HomeMy WebLinkAboutReconsideration CommentsHi Jill,
I have no changes to my recommendation. The concern over wind throw is a red herring. Sure, ANY tree, even a healthy one, can fail with the wrong extreme storm event, but in the context
of normal weather conditions (the basis on which part of the risk assessment should be made) these trees are not what would be considered recent ‘edge’ trees and susceptible to wind
throw. They have in fact grown and established in the prevailing wind conditions. Opening the grouping to better wind movement would in fact decrease the risk. As for the assertion that
the trees were topped I’m not sure this is correct. There are some structural anomalies like spurs and codominance in some of the trees but much of this could be mitigated with a modicum
of maintenance – pruning. Plus, the recommendation for removal of the worst trees was granted in the recommendation. A level 2 diagnostic - an aerial survey by a climber - would need
to be undertaken to prove the weak structural claims. Even then the potentially weaknesses in the canopy don’t equate to elevating the risk of whole tree failure. Again, pruning will
help mitigate this. The proposal to replace with vine maples misses the point entirely: a) it is an inappropriate multi-stem species despite being native; and b) trees which attain a
large stature at maturity would be required to eventually replace the lost canopy cover.
Best,
Ian Gray
Urban Forestry & Natural Resources Manager
Phone: 425-430-6601 Email: IGray@RentonWA.gov <mailto:IGray@RentonWA.gov>
From: Jill Ding <JDing@Rentonwa.gov>
Sent: Friday, December 4, 2020 8:10 AM
To: Ian Gray <IGray@Rentonwa.gov>
Cc: Vanessa Dolbee <VDolbee@Rentonwa.gov>; Paul Hintz <PHintz@Rentonwa.gov>
Subject: FW: ElectronicFile.pdf
Ian,
The applicant for the Attached Vegetation Management Permit has asked for reconsideration of the decision we issued (see email below from the property owner), based on the request below
do you have any changes to your recommendation?
Thanks,
Jill Ding
Senior Planner
City of Renton
Community and Economic Development
6th floor
1055 S Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
425-430-6598
jding@rentonwa.gov <mailto:jding@rentonwa.gov>
COVID-19 UPDATE
City Hall is currently closed to the public but we are still available to assist you.
* Pay Invoice and Apply for Over-the-Counter Permit: Permitting Portal <https://permitting.rentonwa.gov/#/home>
* Schedule an Inspection: Permitting Portal <https://permitting.rentonwa.gov/#/home> -OR- Building: 425-430-7202; Civil/Site: 425-430-7203
* 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%20City%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.
From: Vanessa Dolbee <VDolbee@Rentonwa.gov <mailto:VDolbee@Rentonwa.gov> >
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2020 12:07 PM
To: Jill Ding <JDing@Rentonwa.gov <mailto:JDing@Rentonwa.gov> >
Subject: FW: ElectronicFile.pdf
FYI
From: CityClerk <CityClerk@Rentonwa.gov <mailto:CityClerk@Rentonwa.gov> >
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2020 8:38 AM
To: Vanessa Dolbee <VDolbee@Rentonwa.gov <mailto:VDolbee@Rentonwa.gov> >
Cc: Cynthia Moya <CMoya@Rentonwa.gov <mailto:CMoya@Rentonwa.gov> >
Subject: FW: ElectronicFile.pdf
Vanessa,
Is this considered an appeal of Administrative Decision?
-Jason
Jason Seth, MMC (he/him)
City Clerk/Public Records Officer
425-430-6502
From: Craig Pilawski <craig.pilawski@gmail.com <mailto:craig.pilawski@gmail.com> >
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2020 5:31 PM
To: CityClerk <CityClerk@Rentonwa.gov <mailto:CityClerk@Rentonwa.gov> >
Cc: Amanda Aguirre <amanda3686@gmail.com <mailto:amanda3686@gmail.com> >
Subject: Fwd: ElectronicFile.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the City of Renton. Do not click links, reply or open attachments unless you know the content is safe.
To whom it may concern,
We reside at 2010 Aberdeen PL SE, Renton, WA 98055. We are writing to appeal a decision of a request for a routine vegetation management permit. On November 17, 2020 our request to remove
eight Douglas Fir trees was denied and we were granted permission to remove three of the trees. We would like to appeal this decision based on the findings of a certified arborist that
came to our property on August 28, 2020 and conducted a Tree Risk Assessment Form. We provided this report to the city. The arborist noted that five of the eight trees had a high risk
rating with multiple houses as potential targets. These trees were topped decades ago and have grown back with codominant trunks making the trees weaker and possess a higher risk rating.
He noted that two of the trees were healthy, and do not have codominant trunks. It was our plan to remove these two trees as the two trees allowed without a permit, as described in the
Tree Regulations of the City of Renton.
Our fear is by removing only the three trees, the remaining trees will become more susceptible to wind and the elements. One of the trees listed on the approved permit is tree number
one on the site map. This tree is essentially dead because it has been shaded out by the surrounding trees. It poses the least threat to our and our neighbors’ homes because of its height.
If you disregard that tree, we are essentially being granted two trees to remove. This is allowed without a permit. If we were to remove trees without a permit, we would not choose the
two allotted by this permit (trees 3 and 5 on the site map).
We included a plan to replant trees on the property. That plan included planting Vine Maples, deciduous trees that are native to the pacific northwest. The average height of a Vine Maple
is between 15-20 feet. These would not pose a risk to the four homes that are currently potential targets of the Doug Firs. By replanting four trees this would exceed the tree density
requirement of three trees for our property size.
The arborist who completed the report was hired by us, the owners of the home. He is not in any way associated with the company we have chosen to do the tree removal work. Therefore,
we completely trust his analysis because he is a neutral third party in the matter.
We sincerely hope you will reconsider the decision and allow us to remove all eight trees from our property.
Thank you,
Craig and Emily Pilawski
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Amanda Aguirre <amanda3686@gmail.com <mailto:amanda3686@gmail.com> >
Date: Tue, Nov 17, 2020 at 12:54 PM
Subject: ElectronicFile.pdf
To: Craig Pilawski <craig.pilawski@gmail.com <mailto:craig.pilawski@gmail.com> >
Hello Craig attached is the pemit approval for the three trees. On page 3 it says that we can appeal it has to be done in writting before December 1, 2020 .
Amanda