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535 DOCK STREET P: 253-284-9680 tahomadesigngroup.com
SUITE 211 F: 253-284-9681
TACOMA, WA 98402
November 1, 2018
Mr. Jeffery Taylor, Assistant Planner
City of Renton Department of Community and Economic Development
1055 South Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
Project: Northwest Gourmet Freezer Addition, TDG No. 2160966.01
Subject: Project Narrative for Site Plan Review Application
Dear Mr. Taylor:
We are pleased to submit a Site Plan Review Application to the City of Renton for the Northwest Gourmet
Freezer Addition project. Also enclosed is a transmittal form that lists all submittal items included with
this application.
The proposal is on a developed 5.01-acre site located at 600 SW 7th Street, Parcel No. 182305-9254. The
site is within the Medium Industrial (IM) zone and Medium Industrial Comprehensive Plan Designation.
Adjacent properties to the south, west, and east are also zoned IM, and properties to the north (across
the railway) are zoned Residential Multi-Family RM-F. There are no sensitive areas onsite.
Site Plan Review is processed as a Type 2 procedure, per the pre-application meeting, which resulted in
comments issued under No. PRE18-000470. In conjunction with the Site Plan Approval, we are
submitting a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) environmental checklist, and we are seeking a
modification to frontage improvement requirements.
Project Description
The proposed project is for the addition of a 6,386-square foot freezer to the existing 67,000-square foot
Northwest Gourmet Foods production warehouse facility. Northwest Gourmet Foods produces food
products and has approximately 41 employees, and will maintain that number of employees after the
addition is complete. The purpose of the project is for storage. The current need is being fulfilled with
refrigeration truck trailers parked where the new addition is proposed, in the existing loading dock area
along the east wall of the warehouse building. When Northwest Gourmet Foods moved into this building
in 2013, SEPA and building permits were obtained for some improvements, which included:
· ADA access ramp at front office entrance. The existing office entrance was limited with stairs.
The project provided an accessible concrete ramp with handrails from the existing sidewalk to the
existing entrance landing.
· Forklift/ADA access at loading dock. The project provided a ramp with 4-foot high walls and a
handrail to allow for forklift traffic and accessibility. The ramp was integrated with the existing
stair landing.
RECEIVED
11/14/2018 jtaylor
PLANNING DIVISION
Mr. Jeffery Taylor, Assistant Planner
November 1, 2018
2160966.01
Page 2 of 3
· Five tanks and one future tank (to be determined) were added to the paved lot adjacent to the
building (west side). The tanks are made of steel, and two of the largest tanks stand
approximately 25 feet tall, with a diameter of 14.5 feet. The remaining tanks stand approximately
20 feet tall, with a diameter of 12 feet. The tanks contain products with qualities similar to
vegetable oil. The tanks are surrounded by a 4-foot cast-in-place concrete wall for containment.
The containment calculation is based on 110% of the largest tank.
o Tank Volume = 30,881 gallons
o 110% Tank Volume = 33,969 gallons
o Containment Volume = 36,048 gallons
· The existing loading dock doors were cut and made larger to accommodate larger trucks and to
meet current industrial standards. Three of the loading doors were made larger for dock traffic,
while one door will be made larger for drive-in access for forklifts.
· Minimal improvements to existing finishes within the existing office and warehouse were
completed; however, no reconfiguration of any interior walls was needed.
Other project elements include:
· Architectural Design Features: The walls of the new freezer will be set back from the front (south)
of the existing warehouse building, creating some modulation. The height of the new freezer walls
are approximately the same as the existing building. The texture of the new freezer walls will be
smooth, painted metal, which is in contrast to the existing concrete walls. An 8-foot tall fence with
slats will be located between the street and the new freezer, which will block any refrigerator
equipment located on the ground. The walls and roof will provide an R-Value higher than the
minimum required by code, which will result in some energy efficiency. The proposed heat for the
freezer slab will be handled by electric resistance, which will eliminate any chemicals normally
used, like glycol or ammonia.
· Landscaping Features and Street Trees: The site is currently well landscaped with a large lawn
area and trees. To improve the site frontage, three autumn blaze maple trees will be added to the
existing planter strip.
· Stormwater: The proposal is located in an area that is currently entirely impervious surface. It will
be converted from pollution generating to clean roof water. The proposal will continue to use the
existing storm drain system onsite, which collects all water and conveys it to the City’s regional
stormwater system located in SW 7th Street. Stormwater runoff from the building addition roof will
discharge onto splash blocks and will be collected by the existing private storm drainage system.
The majority of the soil onsite consists of Woodinville Silt Loam, which is described as poorly
drained.
· Modification Request: In conjunction with this application, we are submitting a request for a
modification. Strict compliance with Renton Municipal Code (RMC) 4-6-060 would require 5.5 feet
of right-of-way dedication along SW 7th Street. However, we are requesting to deviate from this
standard and instead maintain the existing curb and gutter, 8-foot landscape strip, and sidewalk.
For further detail, a modification request letter is included with this submittal for your review.
Mr. Jeffery Taylor, Assistant Planner
November 1, 2018
2160966.01
Page 3 of 3
Site Plan Review Criteria
Criteria for approval of Site Plan Review are stated in RMC 4-9-200.E.3. A brief description of how the
proposal meets various aspects of these criteria is listed below:
1. Compliance and Consistency: The existing site is fully developed, and the new freezer will replace
existing loading dock area. The new construction will be similar to the existing industrial look of
the building it is attached to, in addition to the neighboring commercial/industrial buildings.
2. Offsite Impacts: There will be additional landscaping and street trees added to the street frontage
along the right-of-way.
3. Onsite Impacts: The existing 67,000-square foot food production building will be increased by
6,386 square feet of freezer to store food products. This new freezer will replace a portion of the
existing loading dock area.
4. Access and Circulation: The access and circulation will remain the same. The loading dock area
where the new addition is proposed is currently being used to park semi-truck trailers.
Thank you for your review of the associated Site Plan Review Application. If you have any questions,
please call me at (253) 284-9680.
Sincerely,
James K. Carleton, AIA
Vice President
CP/JKC
Enclosures
c: Lisa Klein, Colin Poff - AHBL
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