HomeMy WebLinkAboutD_RVMP Decision_Westview Village_200928_v3_FINALDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
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D_RVMP Decision_Westview Village_200928_v3
PLANNING DIVISION
ROUTINE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PERMIT
EVALUATION FORM & DECISION
DATE OF DECISION: September 29, 2020
PROJECT NUMBER: LUA20-000221, RVMP
PROJECT NAME: Westview Village Routine Vegetation Management Permit
PROJECT MANAGER: Alex Morganroth, Senior Planner
APPLICANT/CONTACT: Scott Knoben, Security Properties, 701 5th Ave, Ste 5700, Seattle, WA 98104
OWNER: TLUS SP Renton Owner LLC, 701 5th Ave, Ste 5700, Seattle, WA 98104
PROJECT LOCATION: 17735 105th Pl SE
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is requesting approval of a Routine Vegetation Management Permit
(RVMP) to allow for the removal of four (4) landmark trees and two (2) significant
trees at the Westview Village multifamily residential complex. The property is located
at 17735 105th Pl SE (APN 3223059154) and is approximately 2.8 acres in size. The
property is located within the Commercial Arterial (CA) zone and has a Comprehensive
Land Use designation of Commercial & Mixed Use (CMU). The applicant is proposing
to remove four (4) Cypress landmark trees with sizes of approximately 32, 33, 35, and
39 caliper inches. A landmark tree is defined as a tree with a caliper of thirty inches
(30”) or greater (RMC 4-11-200). In addition, the applicant is proposing to remove two
(2) significant trees including a 24 caliper-inch Aspen tree and a 19 caliper-inch Cherry
tree. A significant tree is defined as a tree with a caliper of at least six inches (6"), or an
alder or cottonwood tree with a caliper of at least eight inches (8") (RMC 4-11-200).
According to the applicant, the trees need to be removed due their extremely close
proximity to various buildings on the site. The root systems and branches of the six
trees are beginning to impact the siding and foundations of multiple buildings onsite
and appear to have been sized incorrectly for the space they were planted in during
initial site development in 1991. The City's Urban Forestry and Natural Resource
Manager inspected the property on July 30, 2020 and concurred with the assessment
of the applicant. However, he did recommend that the 32 caliper-inch Cypress,
identified as tree #2 in the attached site plan, did not need to be fully removed to
mitigate the damage. Instead, he concluded that the leader closest to the building
should be removed while retaining the rest of the tree, which contributes to the
screening between the site and the adjacent school (Spring Glen Daycare Center).
Therefore, staff recommends as a condition of approval that the applicant only remove
the leader closest to Westview Village Apartments Building H on tree #2, as
recommended by the Urban Forestry and Natural Resource Manager. In addition, the
Urban Forestry and Natural Resources Manager recommended replacing the 39
caliper-inch Cypress tree and 19 caliper-inch Cherry tree with new, smaller stature
DocuSign Envelope ID: EB31B491-82EF-4C90-A70D-38D6B3B656EC
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit
Westview Village Routine Vegetation Management Permit LUA20-000221, RVMP
Date of Permit: September 29, 2020 Page 2 of 4
D_RVMP Decision_Westview Village_200928_v3
trees in order to help maintain the tree canopy on the site. He did not recommend
replacement of the other three (3) remaining trees due to their location near existing
buildings and the fact that the site is already heavily treed. The applicant did not
identify any replacement trees on the site plan; therefore, staff recommends a
condition of approval that the applicant submit a tree replacement plan that shows
the location and species of two (2) replacement trees. The plan would be subject to
the review and approval by the Current Planning Project Manager and Urban Forestry
and Natural Resources Manager prior to removal of any trees on the site. According to
COR Maps, sensitive (15-40%) and protected (40% +) slopes areas are present on the
site. The trees proposed for removal are not located within any of the regulated
sloped areas.
CRITICAL AREA: Sensitive Slopes (15-40%), Protected Slopes (40%+)
EXPIRATION DATE: September 29, 2021
GENERAL REVIEW CRITERIA 4-9-195.D.4:
YES 1. The lot shall comply with minimum tree density requirements pursuant to RMC 4-4-130,
Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations.
Comments: No minimum tree density requirements for lots in non-residential zones.
YES 2. The land clearing and tree removal shall be consistent with restrictions for critical areas,
pursuant to RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations, and RMC 4-3-
050, Critical Areas Regulations.
Comments: No trees are located on the regulated slopes present on the site.
YES 3. Removal of a landmark tree shall meet the review criteria for removal off landmark tree,
pursuant to RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations.
Comments: The request meets the following criterion from RMC 4-4-130: The trees are
causing obvious physical damage to structures including but not limited to building
foundations, driveways or parking lots, and for which no reasonable alternative to tree
removal exists, with the exception of the 32 caliper-inch Cypress tree identified as tree
#2 in the attached site plan. Tree #2 does not need to be fully removed to mitigate any
damage, only the leader closest to the building should be removed while retaining the
rest of the tree.
YES 4. Street frontage and parking lot trees and landscaping shall be preserved unless
otherwise approved by the Administrator.
Comments: The trees proposed for removal are not part of the street frontage. A few
trees may be have been required as part of the parking lot landscaping approved for the
original development, but need to be removed due to their close proximity to buildings.
The development was constructed in 1991 and no approved landscaping plan is on file
with the City.
YES 5. The land clearing and tree removal shall not remove any landscaping or protected trees
required as part of a land development permit.
Comments: Not applicable. The original land development permit is not on file with the
City due to the development of the site occurring in 1991.
DocuSign Envelope ID: EB31B491-82EF-4C90-A70D-38D6B3B656EC
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit
Westview Village Routine Vegetation Management Permit LUA20-000221, RVMP
Date of Permit: September 29, 2020 Page 3 of 4
D_RVMP Decision_Westview Village_200928_v3
YES 6. The land clearing and tree removal shall maintain visual screening and buffering
between land uses of differing intensity, consistent with applicable landscaping and
setback provisions.
Comments: Two of the trees proposed for removal provide screening between the site
and the adjacent elementary school. After removal of the two trees and a single leader
of a third tree, an existing six-foot tall wood fence would continue to provide a high
level of screening between the two different uses. In addition, the four other trees
nearby, plus the existing trees on the school site would continue to provide an effective
vegetation buffer for the apartments on the upper floors of the building.
YES 7. The land clearing and tree removal shall not create or contribute to a hazardous
condition, such as increased potential for blowdown, pest infestation, disease, or other
problems that may result from selectively removing trees and other vegetation from a
lot.
Comments: The permit is requested to mitigate the damage to various buildings that
the trees are causing. The Urban Forestry and Natural Resources Manager confirmed
that removal of the trees would not create a hazardous condition.
DECISION: The Westview Village Routine Vegetation Management Permit is Approved with Conditions*
and subject to the following conditions:
*CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL:
1. The applicant shall only remove the leader closest to Westview Village Apartments Building H on Tree #2,
as identified on the Site Plan (attached).
2. The applicant shall submit a tree replacement plan that shows the location and species of two (2)
replacement trees for review and approval by the Current Planning Project Manager and Urban Forestry
and Natural Resources Manager prior to removal of the trees.
3. The applicant shall have all replacement trees inspected by the Current Planning Project Manager
following tree installation.
SIGNATURE & DATE OF DECISION:
________________________________________ ____________________________________
Vanessa Dolbee, Planning Director Date
RECONSIDERATION: Within 14 days of the decision date, any party may request that the decision be reopened
by the approval body. The approval body may modify his decision if material evidence not readily discoverable
prior the original decision is found or if he finds there was misrepresentation of fact. After review of the
reconsideration request, if the approval body finds sufficient evidence to amend the original decision, there
will be no further extension of the appeal period. Any person wishing to take further action must file a formal
appeal within the 14-day appeal time frame.
DocuSign Envelope ID: EB31B491-82EF-4C90-A70D-38D6B3B656EC
9/29/2020 | 8:00 AM PDT
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit
Westview Village Routine Vegetation Management Permit LUA20-000221, RVMP
Date of Permit: September 29, 2020 Page 4 of 4
D_RVMP Decision_Westview Village_200928_v3
APPEALS: Appeals of permit issuance must be filed in writing on or before 5:00 p.m. on October 13, 2020. Due
to Governor Jay Inslee’s Proclamation 20-25 (“Stay Home, Stay Healthy”), the City Clerk’s Office is working
remotely. For that reason, appeals must be submitted electronically to the City Clerk at cityclerk@rentonwa.gov.
The appeal fee, normally due at the time an appeal is submitted, will be collected at a future date. Appeals to the
Hearing Examiner are governed by RMC 4-8-110 and additional information regarding the appeal process may be
obtained from the City Clerk’s Office, cityclerk@rentonwa.gov. If the situation changes such that the City Clerk’s
Office is open when you file your appeal, you have the option of filing the appeal in person.
EXPIRATION: The Routine Vegetation Management Permit shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance.
An extension may be granted by the Planning Division for a period of one year upon application by the property
owner or manager. Application for such an extension must be made at least thirty (30) days in advance of the
expiration of the original permit and shall include a statement of justification for the extension.
Attachments: Site Plan
cc: Chris Price, Alpine Tree
DocuSign Envelope ID: EB31B491-82EF-4C90-A70D-38D6B3B656EC
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