HomeMy WebLinkAboutD_Cedar River Revetment Repair_SME_FINALDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
D_Cedar River Revetment Repair_SME_FINAL
PLANNING DIVISION
CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION
FROM SHORELINE SUBSTANTIAL DEVELOPMENT
EVALUATION FORM & DECISION
DATE OF DECISION: March 17, 2026
PROJECT NUMBER: LUA26-000096, SME
PROJECT NAME: Cedar River Revetment Repair
PROJECT MANAGER: Jill Ding, Senior Planner
OWNER: Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
APPLICANT/CONTACT: Katie Simpson, King County WLRD
201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104
PROJECT LOCATION: On the north side of State Route (SR) 169 and on the south bank of the Cedar River
between RM 5.93 and RM 6.03. The south portion of the project site is located within the Renton City Limits;
the north portion is within unincorporated King County.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is requesting a Shoreline Exemption for completed emergency
repairs to damage sustained during the recent December 2025 flooding event. Scour and bank erosion in this
existing revetment resulted in immediate, emergency risk to SR 169 and associated utilities, including a fiber
optic line that could have resulted in catastrophic failure. The project consisted of placing rock and riprap
within the Cedar River and in the revetment prism to stabilize the revetment. The project included removal of
concrete debris from the revetment and placement of approximately 320 cubic yards of four-man rock mixed
with light loose riprap along an approximately 200-linear-foot section. Of the rock and riprap placed, 210
cubic yards were placed above the ordinary high water mark (OHWM), and 110 cubic yards were placed
below the OHWM. To repair the revetment, approximately nine (9) maple trees (<8” diameter at breast height
[DBH]), ten (10) Douglas fir trees (<4” DBH), and one (1) six-stem maple tree (<12” DBH) were removed and
placed in the Cedar River. Immediately following the repair, 30 cubic yards of topsoil, grass seed, and straw
were spread in disturbed areas. In the near-term, project related ground disturbance associated with the
repair would be restored through a native vegetation re-planting plan designed to stabilize soils, improve
habitat function, and support long-term site resilience. Below the OHWM, the repair did not change the
character, scope or size of the original design. Large rocks and riprap are present both upstream and
downstream of the repair site that stabilize the riverbank. According to City of Renton (COR) Maps, the project
site is mapped within a high seismic hazard area and the 100-year floodplain and floodway of the Cedar River.
In addition, the Cedar River is a Type S designated Shoreline of the State and the project site is located within
the Shoreline High Intensity Designation of reach D of the Cedar River.
SEC-TWN-R: 21-23-05
Docusign Envelope ID: F07534EA-1CE4-4DA7-941B-0F05BFFBF4DA
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Certificate of Exemption From Shoreline Substantial Development
Cedar River Revetment Repair LUA26-000096, SME
Permit Date: March 17, 2026 Page 2 of 3
D_Cedar River Revetment Repair_SME_FINAL
LEGAL DESCRIPTION:
(King County Assessor)
Not applicable, project site, within the Renton city limits, is located within the
WSDOT SR 169 right-of-way.
WATER BODY/REACH: Cedar River, Reach D
SHORELINE EXEMPTION FINDINGS:
The proposed development is consistent with the following findings:
YES i. Consistent with the policies of the Shoreline Management Act.
Staff Comments: The proposed emergency revetment repair would qualify as
maintenance and repair of an existing structure and would be exempt from a Shoreline
Substantial Development Permit as specified in the Shoreline Management Act.
YES ii. Not Applicable to the guidelines of the Department of Ecology where no Master Program
has been finally approved or adopted by the Department.
Staff Comments: Not Applicable
YES iii. Consistent with the City of Renton Shoreline Master Program.
Staff Comments: The City’s adopted Shoreline Master Program permits the repair of
existing shoreline stabilization structures (RMC 4-3-090F.4.c), provided it serves to
perform a shoreline stabilization function for a legally established land use, but shall be
subject to the provisions in RMC 4-3-090F.4.c.ii-iv if the land use for which the shoreline
stabilization structure was constructed is abandoned per RMC 4-10-060,
Nonconforming Uses, or changed to a new use. The proposed repairs to the existing
revetment are resulting from impacts during the December 2025 flood event and are not
the result of any change of use to the existing property.
EXEMPTION JUSTIFICATION/DECISION: An exemption from a Shoreline Management Substantial
Development Permit is hereby Approved on the proposed project in accordance with RMC 4-9-190C
“Exemptions from Permit System” and for the following reasons:
Normal maintenance or repair of existing structures or developments, including damage by accident, fire or
elements. "Normal maintenance" includes those usual acts to prevent a decline, lapse, or cessation from a
lawfully established condition. "Normal repair" means to restore a development to a state comparable to its
original condition, including but not limited to its size, shape, configuration, location and external
appearance, within a reasonable period after decay or partial destruction, except where repair causes
substantial adverse effects to shoreline resource or environment. Replacement of a structure or development
may be authorized as repair where such replacement is the common method of repair for the type of structure
or development and the replacement structure or development is comparable to the original structure or
development including but not limited to its size, shape, configuration, location and external appearance and
the replacement does not cause substantial adverse effects to shoreline resources or environment.
Docusign Envelope ID: F07534EA-1CE4-4DA7-941B-0F05BFFBF4DA
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Certificate of Exemption From Shoreline Substantial Development
Cedar River Revetment Repair LUA26-000096, SME
Permit Date: March 17, 2026 Page 3 of 3
D_Cedar River Revetment Repair_SME_FINAL
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 to 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: This administrative land use decision will become final if not appealed in writing to the
Hearing Examiner on or before 5:00 PM on March 31, 2026. 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: Project Narrative
Docusign Envelope ID: F07534EA-1CE4-4DA7-941B-0F05BFFBF4DA
3/17/2026 | 1:37 PM PDT
Water and Land Resources Division
Department of Natural Resources and Parks
King Street Center
201 South Jackson Street, Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98104-3855
206-477-4637
TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM
March 6, 2026
TO: Jill Ding, Senior Planner, City of Renton Planning
FM: Katie Simpson, Environmental Scientist III, King County River and Floodplain Capital Unit, Water
and Land Resources Division, Department of Natural Resources and Parks
RE: Cedar River Trail 1 Emergency Repair Project Narrative
LOCATION
The existing Cedar River Trail 1 revetment is north of State Route (SR) 169 and on the left
(south) bank of the Cedar River between RM 5.93 and RM 6.03. The southern portion of the
facility is partially within the Renton (City) city limits, the Cedar-Sammamish Watershed
Resource Inventory Area 8, and the Hydrologic Unit Code 171100120107 – Madsen Creek-Cedar
River watershed subbasin. The Cedar River Trail 1 revetment emergency repair project (Project)
is within Section 21 of Township 23N, Range 5E, Willamette Meridian.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The completed emergency repair project addressed damage sustained during the recent
December 2025 flooding event. Scour and bank erosion in this revetment resulted in
immediate, emergency risk to SR 169 and associated utilities, including a fiber optic line, that
could have resulted in catastrophic failure.
The project consisted of placing rock and riprap within the Cedar River and in the revetment
prism to stabilize the revetment. The project included removal of concrete debris from the
revetment; placement of approximately 320 cubic yards of 4-man rock mixed with light loose
riprap along an approximately 200 linear foot section. Of this rock and riprap placed, 210 cubic
yard of rock were placed above the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) and 110 cubic yards of
rock were placed below the OWWM.
To repair the revetment, approximately 9 Maple trees (<8” diameter at breast height [DBH]), 10
Douglas Fir trees (<4” DBH), and 1 6-stem Maple Tree (<12” DBH) were removed and placed in
the Cedar River. Immediately following the repair, 30 cubic yards of topsoil, grass seed, and
straw were spread in disturbed areas. In the near-term, project related ground disturbance
ATTACHMENT A
RECEIVED
03/13/2026 jding
PLANNING DIVISION
Docusign Envelope ID: F07534EA-1CE4-4DA7-941B-0F05BFFBF4DA
associated with the repair will be restored through a native vegetation re-planting plan
designed to stabilize soils, improve habitat function, and support long-term site resilience.
Below the OHWM, the repair did not change the character, scope or size of the original design.
Large rocks and riprap are present both upstream and downstream of the repair site that
stabilize the riverbank (Photos 1-4).
Photo 1. The CRT1 revetment was damaged during the December 2025 flood. Damage extents
highlighted in the white box required emergency repair.
Photo 2. CRT1 2021 bare earth model. The yellow line indicates the CRT1 facility length and the
pink line approximates the facility toe.
Docusign Envelope ID: F07534EA-1CE4-4DA7-941B-0F05BFFBF4DA
Photo 3. Post December 2025 flood CRT1 facility condition after vegetation clearing, prior to
repair. The yellow line indicates the CRT1 facility length and the pink line approximates the
facility toe.
Photo 4. Completed 2026 emergency repair at CRT1. The yellow line indicates the CRT1 facility
length and the pink line approximates the facility toe.
Docusign Envelope ID: F07534EA-1CE4-4DA7-941B-0F05BFFBF4DA