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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEx_12_Stream_Assessment_AddendumWetland Science Wildlife Ecology Landscape Architecture 2111 N. Northgate Way, Ste. 219 Seattle, WA 98133 206-525-8122 www.raedeke.com Associates, Inc. Raedeke TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM June 15, 2020 To: Mr. Kurt Boswell, Bosair LLC. From Will Russack, B.S Raedeke Associates, Inc. RE: Bosair (fka Ace Aviation) – Shoreline Critical Areas Review Update (RAI Project No. 2013-014-010) At the request of Bosair LLC, the purpose of this technical memorandum is to review existing site conditions and document any changes since our 2013 site investigation in regards to ecological impacts to the Cedar River. We visited the project site on June 5, 2020 to review the existing site conditions in relation to the river and its associated habitat. SITE LOCATION The project site is located within a leased area totaling approximately 1.86 acres at 289 East Perimeter Road at the southeastern corner of the Renton Municipal Airport within the City of Renton, King County, Washington (Figure 1). Specifically, the property is located in the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 18, Township 23 North, Range 5 East, W.M. SITE DESCRIPTION The project site currently consists almost entirely of impervious surfaces, including the existing building, hangar, and associated paved or concrete parking and access areas. The paved areas are contiguous with the rest of the Renton Municipal Airport property and associated buildings to the west and south. There is a thin band of landscaped plantings along northeast and northwest sides of the buildings. East Perimeter Road borders the northeastern part of the project site. The Cedar River and its associated banks border the northeast side of the road corridor (Figure 2). The adjacent river corridor is highly constrained. The western bank runs along the Renton Airport and the eastern bank abuts a park and trail with developed areas, Exhibit 12 RECEIVED 07/08/2020 amorganroth PLANNING DIVISION DocuSign Envelope ID: 8AC0BCC4-38CC-49BF-993D-8D4EEDD86E1A Mr. Kurt Boswell, Bosair LLC June 15, 2020 Page 2 including the Renton Memorial Stadium and the Boeing plant further north. Along East Perimeter Road, the shoulder is dominated by low grasses along an approximately 7-foot- high concrete wall that marks the eastern edge of the road corridor. The western bank of the river, northeast of the concrete wall, consists of a relatively flat topped berm approximately 6 to 7 feet wide, with relatively steep slopes down to the river channel. On the inside (west) of the wall is a mixture of native and non-native vegetation, including an overstory of red alder and black cottonwood, with knotweed, scotch broom, and other non-native species in the understory. We observed no wildlife species listed as endangered, threatened, or other priority status on the project site or in the immediate vicinity. In addition, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (2020) Priority Habitats and Species database depicts no occurrences of such species or priority habitats in the vicinity of the project site, other than the Cedar River, which is known habitat for listed salmonid fish species. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed project involves expanding the existing multi-purpose aircraft hangar southward. Although the overall impervious area on the site will remain unchanged, the proposed building expansion will result in a reduction in the amount of pavement area subject to vehicular traffic. REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS The Cedar River is regulated as a Shoreline of the State, and the lower reach, including the stretch along the project site, from Interstate Highway 405 to the mouth is in an area designated as a “Shoreline High Intensity Overlay District” (City of Renton 2020; RMC 4-3-090C.4). Because the Cedar River is a Shoreline of the State, it is subject to the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) regulations (City of Renton 2020; RMC 4-3-090), rather than the Critical Areas Regulations (RMC 4-3-050). The SMP Regulations generally requires development within shoreline jurisdiction to be carried out so as to ensure no net loss of ecological function of the regulated shoreline (RMC 4-3-090D.2.a). The proposed (and existing) use is aviation-related and considered accessory to the primary use (airport), which is a permitted use within the Medium Industrial (IM) zoning designation for the site. In general, the minimum structure setback for non-water- dependent uses is 100 feet from the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) of the shoreline, and that can be reduced to 75 feet. New or upgraded airport facilities shall minimize impacts on shoreline ecological functions, including control of pollutant discharge (RMC 4-3-090. IMPACT ANALYSIS We do not expect the proposed building expansion to adversely affect the ecological functions of the Cedar River. The proposed project would not involve construction of DocuSign Envelope ID: 8AC0BCC4-38CC-49BF-993D-8D4EEDD86E1A Mr. Kurt Boswell, Bosair LLC June 15, 2020 Page 3 any facilities, nor would it remove or impact any existing vegetation, within the river corridor. The project site, with the existing structure and associated parking and access areas, is separated from the river by a concrete flood protection wall and East Perimeter Road. The proposed structure is being expanded southward, away from the river and development would retain its current distance from the river. The building expansion would not add to the total impervious area of the site, but rather reduce the area of pavement subject to vehicular access. Thus, the proposed project would avoid direct impacts to the existing river corridor, including the channel and associated vegetation. The project is designed to minimize impacts to the river by expanding the proposed building away from the river and reducing the area of pavement subject to oil and gas leakage or spillage from vehicles. Consequently, the project is not expected to adversely affect habitat for listed salmonid fish species inhabiting the river. Therefore, we expect the proposed project to result in no net loss of ecological function of the Cedar River and associated riparian habitat. LIMITATIONS We have prepared this report for the exclusive use of Bosair LLC and their consultants. No other person or agency may rely upon the information, analysis, or conclusions contained herein without permission from Bosair LLC. The determination of ecological system classifications, functions, values, and boundaries is an inexact science, and different individuals and agencies may reach different conclusions. With regard to wetlands, the final determination of their boundaries for regulatory purposes is the responsibility of the various agencies that regulate development activities in wetlands. We cannot guarantee the outcome of such determinations. Therefore, the conclusions of this report should be reviewed by the appropriate regulatory agencies. We warrant that the work performed conforms to standards generally accepted in our field, and prepared substantially in accordance with then-current technical guidelines and criteria. The conclusions of this report represent the results of our analysis of the information provided by the project proponent and their consultants, together with information gathered in the course of the study. No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made. DocuSign Envelope ID: 8AC0BCC4-38CC-49BF-993D-8D4EEDD86E1A Mr. Kurt Boswell, Bosair LLC June 15, 2020 Page 4 LITERATURE CITED Google Earth. 2020. Image for 47.4859N, 122.2097W near Renton, WA. © 2020 Google. Accessed June 5, 2020. Renton, City of. 2020. Renton Municipal Code. Title IV, Chapter 3-050 – Critical Areas Regulations, and Chapter 3-090 – Shoreline Master Program Regulations. Current through Ordinance No. 5676, passed June 1, 2020. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2020. PHS on the web. Available at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/mapping/phs/. Last accessed June 5, 2020. DocuSign Envelope ID: 8AC0BCC4-38CC-49BF-993D-8D4EEDD86E1A APPROXIMATE PROJECT SITE LOCATION IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE MAPS, https://www.google.com/maps/ 2111 N. Northgate Way, Suite 219 Seattle, Washington 98133 Associates, Inc. Raedeke FIGURE 1 - Regional and Vicinity Map Ace Aviation 289 E Perimeter Rd, Renton, WA 98057 RAI PROJECT: 2013-014-010 PREPARED: 06/5/2020 BY: WR DocuSign Envelope ID: 8AC0BCC4-38CC-49BF-993D-8D4EEDD86E1A IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE MAPS, https://www.google.com/maps/ 2111 N. Northgate Way, Suite 219 Seattle, Washington 98133 Associates, Inc. Raedeke FIGURE 2 - Aerial Overview Map Ace Aviation 289 E Perimeter Rd, Renton, WA 98057 RAI PROJECT: 2013-014-010 PREPARED: 06/5/2020 BY: WR DocuSign Envelope ID: 8AC0BCC4-38CC-49BF-993D-8D4EEDD86E1A