HomeMy WebLinkAboutD_Springbrook_Tree_Removal_2025_FinalDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
D_Springbrook Tree Removal 2025_Final
PLANNING DIVISION
ROUTINE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
PERMIT AND CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION
FROM CRITICAL AREA REGULATIONS
EVALUATION FORM & DECISION
DATE OF DECISION: January 9, 2026
PROJECT NUMBER: LUA25-000415, RVMP, CAE
PROJECT NAME: Springbrook Tree Removal 2025
PROJECT MANAGER: Ashley Wragge, Assistant Planner
OWNER: Carey McIntosh, Springbrook Apartments Investors, LLC
5301 Talbot Rd S, Renton, WA 98055
APPLICANT/CONTACT: Laci Young, A Plus Tree, LLC
6412 S 900 E, Suite 201, Murray, UT 84121
PROJECT LOCATION: 5301 Talbot Rd S, Renton, WA 98055 (APN 3123059023)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant, Laci Young, on behalf of A Plus Tree LLC, is requesting a
Routine Vegetation Management Permit (RVMP) and an exemption from critical areas regulations
(CAE) to remove two (2) trees: one (1) Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) and one (1) Western red cedar
(Thuja plicata) located at 5301 Talbot Rd S (APN 3123059023). The subject property is approximately
558,439 square feet (12.82 acres) and situated within the Residential-14 (R-14) zone and the Talbot
Community Planning Area. Per the City of Renton (COR) Maps, the subject property has an unnamed
fish bearing stream and sensitive slopes on-site. In the Arborist Report, prepared by ISA Certified
Arborist Jessy Jacquinot (Attachment A), the site map indicates the proposed tree removals are
within the stream buffer, which requires a Critical Areas Exemption in addition to the RVMP. In
February 2025, this site received approval of an RVMP to manage thirteen (13) trees: twelve (12) black
cottonwoods (Populus fremontii) and one (1) red alder (Alnus rubra) under file number LUA25-
000007. The approval was subject to two (2) conditions of approval (Attachment B). In April 2025, the
site received approval of an RVMP with a CAE to manage one (1) western cottonwood (Populus
trichocarpa) under file number LUA25-000118, which was subject to one (1) condition of approval
(Attachment C).
In the report, the arborist proposed the removal of the Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) tree that is
seven inches (7”) in diameter at breast height (dbh) and the Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) tree
that is nine inches (9”) dbh. Both trees are located within a managed landscaping area. According to
the report, the pear tree is in overall poor health and exhibits structural deficiencies. The tree has an
Docusign Envelope ID: D1EE881B-232C-4A3E-AF86-FDF881DF4CA6
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit Springbrook Tree Removal 2025 LUA25-000415, RVMP, CAE
Permit Date: January 9, 2026 Page 2 of 7
D_Springbrook Tree Removal 2025_Final
unbalanced crown and a high likelihood of branch failure due to it being unbalanced. The cedar tree
is in healthy condition, but it is growing around a light pole. The branches are impacting the light
source and the tree would have to be continuously pruned for clearance, which is not sustainable in
the long term.
CRITICAL AREA: Type F Stream (unnamed), regulated slopes (>15% & <=25%), moderate
landslide hazard areas, and a wetland buffer.
EXEMPTION
JUSTIFICATION: Renton Municipal Code (RMC) 4-3-050 Critical Areas Regulations: RMC
4-3-050C.3.c.iii, Dangerous Trees: Removal of non-native invasive ground cover or weeds listed by
King County Noxious Weed Board or other government agency or dangerous trees, as defined in
chapter 4-11 RMC, which have been approved by the City and certified dangerous by a licensed
landscape architect, or certified arborist, selection of whom to be approved by the City based on the
type of information required. Limited to cutting of dangerous trees; such hazardous trees shall be
retained as large woody debris in critical areas and/or associated buffers, where feasible.
RMC 4-3-050.C.3.c.iii EXEMPT, PROHIBITED AND NONCONFORMING ACTIVITIES: Activities taking
place in critical areas and their associated buffers and listed in the "Exempt Activities – Permitted
Within Critical Areas and Associated Buffers" table are exempt from the applicable provisions of
Section 4-3-050, provided this letter of exemption has been issued.
ROUTINE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT REVIEW CRITERIA 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 RMC 4-4-130.H, compliance with
tree credit requirements necessitates a minimum of 30 tree credits per net
acre. The subject property, located at 5301 Talbot Rd S (APN 3123059023),
is approximately 558,439 square feet (12.82 acres), and approximately
477,570 square feet (10.96 acres) after allowed critical area deductions.
Based on the net property size, 329 tree credits are required to meet the
minimum tree density requirement (30 tree credits per acre × 10.96 acres
= 329 credits).
According to the Tree Retention and Tree Credit Worksheet (Attachment D),
the property has 275 trees on-site after deducting trees in critical areas.
Page 2 of the Tree Retention and Tree Credit Worksheet totals the value of
the trees as 1,365 tree credits. The tree credits proposed for retention
within the parcel exceed the minimum tree credit requirements and would
maintain the minimum tree density following the removal of the two (2)
trees.
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: City of Renton (COR) Maps has identified sensitive
slopes and an unnamed Type F stream. A Critical Areas Exemption
certificate is a component of this decision because the proposed tree
Docusign Envelope ID: D1EE881B-232C-4A3E-AF86-FDF881DF4CA6
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit Springbrook Tree Removal 2025 LUA25-000415, RVMP, CAE
Permit Date: January 9, 2026 Page 3 of 7
D_Springbrook Tree Removal 2025_Final
removals are located within the stream buffer.
According to the Arborist Report (Attachment A), the pear tree is in poor
health and has structural deficiencies from the three (3) primary scaffold
branches on the same attachment which has resulted in an uneven canopy
and branches that have a high likelihood of failure. There are no immediate
hazards; however, as the tree continues to grow, the likelihood of failure
increases because its structure will become more unstable. Although the
cedar tree is balanced and in fair health, the nearby light pole is partially
obstructing the light from the fixture due to the branches starting to grow
around the light. Without intervention, the tree would eventually engulf the
light pole. The tree could be pruned; however, it is likely unsustainable in
the long term as it would create a severely unbalanced crown. This means
that it would likely have to be removed in the future due to the dangers
posed by being unstable. While both trees pose future dangers, there are
no immediate threats. The work proposed is preemptive care of trees
within a landscaped area that would neutralize the trees from becoming
more dangerous in the future; thus, the trees are categorized as dangerous
trees. Removal of the dangerous tree is an exempt activity per Renton
Municipal Code (RMC) 4-3-050C.3.c.iii. Refer to the Critical Area
Exemption Findings below for additional exemption information.
YES 3. Removal of a landmark tree shall meet the review criteria for removal off
landmark tree, pursuant to RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing
Regulations.
i. The tree is determined to be dangerous; or
ii. The tree is causing obvious physical damage to structures
including but not limited to building foundations, driveways or
parking lots, and for which no reasonable alternative to tree
removal exists. Routine maintenance of roofs that is required due
to leaf fall does not constitute obvious physical damage to
structure; 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
iv. The Administrator determines the removal is necessary to achieve
a specific and articulable purpose or goal of this Title.
Staff Comments: Per RMC 4-11-200, Definitions T, a landmark tree is
classified as such if it measures with a caliper of twenty-four inches (24")
or greater, except for big leaf maples, black cottonwoods, and red alder
trees, which qualify as landmark trees with a caliper of thirty inches (30") or
greater. The trees proposed for mitigation are seven inches (7”) and nine
inches (9”) in diameter at breast height (dbh); per the City’s classification,
these are significant trees.
N/A 4. Street frontage and parking lot trees and landscaping shall be preserved
unless otherwise approved by the Administrator.
Docusign Envelope ID: D1EE881B-232C-4A3E-AF86-FDF881DF4CA6
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit Springbrook Tree Removal 2025 LUA25-000415, RVMP, CAE
Permit Date: January 9, 2026 Page 4 of 7
D_Springbrook Tree Removal 2025_Final
Staff Comments: Not applicable. The subject trees are not street frontage
trees nor parking lot trees. Neither street frontage nor parking landscape is
proposed to be removed.
YES, IF
CONDITIONS
OF
APPROVAL
ARE MET
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: As noted in the Arborist Report (Attachment A), the trees
proposed for removal are a part of the landscaping for the site and removal
of landscaping is not permissible per code. Considering the pear tree is in
poor health and is expected to become increasingly unstable due to its
uneven crown, preserving it would not be effective since it would likely
need to be removed at a later date. A similar case is made by the applicant
for the cedar tree that tree is engulfing a light pole in the common space
and is diminishing its effectiveness. If the tree were to be retained, it would
have to be repeatedly trimmed and cause the crown to become
unbalanced which would be detrimental in the future and the tree would
likely need to be removed at that time.
Part of the intention of landscaping is to create an attractive scenery in the
built environment, and retaining the unstable, severely tilted pear tree and
the over-pruned cedar tree would not support that goal. In order to mitigate
the concerns the trees pose and retain landscaping, the applicant shall
confer with the arborist to select two (2) appropriate trees for replanting
near where the existing trees are located and plant the replacement trees
within six (6) months of the date of decision. Once installed, the applicant
shall notify the Planning Project Manager to complete a landscape
inspection. By replanting the two (2) trees, no landscaping would be
removed; therefore, the landscaping would be maintained, which meets
the intention of this review criterion.
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 proposed trees for removal are located in the
interior of the parcel separating the developed area from the housing. Their
potential removal would not negatively impact visual screening or buffering
between the adjacent land uses. Since the trees to be retained in the area
will maintain a substantial amount of vegetation between the developed
area and the stream, removing the two (2) trees would not significantly alter
screening or buffering functions.
YES 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 provided documentation did not indicate that the
removal of the trees would create or contribute to a hazardous condition.
Docusign Envelope ID: D1EE881B-232C-4A3E-AF86-FDF881DF4CA6
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit Springbrook Tree Removal 2025 LUA25-000415, RVMP, CAE
Permit Date: January 9, 2026 Page 5 of 7
D_Springbrook Tree Removal 2025_Final
N/A 8. The land clearing and tree removal shall be consistent with the
requirements 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.
CRITICAL AREA EXEMPTION FINDINGS:
The proposed development is consistent with the following findings pursuant to RMC section 4-3-
050C.2.d:
YES i. The activity is not prohibited by this or any other provision of the Renton
Municipal Code or State or Federal law or regulation;
Staff Comments: Removal of dangerous trees is not prohibited by any
federal regulations and it is an exempt activity in the City of Renton’s
Critical Areas Regulations. Approval of this exemption would act as written
permission to allow the removal of the identified trees.
YES ii. The activity will be conducted using best management practices as
specified by industry standards or applicable Federal agencies or
scientific principles;
Staff Comments: The best management practice for removal of a
dangerous tree in a stream buffer is to retain the tree as large woody debris
on-site if feasible. For this project, retaining the woody debris is not
feasible since the location of the two (2) trees is part of the manicured
landscaping for the apartment development. The area where the trees are
located is not a natural habitat where retaining debris would enrich the
functions of a riparian. In addition, no other best management practices
were recommended by the arborist.
YES iii. Impacts are minimized and, where applicable, disturbed areas are
immediately restored;
Staff Comments: The impacts would be minimized by replanting trees
creating no net loss of trees within the buffer. The disturbed area is within
a landscaped section of the property and would be restored following the
removal of the trees.
YES iv. Where water body or buffer disturbance has occurred in accordance with
an exemption during construction or other activities, revegetation with
native vegetation shall be required;
Staff Comments: The trees proposed for mitigation are in a stream buffer,
but outside of the stream’s functioning riparian, as they are part of the
manicured landscaping. No additional vegetation is proposed to be
disturbed necessitating revegetation efforts.
Docusign Envelope ID: D1EE881B-232C-4A3E-AF86-FDF881DF4CA6
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit Springbrook Tree Removal 2025 LUA25-000415, RVMP, CAE
Permit Date: January 9, 2026 Page 6 of 7
D_Springbrook Tree Removal 2025_Final
N/A v. If a hazardous material, activity, and/or facility that is exempt pursuant to
this Section has a significant or substantial potential to degrade
groundwater quality, then the Administrator may require compliance with
the Wellhead Protection Area requirements of this Section otherwise
relevant to that hazardous material, activity, and/or facility. Such
determinations will be based upon site and/or chemical-specific data.
Staff Comments: Not applicable. The proposal does not include a
significant or substantial potential to degrade groundwater quality.
DECISION: The Springbrook Tree Removal 2025 Routine Vegetation Management Permit and
Critical Areas Exemption, LUA25-000415, RVMP, CAE is Approved with Conditions*.
*CONDITION OF APPROVAL:
1. The applicant shall confer with the arborist to select two (2) appropriate trees for replanting
near where the existing trees are located and plant the replacement trees within six (6)
months of the date of decision. Once installed, the applicant shall notify the Planning
Project Manager to complete a landscape inspection.
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 January
23, 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: Two (2) years from the date of decision (date signed).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Arborist Report prepared by Jessy Jacquinot, dated November 6, 2025
Attachment B: Springbrook Apartments Tree Removal (LUA25-000007, RVMP), dated February
6, 2025
Docusign Envelope ID: D1EE881B-232C-4A3E-AF86-FDF881DF4CA6
1/9/2026 | 2:23 PM PST
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit Springbrook Tree Removal 2025 LUA25-000415, RVMP, CAE
Permit Date: January 9, 2026 Page 7 of 7
D_Springbrook Tree Removal 2025_Final
Attachment C: Springbrook Tree Removal (LUA25-000118, RVMP, CAE), dated April 30, 2025
Attachment D: Tree Retention and Tree Credit Worksheet
Docusign Envelope ID: D1EE881B-232C-4A3E-AF86-FDF881DF4CA6