HomeMy WebLinkAboutEx_14_Public_Comment_Letters1
Alex Morganroth
From:Alex Morganroth
Sent:Friday, April 3, 2020 10:40 AM
To:'Melissa Fattore'
Subject:RE: Objections to projects next door
Attachments:RS_Geotech_Report_181012_v1.pdf
Hi Melissa,
Thank you your comments on the proposed short plat at 1833 NE 12th St. I have added you as a Party of Record to the
project and you will received copies of all documents sent to the applicant. However, feel free to contact me any time
with questions.
The applicant submitted a geotechnical study (see attached) for the subject property and our structural engineers on
staff will be carefully reviewing the findings in the report to ensure that the proposal is safe and will not create stability
issues for either the project site or adjacent properties. Due to the city’s challenging topography, we have a lot of
experience with reviewing projects on steep slopes and have not had any slope stabilization issues to date. In addition,
the applicant in this case will not be altering the slope in any way, as it is prohibited by our critical areas code. If the
project is approved, a permanent native growth protection easement will be required to be established the portion of
the site containing the steep slopes (greater than 40% slope), which prohibits any type of building or land disturbing
activity.
Please feel free to reach out with any other questions you have.
Thank you,
Alex Morganroth, AICP - Senior Planner
City of Renton | CED | Planning Division
1055 S Grady Way | 6th Floor | Renton, WA 98057
(425) 430-7219 | amorganroth@rentonwa.gov
COVID-19 UPDATE
City Hall is currently closed to the public but we are still available to assist you.
* Pay Invoice, Apply for Over-the-Counter Permit, Schedule an Inspection: Permitting
Portal<https://permitting.rentonwa.gov/#/home>
* Contact Staff:
* Building or General Permitting:
permittech@rentonwa.gov<mailto:permittech@rentonwa.gov?subject=Inquiry%20from%20Website> or 425-430-7200
* Planning:
planningcustomerservice@rentonwa.gov<mailto:planningcustomerservice@rentonwa.gov?subject=Inquiry%20from%20
City%20Website> or 425-430-7294
* Public Works Permitting:
pwpermitting@rentonwa.gov<mailto:pwpermitting@rentonwa.gov?subject=Inquiry%20from%20City%20Website > or
206-402-8626
EXHIBIT 14
DocuSign Envelope ID: 44E7B13B-E61D-42E2-9010-CB07930C65F3
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* Code Compliance: Renton Responds<https://rentonwa.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=7922741&pageId=15833143 >
or 425-430-7373.
Please consider the environment before printing this email
From: Melissa Fattore <m.fattore@live.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2020 7:19 PM
To: Alex Morganroth <AMorganroth@Rentonwa.gov>
Subject: Objections to projects next door
I attached the form so that I can be notified of any changes by mail in the future. Please see the attachment.
My family owns and lives in the property (1835) directly South of the project site. We are very concerned with
the integrity of the hillside, especially since they cleared some of the larger trees. We had some geo-tech
studies done around 2012 on our property and they expressed concern with further development degrading
the natural support of the ravine. We have maintained the integrity of our portion of the natural hillside. We
would like to express concern over the development of the property regarding this matter and would like to
request the city do a geo-technical evaluation of hillside and give us the outcomes of development on the
structural integrity of the hillside as it will directly impact our shared hillside and thus our structure/home as
well. I hope a generous setback will be accounted for so that we don't all fall down the hill with the next
earthquake.
Thank you,
Melissa Fattore
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Alex Morganroth
From:Alex Morganroth
Sent:Friday, April 3, 2020 11:05 AM
To:'RE Koontz'
Subject:RE: Notification of DNS, 1833 NE 12th, Renton
Attachments:RS_Geotech_Report_181012_v1.pdf; MAP_Topography_Map_20191213_v1.pdf
Hi Mary,
Thank you your comments on the proposed short plat at 1833 NE 12th St. I have added you as a Party of Record to the
project and you will received copies of all documents sent to the applicant. Please see responses to your
questions/comments below in red.
Please feel free to reach out with any other questions you have.
Thank you,
Alex Morganroth, AICP - Senior Planner
City of Renton | CED | Planning Division
1055 S Grady Way | 6th Floor | Renton, WA 98057
(425) 430-7219 | amorganroth@rentonwa.gov
COVID-19 UPDATE
City Hall is currently closed to the public but we are still available to assist you.
* Pay Invoice, Apply for Over-the-Counter Permit, Schedule an Inspection: Permitting
Portal<https://permitting.rentonwa.gov/#/home>
* Contact Staff:
* Building or General Permitting:
permittech@rentonwa.gov<mailto:permittech@rentonwa.gov?subject=Inquiry%20from%20Website> or 425-430-7200
* Planning:
planningcustomerservice@rentonwa.gov<mailto:planningcustomerservice@rentonwa.gov?subject=Inquiry%20from%20
City%20Website> or 425-430-7294
* Public Works Permitting:
pwpermitting@rentonwa.gov<mailto:pwpermitting@rentonwa.gov?subject=Inquiry%20from%20City%20Website > or
206-402-8626
* Code Compliance: Renton Responds<https://rentonwa.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=7922741&pageId=15833143 >
or 425-430-7373.
Please consider the environment before printing this email
From: RE Koontz <betsy-k@comcast.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2020 12:04 PM
To: Alex Morganroth <AMorganroth@Rentonwa.gov>
Subject: Notification of DNS, 1833 NE 12th, Renton
DocuSign Envelope ID: 44E7B13B-E61D-42E2-9010-CB07930C65F3
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April 3, 2020
To: Alex Morganroth, Senior Planner amorganroth@rentonwa.gov
From: Mary Koontz, neighbor, concerned citizen betsy-k@comcast.net
I am concerned about the proposed project at 1833 NE 12 th Street, Renton (APN 3119900160). I
have discussed this site with you a few times, the first being May 24, 2018, when we discussed the
removal of the trees and you provided much useful information.
1. There is no notification on the land use sign on the property to indicate any action has been
taken on this property. I was told there should be a “pink paper” notification if any action is
planned. Is this not so?
You a correct that typically we post a pink paper notification. Unfortunately due to the current COVID-19 crisis,
we have temporary suspended this type of notification since it is not a state requirement. Property owners
within 300 feet of the subject site will continue to be notified of any Type II or Type III (i.e. subdivisions,
conditional use permits, etc) projects. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused.
2. This hill is not stable enough to endure the construction of three new buildings. Much of the hill
is fill dirt. Fill dirt on a hillside is not stable.
The applicant submitted a geotechnical study (see attached) for the subject property and our structural
engineers on staff will be carefully reviewing the findings in the report to ensure that the proposal is safe and
will not create stability issues for either the project site or adjacent properties. Due to the city’s challenging
topography, we have a lot of experience with reviewing projects on steep slopes and have not had any slope
stabilization issues to date. In addition, the applicant in this case will not be altering the slope in any way, as it is
prohibited by our critical areas code. If the project is approved, a permanent native growth protection easement
will be required to be established the portion of the site containing the steep slopes (greater than 40% slope),
which prohibits any type of building or land disturbing activity.
3. I was also told, by you, the buildings cannot go further than five feet to the southwest of the
house that was on the property or closer than 15 feet from the slope? Is this information
correct? If so, what do you consider the slope and how can there be enough land for three
homes without using this area? The triangular lot seems to be within this area.
Please see the attached topography survey, which we utilize when determining the slope. Slopes with a grade of
over 40% are classified as protected slopes and building must be setback at least 15 feet from the start of the
40% grade. Structures may be built on slopes up to 40% but require special foundations and footings in order to
ensure the structures stability.
4. Before the existing house was demolished, the builder removed many trees without a permit.
The trees were huge trees, as big as the two trees next to our property (I have some
pictures). There are 12 remaining mostly small trees, one being a rose bush and one being a
Japanese Maple which is on my property. There are two large trees next to our property and
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some large trees on the slope. These trees were marked with an orange plastic ribbon after
your department visited the sight.
The new builder will be required to replace the trees that were removed at a 1:1 ratio. With regards to the
marked trees, I’m not aware of anyone visiting the site in some time, and the applicant certainly does not have
permission to remove any trees on the site. If you see any type of tree or vegetation removal, please contact me
immediately. The applicant is required to retain all trees on the protected slopes and at least 30% of the
remaining trees on the rest of the site. This will be reviewed as part of the subdivision application.
5. Will the structures be under the power lines? I was told, by you, this is not permitted as well.
Correct. The powerlines are located in the public right-of-way and will not impact the structures.
6. There is constant water in this yard. The previous owner could not use the basement much of
the time due to standing water. The new owner pumped water out of the basement for several
days before demolishing the structure. The previous basement area has standing water as I
write this note. Also there is surface water that inundates the road area at the end of the circle
drive when it rains. How will this be changed so water does not run down the hill toward I-405
and erode the hill?
Our surface water engineers will review the drainage plans to ensure that no erosion will occur. We (the
City of Renton) have some of the strictest surface/storm water regulations in the Puget Sound region
which are expected to adequately mitigate any water issues on the site.
7. Surface water runoff is our biggest concern. How will the city or the builder mitigate this
runoff? Since the proposed area is wet much of the year, even with many trees and much
vegetation, how can removing so many trees and allowing non-porous structures to cover the
property be permitted? It will make that property more unstable and ours as well. I want
assurance from Renton that the surface water runoff will not run onto, under or behind our
property and potentially cause damage to our home and property.
Please see comment above.
8. What is our recourse if our land begins to shift during or after construction or if our property is
inundated with surface water runoff?
I cannot provide legal advice with regards to steps to take down the road, but should there be any issues during
construction, I’d ask that you reach out to me immediately and I will send the construction inspector assigned
out to the site. We have very strict results with regards to installation of erosion control measures during
construction and have a very proactive construction inspection team. We would certainly work to resolve any
issues as quickly as possible in the unlikely event that any should arise.
9. Without assurance from the city and the builder that our property will not be damaged and an
agreement as to how the city or builder will reimburse us for damage created due to this
construction, the city allowed to be built in a surface water runoff area, I object to having three
structures built on this unstable hillside that has standing water all year.
As stated above, we have strict regulations on surface water runoff and a very good team of engineers who will
review the project both before, during, and after construction in order to ensure there are no issues. We have a
lot of experience with reviewing projects near steep slopes due to the challenging topography in many parts of
the city and can assure you that the project is being diligently reviewed by our staff.
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10. Also this area is home to many wildlife species including coyotes, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels
and other mammals as well as many species of birds that will be displaced.
Most of the development will be occurring on areas of the site already disturbed. The native growth protection
easement that will be established on a large chunk of the site will ensure that no development or land disturbing
activities occur on the most sensitive portions of the site.
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