HomeMy WebLinkAboutD_Airport_Safety_Tree_Removal_FinalDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
D_Airport Safety Tree Removal_Final
PLANNING DIVISION
ROUTINE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PERMIT
EVALUATION FORM & DECISION
DATE OF DECISION: July 20, 2026
PROJECT NUMBER: LUA26-000236, RVMP
PROJECT NAME: Airport Safety Tree Removal
PROJECT MANAGER: Ashley Wragge, Assistant Planner
OWNER: Jared Huyett
1900 S Puget Dr. Ste 203, Renton, WA 98055
APPLICANT/CONTACT: Noah Ferrell, Renton Airport
243 W Perimeter Rd, Renton, WA 98057
PROJECT LOCATION: 108 S Tobin St, Renton, WA 98057 (APN 7229300005)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant, Renton Airport, is requesting a Routine Vegetation Management
Permit (RVMP) to remove one (1) Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) located at 108 S Tobin St (APN
7229300005) within the Commercial Arterial (CA) zone and the City Center Planning Area. The subject
property is approximately 8,000 square feet (0.18 acres).
A project narrative (Attachment A) was submitted with the application in which the applicant explains that
the tree is located to the south of Renton Airport, as seen in the Neighborhood Detail Map (Attachment B).
Because the tree is 75-80 feet (75’-80’) tall and is within the navigable airspace governed by 14 CFR Part 77
(the federally defined airspace regulations contained in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations [CFR]), it
poses a safety risk and creates an ongoing risk to airport operations. The tree proposed for removal is the
only tree on the lot. According to City of Renton (COR) Maps, the subject property is within the Downtown
Wellhead Protection Area Zone 2 and has a high seismic hazard.
CRITICAL AREAS: High Seismic Hazard Area, Downtown Wellhead Protection Area Zone 2
GENERAL REVIEW CRITERIA RMC 4-9-195D.4:
YES, IF
CONDITIONS
OF
APPROVAL
ARE MET
1. The lot shall comply with minimum tree credit requirements pursuant to RMC 4-4-
130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations.
Staff Comments: In accordance with Renton Municipal Code (RMC) 4-4-130H,
compliance with tree credit requirements necessitates a minimum of 30 tree
credits per net acre. The subject property, which is approximately 8,000 square
feet (0.18 acres), is located at 108 S Tobin St (APN 7229300005). Based on the
property size, five (5) tree credits are required to meet the minimum tree density
Docusign Envelope ID: 9C9078CD-52B8-8E7C-80FF-39D373F3336F
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit Airport Safety Tree Removal LUA26-000236, RVMP
Permit Date: July 20, 2026 Page 2 of 5
D_Airport Safety Tree Removal_Final
requirement (30 tree credits/acre × 0.18 acres = 5.4 credits).
The applicant is not proposing any replacement trees, either on site or off site, and
cites safety concerns related to wildlife attraction if replacement trees are
installed within the Airport’s protected airspace. Because the subject property and
the existing Douglas fir tree are located within the Airport’s Runway Protection
Zone (RPZ), replanting on site or off site near the airport would only increase the
potential for bird activity, as trees provide attractive habitat for many bird species.
Removing the tree reduces the risk of aircraft-tree collision; however, replanting
on-site would not resolve the underlying safety concerns associated with
increased bird and wildlife presence within the flight path.
According to RMC 4-4-130H.1.e.i, replacement planting may be granted when
there are special circumstances related to the location or surroundings of the
property or the strict application of the code would prevent reasonable use of the
property. Additionally, RMC 4-4-130H.1.f. indicates that the Administrator has the
authority to determine when it is infeasible to replace trees on the site, in which
case payment into the City’s Urban Forestry Program fund may be approved in an
amount of money approximating the current market value of the replacement trees
and the labor to install them. The City shall determine the value of replacement
trees.
As indicated above, the minimum tree density requirement of the 8,000-square-
foot property is five (5) tree credits. According to the current fee schedule, each
replacement tree fee in lieu is $225.00 (per diameter inch measured at four and
one-half feet [4.5’] above grade), plus a $500 labor cost for each two-inch (2”)
caliper (or six-foot [6’] tall) tree to be planted, which would be applied as a credit
supplement. Thus, to reach the required five (5) tree credits, the applicant would
be required to plant two (2) large species trees (equivalent to four [4] tree credits)
and one (1) medium species tree (equivalent to one [1] tree credit). According to
RMC 4-4-070L.4.b, broadleaf trees planted in residential zones must be a
minimum one-and-one-half-inch (1.5") caliper. Therefore, the cost of three (3) one-
and-one-half-inch (1.5”) caliper replacement trees would cost $2,512.50 ($225 x
1.5 x 3) +($500 x 3) = $2,512.50 tree fee in lieu at five (5) tree credits. Therefore, in
order to meet compliance with minimum tree density and tree retention criterion
and as a condition of approval, the applicant shall make a payment into the City’s
Urban Forestry Program fund in the amount of $2,512.50 within 90 days of date of
decision.
YES, IF
CONDITIONS
OF
APPROVAL
ARE MET
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 the Downtown
Wellhead Protection Area Zone 2 and a high seismic hazard on site. The proposed
tree removal does not involve activities that would disrupt groundwater nor impact
seismic hazards on site since no groundwork is proposed. Ground disturbance in
the area around the southern portion of Lake Washington and Cedar River has the
potential to uncover culturally sensitive materials (such as artifacts, tools, or other
items). The applicant does not propose earthwork but as a measure to not
potentially interfere with native soil, as a condition of approval, the applicant shall
Docusign Envelope ID: 9C9078CD-52B8-8E7C-80FF-39D373F3336F
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit Airport Safety Tree Removal LUA26-000236, RVMP
Permit Date: July 20, 2026 Page 3 of 5
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stump the tree and leave the roots in the ground to prevent disturbing the native
soil.
YES 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.
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 applicant did not include
the caliper inches of the tree, but it can be presumed from photos included in the
Neighborhood Detail Map (Attachment B) and the tree being approximately 75-80
feet (75’-80’) tall, that the tree meets the twenty-four inches (24") minimum to be
considered a landmark tree.
According to RMC 4-4-130F.2.c.iv, a landmark tree may be removed if the
Administrator determines the removal is necessary to achieve a specific and
articulable purpose or goal of this Title. Under allowed tree removal activities, trees
are permitted for removal due to maintenance activities including routine
vegetation management and essential tree removal for public and private utilities,
road rights-of-way and easements, and public parks. Since the tree proposed for
removal is a landmark tree, a Routine Vegetation Management Permit (RVMP) is
required. In circumstances where a tree is impeding easement access, it is
permissible to remove the tree in question. For this tree removal request by the
airport, the tree is 75 to 80 feet (75’-80’) tall and it penetrates navigable airspace
governed by 14 CFR Part 77 in which the maximum allowed height is 52 feet (52’).
If effect, this is impeding air space access to the airport for their typical safety
functions, which is making it dangerous to fly planes in the flight path. Staff concur
that it is necessary to remove the landmark tree causing obstruction to air
navigation within the RPZ, as requested by the airport. Therefore, the tree removal
is compliant with the landmark tree removal regulations due to the removal being
necessary for airspace safety, under the premise that tree removals that impede
runway protection zones are an approvable tree removal activity.
N/A 4. Street frontage and parking lot trees and landscaping shall be preserved unless
otherwise approved by the Administrator.
Staff Comments: Not applicable. The subject tree is not a street frontage tree nor
a parking lot tree. Neither street frontage nor parking landscape is proposed to be
removed.
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 tree removal would not be removing
landscaping or protected trees required as part of a land development permit.
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 tree removal would not impact visual screening or remove
Docusign Envelope ID: 9C9078CD-52B8-8E7C-80FF-39D373F3336F
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit Airport Safety Tree Removal LUA26-000236, RVMP
Permit Date: July 20, 2026 Page 4 of 5
D_Airport Safety Tree Removal_Final
applicable landscaping. The zoning intensity of surrounding properties to the
north, east, and west are also Commercial Arterial (CA) zone so there is no
disruption between use intensity in those areas. The property to the south is in the
Residential-10 (R-10) zone and has minimal screening between the subject site
and the nearby residential site since it faces the front yard of the residential parcel.
This tree removal does not impact the minimal screening between the two (2) uses
since the tree is located to the rear of the property, not adjacent to the residential
area.
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: Nothing in the application materials indicates that the removal
of the tree would create a hazardous condition. Instead, it would mitigate current
and future hazards to airport activities.
N/A 8. The land clearing and tree removal shall be consistent with the requirement of the
Shoreline Master Program, pursuant to RMC 4-3-090F.1, 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.
DECISION: The Airport Safety Tree Removal, LUA26-000236, RVMP is Approved with Conditions* .
*CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL:
1. The applicant shall make a payment into the City’s Urban Forestry Program fund in the amount of
$2,512.50 within 90 days of date of decision.
2. The applicant shall stump the tree and leave the roots in the ground to prevent disturbing the native
soil.
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.
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7/20/2026 | 1:42 PM PDT
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit Airport Safety Tree Removal LUA26-000236, RVMP
Permit Date: July 20, 2026 Page 5 of 5
D_Airport Safety Tree Removal_Final
APPEALS: Appeals of permit issuance must be filed in writing on or before 5:00 p.m. on August 3, 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: The Routine Vegetation Management Permit shall be valid for one year from the date of
issuance. An extension may be granted by the Administrator 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: Project Narrative
Attachment B: Neighborhood Detail Map
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