No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutD_CAE_Sound_Transit_South_Renton_LUA21-000115DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT D_CAE_Sound_Transit_South_Renton_LUA21-000115 PLANNING DIVISION CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION FROM CRITICAL AREAS REGULATIONS EVALUATION FORM & DECISION DATE OF DECISION: April 6, 2021 PROJECT NUMBER: LUA21-000115, CAE PROJECT NAME: South Renton Transit Center Site Investigative Work PROJECT MANAGER: Matt Herrera, Senior Planner OWNER: Sound Transit 401 S. Jackson St., Seatte, WA 98104 CONTACT: Dangelei Fox 401 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104 PROJECT LOCATION: 750 Rainier Ave S PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is requesting to conduct site investigative activities on the subject property in advance of the forthcoming South Renton Transit Center land use application. Activities include a borings program with drilling to collect geotechnical, geoarchaeological, and hazardous materials data. Utility potholing and excavation for an onsite infiltration test pit would also be within the scope of work (Exhibits 1 and 2). The geotechnical borings would include 11 machine drilled boreholes six (6) inches in diameter with a depth between 10 feet and 89 feet below ground surface (bgs). Seven (7) borings would be on the subject property and the remaining borings would be located within the rights-of-way of Hardie Ave SW, Rainier Ave S, and S. Grady Way. Up to two (2) groundwater monitoring wells would be installed on the subject property. Geoarchaeological borings would consist of 15 boreholes two (2) inches in diameter with a depth of approximately 50-feet bgs. Up to 24 environmental site assessment borings would be conducted to further identify potential hazardous material contamination. Borings would be advanced to approximately 10 feet bgs. Four (4) groundwater monitoring wells specific to hazardous material assessment would be located on the subject property. One (1) infiltration test pit is proposed on the subject property. The test pit would be approximately 100 square feet and approximately five (5) to ten feet deep. Once complete the pit would be backfilled and patched to match existing pavement. Up to 33 utility potholes would be excavated. Approximately eight (8) potholes within the Rainier Ave S right-of-way and 25 potholes on the subject property. Potholes would be 12 inches in diameter and three (3) to six (6) feet deep. Following investigation, potholes would be backfilled, compacted, and capped with asphalt or material consistent with surrounding area. Potholes located along Rainier Ave S south of S. Grady Way are located in a Zone X – 500 year flood area and not within a Special Flood Hazard Area. DocuSign Envelope ID: 773EBAB1-7740-4263-96CD-C5DE30CBA7E8 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Certificate of Exemption From Critical Areas Regulations South Renton Transit Center Site Investigative Work LUA21-000115, CAE Permit Date: April 6, 2021 Page 2 of 3 D_CAE_Sound_Transit_South_Renton_LUA21-000115 CRITICAL AREA: Wellhead Protection Area Zone 2 and High Seismic Hazard Area EXEMPTION JUSTIFICATION: Pursuant to Renton Municipal Code (RMC) 4-3-050C.3.b.ii site investigative work necessary for land use application submittals such as surveys, soil logs, percolation tests and other related activities are exempt in critical areas and buffers within Wellhead Protection Areas and Geologic Hazard Areas provided a letter of exemption has been issued. Investigative work shall not disturb any more than five percent (5%) of the critical area and required buffer. In every case, impacts shall be minimized and disturbed areas shall be immediately restored at a one-to-one (1:1) ratio. Within shoreline jurisdiction, this includes the marking of property lines or corners on state-owned lands, when such marking does not significantly interfere with the normal public use of the surface water. Limitations on site exploration and investigative activities are defined in WAC 173-27-040(2)(m) for properties within shoreline jurisdiction. Additionally, If a hazardous material, activity, and/or facility that is exempt pursuant to this Section has a significant or substantial potential to degrade groundwater quality, then the Administrator may require compliance with the Wellhead Protection Area requirements of this Section otherwise relevant to that hazardous material activity and/or facility. The applicant has stated the investigative work would impact less than five (5) percent of the subject property which is inclusive of the Wellhead Protection Zone and Geologic Hazard Area on the site. The applicant states all work would be performed in accordance with Department of Ecology standards including surface restoration and well covers. The subject property is not within a shoreline jurisdiction. The applicant does not anticipate significant or substantial degradation of groundwater quality as a result of the borings. Erosion control and catch basin protection would be implemented to minimize risk of turbid water leaving the site. The drill rig would be decontaminated between borings to avoid potential cross-contamination. Investigation derived waste materials would be contained in 55-gallon drums and disposed at a permitted facility. FINDINGS: The proposed development is consistent with the following findings pursuant to RMC section 4-3-050C.2.d: i. The activity is not prohibited by this or any other provision of the Renton Municipal Code or State or Federal law or regulation; ii. The activity will be conducted using best management practices as specified by industry standards or applicable Federal agencies or scientific principles; iii. Impacts are minimized and, where applicable, disturbed areas are immediately restored; iv. Where water body or buffer disturbance has occurred in accordance with an exemption during construction or other activities, revegetation with native vegetation shall be required; v. If a hazardous material, activity, and/or facility that is exempt pursuant to this Section has a significant or substantial potential to degrade groundwater quality, then the Administrator may require compliance with the Wellhead Protection Area requirements of this Section otherwise relevant to that hazardous material, activity, and/or facility. Such determinations will be based upon site and/or chemical-specific data. DocuSign Envelope ID: 773EBAB1-7740-4263-96CD-C5DE30CBA7E8 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Certificate of Exemption From Critical Areas Regulations South Renton Transit Center Site Investigative Work LUA21-000115, CAE Permit Date: April 6, 2021 Page 3 of 3 D_CAE_Sound_Transit_South_Renton_LUA21-000115 DECISION: An exemption from the Critical Areas Regulations is hereby Approved and subject to the following conditions: *CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL: 1. The applicant shall submit confirmation to the Current Planning Project Manager when the temporary monitoring wells have been removed or abandoned in place. 2. The applicant shall contact the Current Planning Project Manager if groundwater contamination is encountered during exploration work and submit a copy of the boring/well logs and analytical laboratory results. The applicant shall contact the Current Planning Project Manager prior to cleanup action. 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 to 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. APPEALS: This administrative land use decision will become final if not appealed in writing to the Hearing Examiner on or before 5:00 PM on April 20, 2021. An appeal of the decision must be filed within the 14-day appeal period (RCW 43.21.C.075(3); WAC 197-11-680). 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: Five (5) years from the date of decision (date signed). Attachments: Exhibits 1 and 2 cc: Katie Nolan, Civil Engineer 3 Public Works Jonathan Chavez, Civil Engineer 3 CED DocuSign Envelope ID: 773EBAB1-7740-4263-96CD-C5DE30CBA7E8 4/6/2021 | 12:53 PM PDT