HomeMy WebLinkAboutSR_LaMexicana_ERC_Report_200625_v2_FINALDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
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Project Location Map
ERC REPORT LUA20-000123
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT
ERC MEETING DATE: June 29, 2020
Project File Number: PR20-000153, ECF
Project Name: LaMexicana Change of Use
Land Use File Number: LUA20-000123
Project Manager: Alex Morganroth, Senior Planner
Owner: Terreno 3401 Lind LLC, 101 Montgomery St, Ste 200, San Francisco, CA 98104
Applicant/Contact: Lyle Sanders, 24920 SE 369th Pl, Enumclaw, WA 98022
Project Location: 3401 Lind Ave SW
Project Summary: The applicant, L D Sanders Construction, is requesting Environmental (SEPA) Review to
convert a 47,000 sq. ft. tenant space within an existing building at 3401 Lind Ave SW
from warehouse/laboratory (light)/office space to manufacturing/office space. The
building is approximately 118,176 sq. ft. in size and is located on a 5.14 acre site . The
subject parcel (APN 1253810010) is located in the Industrial, Light (IL) zone and
Employment Area Comprehensive Plan Land Use designation. The proposed tenant
improvement would be located in a vacant tenant space on the north side of the
building previously occupied by Baden Sports. The proposed new use would include
the manufacturing of tortillas for LaMexicana, Inc, and corporate office space for Taco
Time Northwest, Inc. All work would be interior and no trees or vegetation would be
removed as part of the project. According to the applicant’s submittal, no new
impervious surface would be added to the site as a result of the project. The site is
located in a High Seismic Hazard Area. The applicant submitted a Traffic Memo with
the application.
Exist. Bldg. Area SF: 118,176 Proposed New Bldg. Area (footprint)
Proposed New Bldg. Area (gross):
N/A
N/A
Site Area: 224,316 SF (5.2 acres) Total Building Area GSF: 118,176
STAFF
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff Recommends that the Environmental Review Committee issue a Determination
of Non-Significance (DNS).
DocuSign Envelope ID: B389A6E7-4320-41DD-9EEF-306E2CEF4A76
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Environmental Review Committee Report
LAMEXICANA CHANGE OF USE LUA20-000123, ECF
Report of June 29, 2020 Page 2 of 3
ERC REPORT LUA20-000123
PART ONE: ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In compliance with RCW 43.21C.240, the following environmental (SEPA) review addresses only those project impacts
that are not adequately addressed under existing development standards and environmental regulations.
A. Environmental Threshold Recommendation
Based on analysis of probable impacts from the proposal, staff recommends that the Responsible Officials:
Issue a DNS
B. Mitigation Measures
None
C. Exhibits
Exhibit 1: Environmental Review Committee (ERC) Report
Exhibit 2: Site Plan
Exhibit 3: Plan Drawings
Exhibit 4: Traffic Memo prepared by Jake Traffic Engineering (dated May 26, 2020)
Exhibit 5: Email from Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (dated June 24, 2020)
Exhibit 6: Department of Ecology Letter (dated June 12, 2020)
Exhibit 7: Advisory Notes
D. Environmental Impacts
The proposal was circulated and reviewed by various city departments and divisions to determine whether the
applicant has adequately identified and addressed environmental impacts anticipated to occur in conjunction with
the proposed development. Staff reviewers have identified that the proposal is likely to have the following probable
impacts:
1. Air
Impacts: It is anticipated that air quality impacts could be associated with the proposed new use at the site
due the expected use of ovens or other heating appliances in the production of tortillas and various food
products. Staff contacted the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) in order to determine whether the
agency had any concerns with air quality impacts related to the proposed use. An email from Madeline
Camp, an engineer at PSCAA, was received by staff on June 24, 2020 (Exhibit 5). In her correspondence, Ms.
Camp stated that the proposed action may require a permit from PSCAA and asked the applicant to review
the permit requirements on the agency’s website (www.pscleanair.gov) and contact the agency with any
questions.
Staff communicated Ms. Camp’s concerns with the applicant on June 24, 2020 regarding the potential need
for a permit from PSCAA. The applicant has agreed to contact to the agency prior to operating. Therefore at
this time, no site-specific mitigation is recommended for the potential impacts from the food processing
facility.
Mitigation Measures: No further mitigation recommended.
Nexus: Not applicable
DocuSign Envelope ID: B389A6E7-4320-41DD-9EEF-306E2CEF4A76
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Environmental Review Committee Report
LAMEXICANA CHANGE OF USE LUA20-000123, ECF
Report of June 29, 2020 Page 3 of 3
ERC REPORT LUA20-000123
2. Traffic
Impacts: The applicant submitted a Traffic Memo prepared by Jake Traffic Engineers and dated May 26, 2020
(Exhibit 4). The memo utilizes data related to the existing warehouse use (provided by the tenant, Baden
Sports), including both number of trips and total number of employees. The memo compares the data on the
existing use to the number of trips and new employees that expected to be associated by the new use. Based
on the data provided by the existing tenant and trip rates in the ITE manual calculated for the new use, the
consultant concludes that the LaMexicana facility would generate slightly less traffic than the existing
warehouse use including a lower number of total daily trips, AM peak hour trips, and PM peak hour trips. Staff
has reviewed the data and methods utilized in the memo and concurs with the finding that the new use would
not generate any new traffic impacts. Staff also concurs with the finding that the new use would actually
decrease the total number of trips to and from the facility. Therefore at this time staff does not recommend
any site-specific mitigation measures related to traffic impacts.
Mitigation Measures: No further mitigation recommended.
Nexus: Not applicable
3. Environmental Health
Impacts: Staff received a letter from the Department of Ecology (DOE) dated June 12, 2020 (Exhibit 6)
regarding the proposed project. In the letter, the agency identifies the project site as being located in an
area that may have been contaminated with heavy metals due to the air emissions originating from the old
Asarco smelter in north Tacoma. The letter requests that the SEPA lead agency (City of Renton) include three
mitigation measures as part of the threshold determination related to entry into the agency’s Voluntary
Cleanup Program (VCP) under the Washington Model Toxics Control Act.
Staff confirmed that the Tacoma Smelter Plume map indicates the potential presence of heavy metals on
the site, as is similar to a large swath of Renton’s jurisdictional area. However, the proposed project is a
change of use in an existing building and does not involve any demolition, new construction, or site grading
that would result in soil disturbance or vegetation removal. Due to the project only involving a change of
use within an existing, occupied building in good repair, staff does not recommend any site-specific
mitigation measures related to environmental health impacts.
Mitigation Measures: No further mitigation recommended.
Nexus: Not applicable
E. Comments of Reviewing Departments
The proposal has been circulated to City Department and Division Reviewers. Where applicable, their comments
have been incorporated into the text of this report and/or listed under Exhibit 6 “Plan Review Comments to
Applicant.”
Copies of all Review Comments are contained in the Official File and may be attached to this report.
DocuSign Envelope ID: B389A6E7-4320-41DD-9EEF-306E2CEF4A76