HomeMy WebLinkAboutC_Thompson_Email_171223.pdf.pdf1
Clark Close
From:Erick Thompson <erick.thompson@gmail.com>
Sent:Saturday, December 23, 2017 5:43 PM
To:Planning Customer Service
Cc:Vanessa Dolbee; Clark Close
Subject:Re: Concerns about LUA17-000803 (S. Singh Short Plat)
Hey Mona,
Thanks for the email. I think that should be enough time. I'm at my family's house on Vancouver Island until the
30th.
I briefly scanned the critical area report, and one thing jumped out at me. The stream outlet on the northeast side
of the lot was marked as seasonal and runoff based. The stream is in the storm drain, and while it does run more
heavily in the winter, it is a year-round stream. There are frogs and lizards out there, as my kids and I would go
across the street and see them. You can hear the frogs very well all summer. Opening the storm drain to access
the stream is actually our earthquake water source in case of emergency. The plan shows that corner as being
one of the lots (lot 1). Is the storm drain going to be extended to keep the stream underground? Does the year
round nature of the stream change the plan?
In addition, there is a seep that crosses under the road on the south side of my lot, but I don't believe it
encroaches on the lot in question.
For the coal map hazard on the geotechnical report, is there a standard map that was used? I've visited the
Renton Historical Museum a while back, and noticed that the coal mine entrance that was in the middle of the
lot to the south of ours was not present. In talking to them, it sounds like a lot of the mines were not recorded
properly. I don't know if this lack of mapping contributed to the issues during the construction of the house
there, but when I spoke to the owners shortly after construction started, they were surprised that there was a coal
mine on the lot (to be fair, the entrance was in the middle of a blackberry bramble). There are known mining
tunnels under the western half of the lot, and it wouldn't surprise me if there are tunnels or air vents elsewhere in
the lot.
I need to digest the other portions of the application, but these are the parts that I noticed on a first pass.
Thanks, and have a happy holidays as well!
Erick
On Fri, Dec 22, 2017 at 2:52 PM, Planning Customer Service <PlanningCustomerService@rentonwa.gov>
wrote:
Hi Erick…I’m responding to your most recent e-mail since both Vanessa and Clark are out of the office until January 2nd.
There isn’t an official form that I’m aware of. I would simply send an e-mail to Clark and explain that you will have
additional comments on the application materials and would like to have until (date you need to complete your
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comments) to complete your review of the application materials and provide additional comments to supplement your
initial comments of December 18th.
As Vanessa stated, the public comment period usually runs for 14 days, but comments are important as part of the land
use review process so the City would like to grant you additional time to provide your concerns/comments prior to our
first review letter. Do you think you could have your additional comments to Clark by the first week in January?
Thank you…and happy holidays!
Mona
Mona Davis, Senior Planner
City of Renton | Community & Economic Development
1055 S. Grady Way | 6th Floor | Renton, WA 98057
425 430-7246 | Fax: 425 430-7231
From: Erick Thompson [mailto:erick.thompson@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2017 5:56 PM
To: Vanessa Dolbee <VDolbee@Rentonwa.gov>; Planning Customer Service
<PlanningCustomerService@rentonwa.gov>
Cc: Clark Close <CClose@Rentonwa.gov>
Subject: Re: Concerns about LUA17-000803 (S. Singh Short Plat)
Thanks Vanessa,
I'm not familiar with these processes, it just seems a short amount of time. I got the notice around Dec 9th, I
send an email Clark Close on Dec 13th, and I just got the reports today, so I would like to file an extension.
Where would I find the form?
Thanks,
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Erick
On Thu, Dec 21, 2017 at 5:09 PM, Vanessa Dolbee <VDolbee@rentonwa.gov> wrote:
Erick,
This short plat is not on an accelerated time frame. Per City code we provide a two week comment period for all short
plats, however if you feel this time is not enough for you to sufficiently review the documents and provide the City
feedback, you are welcome to ask for an extension to the time frame. If necessary, please explain why the standard
two week review time was not sufficient with your extension request. I have attached the Notice of Application to this
e-mail which includes the public comment period and other relevant information related to the project proposal. I
have also attached the critical areas report among other plans for your review. Again, if you are looking for something
else please feel free to contact Planningcustomerservice@rentonwa.gov while I am out of the office.
Vanessa Dolbee, Current Planning Manager
Community & Economic Development Department
Planning Division
1055 S Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
(425)430-7314
From: Erick Thompson [mailto:erick.thompson@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2017 4:42 PM
To: Vanessa Dolbee
Cc: Clark Close
Subject: Re: Concerns about LUA17-000803 (S. Singh Short Plat)
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Hey Vanessa,
I got the two documents (site plan and geotechnical report). If the documents aren't above 25 MB, I can
receive them at this address. I'll take a look at these reports and the others as you send them over.
I think most people will be out next week. One question that I have - what are the dates associated with this
plan? I want to make sure that I don't miss any deadlines, especially as it seems that this plan is on an
accelerated time frame. Given the issues surrounding the area, I am also curious as to why there is so little
time.
Thanks,
Erick
On Thu, Dec 21, 2017 at 4:02 PM, Vanessa Dolbee <VDolbee@rentonwa.gov> wrote:
Erick,
Is there specific information you are looking for? I can e-mail information if the document size is not too
large. Otherwise we will need to arrange another way for you to receive copies. I an effort to provide you with some
initial info please find attached the colored site plan and the geotechnical report. I am out of the office starting
tomorrow and for next week. If we don’t connect before 5:00 today please feel free to contact
Planningcustomerservice@rentonwa.gov and request the information. There is always someone checking this e-mail
that can get back to you.
Vanessa Dolbee, Current Planning Manager
Community & Economic Development Department
Planning Division
1055 S Grady Way
5
Renton, WA 98057
(425)430-7314
From: Erick Thompson [mailto:erick.thompson@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2017 9:23 AM
To: Vanessa Dolbee
Cc: Clark Close
Subject: Re: Concerns about LUA17-000803 (S. Singh Short Plat)
Thanks Vanessa,
My mailing address is:
320 Renton Ave S
Renton WA 98057
I would definitely like to get copies of the application materials.
Thanks,
Erick
On Tue, Dec 19, 2017 at 5:44 AM, Vanessa Dolbee <VDolbee@rentonwa.gov> wrote:
Erick,
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Thank you for sending me your comment on the Singh Short Plat application. First, in order to ensure you become a
part of record for this application could you please follow up with your mailing address to ensure you receive copies
of correspondence, notices, decision, etc. on the subject application. I have briefly reviewed your comments below
and will work with Clark to provide you with a specific response. However, in the meantime if you would like copies
of any of the application materials in the project file, such as the geotechnical analysis or the critical areas study
please let me know so I can provide you with this information.
Vanessa Dolbee, Current Planning Manager
Community & Economic Development Department
Planning Division
1055 S Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
(425)430-7314
From: Erick Thompson [mailto:erick.thompson@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2017 9:59 PM
To: Vanessa Dolbee; Clark Close
Subject: Concerns about LUA17-000803 (S. Singh Short Plat)
Hey Vanessa,
I got Clark's out of office message, and I so I'm contacting you about LUA17-000803. The comment period seems very short, and I
really want to make sure that I get some answers. I've included my original email below. Thanks - Erick
I am the owner of the house at 1301 S 9th Street. As you may know, Renton Hill had significant coal mining in the 1900s. When I
purchased the house in 2008, the lot next door to me was empty. I assumed it would remain so, as there was a mine entrance on the lot.
Nevertheless, someone bought the lot and went forward with building a very large house on the lot. There were numerous problems,
both during the construction and after. I would be happy to enumerate the issues with the crews that were doing the work (including
some reported illegal dumping and tree cutting on the land of the short plat), but the bigger issue was with the land.
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During the construction, there was significant land settling, including a cave-in on our neighbours lot (owned at that time by Armondo
Pavone). They ended up pumping a great deal of concrete into the site to stabilize the land, and the construction ended up taking the
better part of a year. When I purchased the house, I checked the soil, and confirmed that the house was build on clay (likely tailings from
the mine). At the time I moved in, there were no cracks in any of the driveways or foundation, and all the floors were level. Some time
during or soon after the neighboring house was built, the land shifted resulting in half of the house having a slight slope (enough that a
ball will roll on the floor), and a number of cracks in the foundation and driveway. I did not have evidence that there were no cracks in
the foundation prior to the house being built, so I couldn't do much.
I was made aware that the builders and owners of the house next door to mine had also purchased the block across the street, which is
the site of the short plat in LUA17-000803. I am very concerned about this development for the following reasons:
1. It is in the middle of a high severity coal mine area
(per http://rentonwa.gov/uploadedFiles/Government/FIT/GIS/PDF_Files/Coal%20Mine%20Hazard.pdf)
2. It has a significant slope, and is a continuation of the steep hill that runs along 9th street
3. It has a stream outlet that is currently drained into the wooded area
4. It is in an area with a high erosion hazard
(per http://rentonwa.gov/uploadedFiles/Government/FIT/GIS/PDF_Files/Erosion%20Hazard.pdf)
5. The developers were very careless in their previous construction
Some additional details on #3. There is an underground stream (in the storm sewers) that runs along 9th street. It is a year-round stream,
and exits on the west side of Renton Ave. There is significant outflow from the stream, and it is currently drained into a marshy area. If
this block is developed, what is going to happen with the stream? If it isn't handled, then the soil will become saturated with water,
making it more likely to have subsidence issues.
I've never interacted with a Notice of Land Use before, so I'm not sure if the next step. Please let me know the next step.
Thanks,
Erick Thompson