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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSR_ERC_Report_Perotto_LiftsDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Project Location Map D_Perotto Lifts ERC Report ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT ERC Meeting Date: April 19, 2021 Project File Number: PR20-000305 Project Name: Perotto Lifts Land Use File Number: LUA20-000255, ECF, SSDP Project Manager: Angelea Weihs, Associate Planner Owner/Applicant: Gregory Perotto & Kristopher Bristow, 1526 19th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 Contact: Evan Wehr, Ecco Design Inc., 203 N 36th St. Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98103 Project Location: 3905 Lake Washington Blvd N, Renton, WA 98056 Project Summary: The applicant is requesting Environmental (SEPA) Review and a Shoreline Substantial Development Permit to install a new boat lift with a translucent canopy and a double jet-ski lift at 3905 Lake Washington Blvd N (Parcel number 3342700011). The upland portion of the site is within the Residential-6 (R-6) Zone and Residential Medium Density comprehensive land use designation. The waterward portion of the site is located in the Lake Washington Reach D and is designated Shoreline Residential. The upland portion of the site is mapped with sensitive slopes and high landslide hazards. The shoreline is currently armored with a rock bulkhead. The existing pier is a joint-use pier that is shared with two other parcels. The proposed boat lift and canopy would be located approximately 14 feet waterward of the ordinary high water mark on the south side of the pier. The proposed boat lift is 14 feet wide by 21 feet long. The bunk of the boat lift would extend 18 inches above the ordinary high water mark and the lift would sit on the lake bed of Lake Washington on foot pads that are 18 inches by 24 inches. The proposed canopy, which would be attached to the proposed boat lift, is made of translucent materials and would be 12 feet wide by 39 feet long. The double jet-ski lift is 8 feet wide by 10 feet long and would sit on the lake bed. The applicant submitted a Lake and Stream Study with the project application. Site Area: 42,527 SF (0.98 acres) STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff Recommends that the Environmental Review Committee issue a Determination of Non-Significance (DNS). DocuSign Envelope ID: 34909DAB-6019-4F61-92EB-7B00837F3E54 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Perotto Lifts Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee LUA20-000255, ECF, SSDP Report of April 19, 2021 Page 2 of 5 D_Perotto Lifts ERC Report PART ONE: PROJECT DESCRIPTION / BACKGROUND The applicant is requesting Environmental (SEPA) Review and a Shoreline Substantial Development Permit to install a new boat lift with a translucent canopy and a double jet-ski lift at 3905 Lake Washington Blvd N (Parcel number 3342700011). The upland portion of the site is within the Residential-6 (R-6) Zone and Residential Medium Density comprehensive land use designation. The waterward portion of the site is located in the Lake Washington Reach D and is designated Shoreline Residential. The upland portion of the site is mapped with sensitive slopes and high landslide hazards. The shoreline is currently armored with a rock bulkhead with a grated ramp from the shoreline to the existing fully grated pier. The existing pier is a joint-use pier that is shared with two other parcels and includes two deeded slips for neighboring properties. The property contains shoreline native plantings and a poured concrete walkway that starts approximately 10 feet from the bulkhead and continues landward to the house approximately 3 to 4 feet. The property line to the north has a walkway that goes between the subject property and the property to the north. The shoreline near the north property line is planted with a hemlock tree, evergreen huckleberry, thimbleberry, dogwood shrubs, and sword fern. The middle of the shoreline is planted with dogwood shrubs, black cottonwood, sword fern, and red-flowering currant. The south end of the shoreline has the ramp and pier with plantings of Pacific willow, evergreen huckleberry, beaked hazelnut, and snowberry. Most of these shrubs and trees are overhanging the water, providing shade to the lake. The proposed boat lift and canopy would be located approximately 14 feet waterward of the ordinary high water mark on the south side of the pier. The proposed boat lift is 14 feet wide by 21 feet long. The bunk of the boat lift would extend 18 inches above the ordinary high water mark and the lift would sit on the lake bed of Lake Washington on foot pads that are 18 inches by 24 inches. The proposed canopy, which would be attached to the proposed boat lift, is made of translucent materials and would be 12 feet wide by 39 feet long. The double jet-ski lift is 8 feet wide by 10 feet long and would sit on the lake bed. The substrate of the lake is sand and cobble. No milfoil was observed during the site visit. The applicant submitted a Lake and Stream Study (Exhibit 6) with the project application. PART TWO: ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW In compliance with RCW 43.21C.240, the following environmental (SEPA) review addresses only those project impacts that are not adequately addressed under existing development standards and environmental regulations. A. Environmental Threshold Recommendation Based on analysis of probable impacts from the proposal, staff recommends that the Responsible Officials: Issue a DNS with a 14-day appeal period B. Mitigation Measures None C. Exhibits Exhibit 1: Environmental Review Committee (ERC) Report Exhibit 2: Site Plan Exhibit 3: Neighborhood Detail Map Exhibit 4: Project Narrative DocuSign Envelope ID: 34909DAB-6019-4F61-92EB-7B00837F3E54 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Perotto Lifts Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee LUA20-000255, ECF, SSDP Report of April 19, 2021 Page 3 of 5 D_Perotto Lifts ERC Report Exhibit 5: SEPA Checklist Exhibit 6: Lake and Stream Study prepared by Northwest Environmental Consulting, LLC (dated March 2021) Exhibit 7: Advisory Notes D. Environmental Impacts The Proposal was circulated and reviewed by various City Departments and Divisions to determine whether the applicant has adequately identified and addressed environmental impacts anticipated to occur in conjunction with the proposed development. Staff reviewers have identified that the proposal is likely to have the following probable impacts: 1. Water a. Wetland, Streams, Lakes Impacts: The applicant submitted a Lake and Stream Study, prepared by Northwest Environmental Consulting, Inc., dated August, 2020, with the project application, which was later revised on March, 2021 (Exhibit 6). According to RMC 4-3-090E.1, residential boat lifts are allowed as accessory to a residential dock, provided that all lifts are placed as far waterward as feasible and safe and platform lifts are fully grated. The report states that project impacts will be minimized by placing the proposed boat lift and jet-ski lift in the deepest water possible. The report further states that, generally, to protect outmigrating juvenile salmonids, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have determined that the most critical zone is within 30 feet of the shoreline. Due to the topography of the shoreline to the south which parallels the existing dock for approximately 62 feet, moving the lift and canopy further west would not place the boat lifts 30 feet beyond the shoreline. The proposed boat lift and canopy is located 14 feet from the ordinary high water mark and the proposed jet-ski lift is located 15 feet and 3 inches (15’3”) from the ordinary high water mark. The report states that the waterward side of the boat lift will be in water approximately 11 feet deep. At this depth, the report states the effects of propwash should be negligible. The report clarifies that propwash is one of the primary concerns of placing moorage close to the shoreline. Because the dock is a joint-use dock, the boat lift cannot be placed on the north side of the dock to move it further from the parallel shoreline. The report states that placing the boat lift further west would expose the boat to additional wave action when trying to moor, which could cause damage to the boat when mooring in rough waters. Placing the boat lift in deeper water would also require additional reinforcement to the lift framing, which would offset the benefits of moving it into deeper waters. The report states that the jet-ski lift cannot be placed on the waterward side of the boat lift, because it will block the boat from using the moorage. Therefore, Northwest Environmental Consulting, Inc. concluded that the proposed the lifts and canopy are placed as far waterward as feasible and safe. However, the report states that some impacts to the Lake will occur despite attempts to place the boat lift in the deepest water possible at the site. In order to meet the City of Renton and WDFW requirements, the report proposes as a mitigation measure to plant 6 shrubs, including snowberry and red flowering currant, within 10 feet of the shoreline. In addition, the report states that angular cobble has become imbedded in the shoreline sediments that was probably dropped when building the current bulkhead. The non-structural cobble is proposed to be removed from the lake along 123 linear feet of shoreline, which will enhance the shoreline over existing conditions. Proposed work DocuSign Envelope ID: 34909DAB-6019-4F61-92EB-7B00837F3E54 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Perotto Lifts Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee LUA20-000255, ECF, SSDP Report of April 19, 2021 Page 4 of 5 D_Perotto Lifts ERC Report would be conducted within the in-water work windows designated by the WDFW and the Army Corps of Engineers. The report concludes that the conservation and mitigation measures are designed to improve ecological functions or prevent further degradation of habitat and will result in no net loss of ecological functions at the site. Staff concurs with the report’s assessment that the proposed boatlift would not create any significant new impacts to the shoreline or lake. It is anticipated that the application of the current Shoreline Master Program regulations is sufficient to mitigate for any potential impacts that could be generated by the project proposal, therefore no further mitigation measures are recommended at this time. Mitigation Measures: None recommended. Nexus: Not Applicable 2. Vegetation and Wildlife Impacts: The proposed project would take place primarily in-water and no disturbance of the upland vegetation would occur. The Lake and Stream Study (Exhibit 6) submitted with the application states that existing native plantings in the study area provide habitat functions along the shoreline. Riparian and overhanging vegetation along the shoreline includes Pacific willows, dogwoods, vine maple, thimbleberry, evergreen huckleberry, sword fern, black cottonwood, and western hemlock. Planting additional native plantings will further increase habitat conditions at the project site. These plants will provide overhanging cover for fish, structural diversity for birds and wildlife, detritus for aquatic invertebrates and long-term recruitment of woody material and other allochthonous food sources. The report identified bird species observed on or near the project site, including raptors, herons, eagles, cormorants, waterfowl, and songbirds. No wild mammals were observed during the site study, but the report states that Lake Washington is known to have river otters, beavers, nutrias, and muskrats. Deer and coyotes are also known to be present in the vicinity. In addition, the study indicates that, based on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) mapping data, salmonids known to be present in Lake Washington include residential coastal cutthroat, winter steelhead, Dolly Varden/bull trout, sockeye salmon, fall Chinook, coho salmon, and kokanee. The report states that Sockeye salmon are known to spawn along the shoreline approximately 1,000 feet south of the project area. The nearest spawning stream is May Creek, located approximately 250 feet north of the project area. May Creek is identified by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for spawning coho, sockeye, and fall Chinook salmon. The report states that Juveniles may rear in the waters near the project when traveling from spawning sites on other lake tributaries to the lake’s outlet at the Locks. The project site is accessible to any fish migrating or rearing in the lake, and Lake Washington is designated as critical habitat for endangered fall Chinook salmon. Best management practices identified by the report include limiting construction of the boatlift to the WDFW in-water window and utilizing a floating boom around the in-water work area to contain any floating debris that may escape during construction. The barge will have a perimeter containment sock to absorb oil and grease that may wash from the barge during construction. Hazardous material containment practices, such as spill absorbent pads and trained personnel, will be used onsite during any phase of construction where machinery is in operation near surface waters. Based on the information submitted by the applicant, specifically the proposed BMPs and proposed mitigation efforts, impacts to both wildlife and plants created by the proposal are expected to be limited. It is anticipated that the application of the current Shoreline Master Program regulations and the current Critical Areas Regulations is sufficient to mitigate for any potential impacts that could be generated by the project proposal, therefore no further mitigation measures are recommended at this time. Conditions that would help mitigate project impacts may be added to the Shoreline Substantial Development Permit expected to be issued for the proposed boat and jet-ski lift. DocuSign Envelope ID: 34909DAB-6019-4F61-92EB-7B00837F3E54 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Perotto Lifts Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee LUA20-000255, ECF, SSDP Report of April 19, 2021 Page 5 of 5 D_Perotto Lifts ERC Report Mitigation Measures: None recommended. Nexus: Not Applicable E. Comments of Reviewing Departments The proposal has been circulated to City Department and Division Reviewers. Where applicable, their comments have been incorporated into the text of this report and/or “Advisory Notes to Applicant.” ✓ Copies of all Review Comments are contained in the Official File and may be attached to this report. The Environmental Determination decision will become final if the decision is not appealed within the 14-day appeal period (RCW 43.21.C.075(3); WAC 197-11-680). Environmental Determination Appeal Process: Appeals of the environmental determination must be filed in writing on or before 5:00 p.m. on May 3, 2021. 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. DocuSign Envelope ID: 34909DAB-6019-4F61-92EB-7B00837F3E54 CITY OF RENTON DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE EXHIBITS Project Name: Perotto Lifts Land Use File Number: LUA20-000255, ECF, SSDP Date of Meeting April 19, 2021 Staff Contact Angelea Weihs Associate Planner Project Contact/Applicant Evan Wehr Ecco Design Inc. 203 N 36th St. Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98103 Project Location 3905 Lake Washington Blvd N, Renton, WA 98056 The following exhibits are included with the ERC Report: Exhibit 1: Environmental Review Committee (ERC) Report Exhibit 2: Site Plan Exhibit 3: Neighborhood Detail Map Exhibit 4: Project Narrative Exhibit 5: SEPA Checklist Exhibit 6: Lake and Stream Study prepared by Northwest Environmental Consulting, LLC (dated March 2021) Exhibit 7: Advisory Notes DocuSign Envelope ID: 34909DAB-6019-4F61-92EB-7B00837F3E54