, but rather a surface water ditch.
The removal of thirteen (13) trees, including twelve (12) Black Cottonwoods (Populus
fremontii) and one (1) red alder, is proposed due to hazardous leans, structural
instability, and potential for failure, posing risks to structures, roadways, and active
areas. The removal also includes addressing invasive ivy as part of a broader
landscape cleanup effort.
Based on the existing conditions and topography of the site, staff finds that the
proposed tree removal would not result in adverse impacts to regulated slopes. No
mapped streams are identified at the location of Tree #2, and no other critical areas
are impacted by this proposal. Therefore, the proposed action is consistent with
critical area regulations under RMC 4-4-130 and RMC 4-3-050.
N/A 3. Removal of a landmark tree shall meet the review criteria for removal of a landmark
tree, pursuant to RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations.
i. The tree is determined to be a high-risk tree; or
ii. The tree is causing obvious physical damage to buildings (over 200 square
feet), driveways, parking lots, or utilities, and it can be demonstrated to the
Administrator’s satisfaction that no reasonable alternative to tree removal
exist, including tree root pruning, tree root barriers, tree cabling, or
preventative maintenance, such as cleaning leaf debris, deadwood removal,
or directional/clearance pruning; or
iii. Removal of tree(s) to provide solar access to buildings incorporating active
solar devices. Windows are solar devices only when they are south facing and
include special storage elements to distribute heat energy; or
Docusign Envelope ID: 59F72B0D-BA8F-4713-A747-FC3097EE2855
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit
Springbrook Apartments Tree Removal LUA25-000007, RVMP
Permit Date: February 6, 2025 Page 3 of 5
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iv. The Administrator determines the removal is necessary to achieve a specific
and articulable purpose or goal of this Title.
Staff Comments: The Black Cottonwoods (Populus fremontii) and red alder (Alnus
rubra) proposed for removal do not qualify as landmark trees under RMC 4-4-130
because their diameters are less than the required 30 inches (30") for black
cottonwoods and red alders to be classified as landmark trees.
A Routine Vegetation Management Permit (RVMP) is required because the project
involves the removal of more than two (2) significant trees within a calendar year. Per
RMC 4-4-130, cottonwood and alder trees qualify as significant trees if they have a
caliper of at least eight inches (8"), which applies to all 13 trees identified and
considered for removal in the Arborist Report.
Since the proposed tree removal meets the criteria for a Routine Vegetation
Management Permit but not for landmark tree removal, this section is not applicable.
YES 4. Street frontage and parking lot trees and landscaping shall be preserved unless
otherwise approved by the Administrator.
Staff Comments: The trees proposed for removal, as part of the Springbrook
Apartments RVMP project, are not designated as street frontage or parking lot trees.
However, their removal would impact the existing landscaping on-site.
According to the Tree Credit Worksheet (Attachment C), 346 trees will be retained on
the property, ensuring that a significant tree canopy and landscaping remain. Given
this level of retention, the removal of the thirteen (13) hazardous trees is not expected
to negatively impact street frontage or parking lot landscaping.
Additionally, the project site is located within the Residential-14 (R-14) zone and is
surrounded by properties of similar residential intensity. The removal of these trees is
primarily for safety purposes and would not alter screening or buffering functions
between different land uses.
Based on the existing conditions and substantial tree retention, the removal of these
hazardous trees would not negatively affect visual aesthetics, buffering, or
compliance with landscaping requirements.
N/A 5. The land clearing and tree removal shall not remove any landscaping or protected
trees required as part of a land development permit.
Staff Comments: Not Applicable. The alder and cottonwood trees would not have
been required as part of a land development permit for landscaping or tree
requirements. Neither street frontage nor parking landscaping is proposed to be
removed.
YES 6. The land clearing and tree removal shall maintain visual screening and buffering
between land uses of differing intensity, consistent with applicable landscaping and
setback provisions.
Staff Comments: The trees proposed for removal, as part of the Springbrook
Apartments RVMP project, are primarily located within the interior of the site and are
not essential for visual screening or buffering between land uses of differing intensity.
According to the Tree Credit Worksheet (Attachment C), 346 trees would be retained
Docusign Envelope ID: 59F72B0D-BA8F-4713-A747-FC3097EE2855
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit
Springbrook Apartments Tree Removal LUA25-000007, RVMP
Permit Date: February 6, 2025 Page 4 of 5
LUA25-000007_D_Springbrook Apartments Tree Removal_250206_Final
DECISION: The Springbrook Apartments Tree Removal, LUA25-000007, RVMP is Approved with
Conditions.
*CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL:
1. The applicant shall comply with the snagging recommendations of the Arborist Report, prepared by
on the property, ensuring that a substantial tree canopy and vegetative buffer remain.
Given this level of retention, the removal of the thirteen (13) hazardous trees would not
significantly alter screening or buffering functions.
Additionally, the property is located within the Residential-14 (R-14) zone and is
adjacent to lots with detached dwellings of similar intensity. As a result, the removal
of these trees would not impact the separation between differing land uses.
Based on the existing site conditions and the retention of a significant number of trees,
the proposed tree removal is consistent with applicable landscaping and setback
provisions and would not result in a loss of visual screening or buffering.
Compliant if
conditions of
approval are
met
7. The land clearing and tree removal shall not create or contribute to a hazardous
condition, such as increased potential for blowdown, pest infestation, disease, or
other problems that may result from selectively removing trees and other vegetation
from a lot.
Staff Comments: The removal of the thirteen (13) hazardous trees, as recommended
in the Arborist Report (Attachment A), would not create a hazardous condition but
instead mitigate the risk of tree collapse and damage to nearby buildings, roadways,
and active areas. The trees proposed for removal exhibit poor taper, structural
instability, hazardous leans, and weak root systems, all of which contribute to their
likelihood of failure. Additionally, the removal of invasive ivy as part of the broader
landscape cleanup effort would help prevent further decline of remaining vegetation
on-site.
Furthermore, the arborist included various recommendations for each of the 13
hazardous trees, for example Tree #1 is recommended to be removed to a 20-foot (20’)
wildlife snag to mitigate the tree leaning towards the building. According to the
arborist, these trees are in natural areas and can provide valuable habitat when
retained as snags and that by removing only the canopy and leaving a portion of the
trunk standing would maintain ecological benefits by supporting local wildlife, such as
cavity-nesting birds and insects, while eliminating the immediate hazard. Therefore,
as a condition of approval, the applicant shall comply with the snagging
recommendations of the Arborist Report, prepared by A Plus Tree, LLC, dated October
28, 2024, and any future addenda. In addition, the applicant shall restore the disturbed
area with a minimum of three inches (3”) of bark mulch cover (or equivalent) over the
impacted area.
N/A 8. The land clearing and tree removal shall be consistent with the requirement of the
Shoreline Master Program, pursuant to RMC 4-3-090F1, Vegetation Conservation and
RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations.
Staff Comments: Not applicable. The property is not located within shoreline
jurisdiction.
Docusign Envelope ID: 59F72B0D-BA8F-4713-A747-FC3097EE2855
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit
Springbrook Apartments Tree Removal LUA25-000007, RVMP
Permit Date: February 6, 2025 Page 5 of 5
LUA25-000007_D_Springbrook Apartments Tree Removal_250206_Final
A Plus Tree, LLC, dated October 28, 2024, and any future addenda.
2. The applicant shall restore the disturbed area with a minimum of three inches (3”) of bark mulch
cover (or equivalent) over the impacted area.
SIGNATURE & DATE OF DECISION:
________________________________________ ____________________________________
Matthew Herrera, Planning Director Date
RECONSIDERATION: Within 14 days of the decision date, any party may request that the decision be
reopened by the approval body. The approval body may modify his decision if material evidence not readily
discoverable prior the original decision is found or if he finds there was misrepresentation of fact. After
review of the reconsideration request, if the approval body finds sufficient evidence to amend the original
decision, there will be no further extension of the appeal period. Any person wishing to take further action
must file a formal appeal within the 14-day appeal time frame.
APPEALS: Appeals of permit issuance must be filed in writing on or before 5:00 p.m. on February 20,
2025. An appeal of the decision must be filed within the 14-day appeal period (RCW 43.21.C.075(3);
WAC 197-11-680). Appeals must be submitted electronically to the City Clerk at cityclerk@rentonwa.gov or
delivered to City Hall 1st floor Lobby Hub Monday through Friday. The appeal fee, normally due at the time
an appeal is submitted, will be collected at a future date if your appeal is submitted electronically. The
appeal submitted in person may be paid on the first floor in our Finance Department. Appeals to the Hearing
Examiner are governed by RMC 4-8-110 and additional information regarding the appeal process may be
obtained from the City Clerk’s Office, cityclerk@rentonwa.gov.
EXPIRATION: The Routine Vegetation Management Permit shall be valid for one year from the date of
issuance. An extension may be granted by the Planning Division for a period of one year upon application by
the property owner or manager. Application for such an extension must be made at least thirty (30) days in
advance of the expiration of the original permit and shall include a statement of justification for the
extension.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Arborist Report, prepared by A Plus Tree, LLC, dated October 28, 2024
Attachment B: ISA Basic Tree Risk Assessment Forms, dated June 3, 2024
Attachment C: Tree Retention and Credit Worksheet, dated January 21, 2025
Docusign Envelope ID: 59F72B0D-BA8F-4713-A747-FC3097EE2855
2/6/2025 | 4:02 PM PST