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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC_salamanderwater_City Response1 Jill Ding From:Jill Ding Sent:Wednesday, July 16, 2025 11:09 AM To:salamanderwater@proton.me Subject:FW: Longacres concerns! Hello, Thank you for your comments regarding the Longacres Campus Master Plan (LUA25-000100). Your comments have been included in the official file for consideration and you have been added as a party of record. In addition, your comments will also be provided to the applicant and EA, the City’s consultant for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS will evaluate and consider the proposed impacts to the wetland communities, trees, and wildlife habitat. The applicant has submitted an Arborist Report and a Critical Areas Study that evaluates the existing ecological communities located onsite and evaluates the impacts to the communities that the proposal would have. These reports and studies are being reviewed and evaluated by the City and it’s consultant team to determine if additional mitigation would be necessary to protect the existing environmental resources onsite. Please feel free to reach out if you have additional questions. Thanks, JILL DING, Senior Planner City of Renton // Planning Virtual Permit Center // Online Applications and Inspections office 425-430-6598 NOTICE OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE: This message complies with Washington State’s Public Records Act – RCW 42.56 From: CED Planning Customer Service <PlanningCustomerService@rentonwa.gov> Sent: Monday, July 14, 2025 3:25 PM To: Jill Ding <JDing@Rentonwa.gov> Subject: FW: Longacres concerns! Please see the information below. Planning Customer Service City of Renton | CED | Planning Division | BB 1055 S Grady Way | 6th Floor | Renton, WA 98057 Virtual Permit Center | Schedule a Virtual 15-minute Meeting (425) 430-7294 | planningcustomerservice@rentonwa.gov From: salamanderwater <salamanderwater@proton.me> Sent: Thursday, July 3, 2025 4:33 PM To: CED Planning Customer Service <PlanningCustomerService@rentonwa.gov>; Council DL <council@rentonwa.gov>; Code Compliance <codecompliance@Rentonwa.gov>; district@kingcd.org 2 Cc: info@forterra.org Subject: Longacres concerns! Hello. I'm a resident who frequents* the Longacres ponds and wetlands to walk and appreciate wildlife and native plants, and get a break from the city. I have had concerns and questions about how the wetlands, ponds and surrounding landscape are managed. Additionally, I saw the Proposed Land Use action poster and I would like to submit comment and concern about building and human development of the area. I am deeply concerned! This is critical habitat, especially with the proximity to the Black River Riparian Forest. I do not support further construction that destroys, impedes or weakens the existing wildlife habitat and potential for enhancing habitat. There is so little space available for wildlife, we must do what we can to support what is already there, and do more restoration especially in areas where those efforts will have the most impact, like the Longacres area. Additionally there is so little green space available in close proximity for humans, which is scientifically proven to be critical for our mental and physical health. It doesn't appear to me as if the area is being managed in a way supportive to and aligned with the ecosystem function. For example...many trees in the wetland have been cut down for no apparent reason and when they are cut down they are cut to stumps without leaving a snag, which is critical for wildlife habitat and should be how trees are managed in these environments. There has been mowing of emergent plants and wetland shrubs for reasons that aren't apparent for ecological purpose, such as regeneration. I believe beaver trapping has occurred but the State won't give me the details when I inquired about their signs posted near the ponds regarding traps. Pyrotechnics are shot off to supposedly deter geese!...this harms other waterfowl in addition to geese! Flags are posted about the area being "treated" by a landscaping company and frequently I see an alarming amount of dead moles. This is a wetland and pond with fish habitat (see iMap) and a critical area! There are chorus frogs, raptors, songbirds and waterfowl including green herons, buffleheads, mergansers, wood ducks and more. And I'm sure other wildlife that remain inconspicuous. Whenever I've walked there I've imagined and assumed some of the area west of the pond (in between pond and train station) would eventually undergo more restoration. (There is already habitat and native plants in that area I just assumed and imagined more would be done to strengthen it and the wetland.) It appears you are considering allowing fancy buildings there!?! To make an investment company even richer! Please, how is this OK given the critical area wetland, ponds and wildlife? I don't see how this could pass an environmental review. And regardless...There is so little left for wildlife habitat, can't they at least have something?!? I'm cc'ing Forterra on this because I read on the Sounders website under the "Sustainabiliy" tab of the website https://www.soundersfc.com/clubhouse/sustainability... "Between 2017-2021 we partnered with local nonprofit Forterra to plant over 1400 trees at four projects along the Green-Duwamish River watershed that restored habitat, removed invasive species, and supported long term carbon capture and sequestration" What they are proposing to do at this Sounders location does not align with the values they stated and they should not get to get away with doing harm while promoting their work with Forterra. Do they get to brag about planting trees and restoring wetlands when they are cutting down trees and not managing their wetlands in a sustainable ecological way and are allowing for further habitat destruction with this so-called development? It's hypocritical to say the least. I could not find a Sounders contact email for this property. People care and are paying attention. CAUTION: This email originated from outside the City of Renton. Do not click links, reply or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. 3 There is room to build housing that won't take away from this wildlife habitat. Leave housing for the animals. Leave greenspace for humans. *used to frequent. I don't even want to go there anymore because it is too sad and depressing and heartbreaking what you are a proposing and seeing/hearing disrespect of the animals and ecosystem.