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Home My WebLink AboutD_2000 Lake Washington Blvd N CAE_210625DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT D_2000 Lake Washington Blvd N CAE_210625 PLANNING DIVISION CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION FROM CRITICAL AREAS REGULATIONS EVALUATION FORM & DECISION DATE OF DECISION: August 2, 2021 PROJECT NUMBER: LUA21-000231, CAE PROJECT NAME: 2000 Lake Washington Apartments Tree Removal PROJECT MANAGER: Brittany Gillia, Assistant Planner APPLICANT/CONTACT: Amanda Pole, A Plus Tree 3490 Buskirk Ave, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 OWNER: REEP-SP Marina Land LLC 1300 N 20th St, Renton, WA 98056 OWNER: Patricia Abbey 22015 98th Pl W, Edmonds, WA 98020 PROJECT LOCATION: 1300 N 20th St and APN 3344500290 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant, A Plus Tree Inc, is requesting approval of a Critical Areas Exemption in order to remove or reduce a dangerous tree that sits along the property line of 1300 N 20th St (APN 9485750560) of the 2000 Lake Washington Apartments property. The site is located within the Residential Multi- Family (RMF) zone and is approximately 400,533 square feet. An arborist report prepared by Izzy Nosan of A Plus Tree was submitted with the project application (Attachment A). The subject tree is a multistem (19” and 17”) Lombardy Poplar (Populus nigra) that sits on the north property line between the subject parcel and an undeveloped parcel (APN 3344500290). According to the report, the tree is half dead and has large diameter branches within the canopy. Nosan notes that the Lombardy Poplar has a species characteristic of weak limbs/wood strength and is very susceptible to failures. An apartment home is within the drip line of the tree, and a recreational area is within 1x height of the tree. The submitted materials contend that due to the proximity of the subject tree to nearby developed properties, there is a high risk of damage to property and injury to people and the tree is recommended to be removed or reduced to a safe height immediately. CRITICAL AREA: Wellhead Protection Area Zone 2 (Wellfield WELL 5A), High Erosion Hazard, Regulated Slopes (>90%), Moderate Landslide Hazard EXEMPTION JUSTIFICATION: Renton Municipal Code, Section 4-3-050C.3.c.iii. Dangerous Trees: Removal of non- native invasive ground cover or weeds listed by King County Noxious Weed Board or other government agency or dangerous trees, as defined in Chapter 4-11 RMC which have been approved by the City and certified dangerous by a licensed landscape architect, or certified arborist, selection of whom to be approved by the City based on the DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Certificate of Exemption From Critical Areas Regulations 2000 Lake Washington Apartments Tree Removal LUA21-000231, CAE Permit Date: August 2, 2021 Page 2 of 3 D_2000 Lake Washington Blvd N CAE_210625 type of information required. Limited to cutting of dangerous trees; such hazardous trees shall be retained as large woody debris in critical areas and/or associated buffers, where feasible. 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. DECISION: An exemption from the Critical Areas Regulations is hereby Approved with Conditions* and subject to the following conditions: *CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL: 1. The applicant shall reduce the subject tree to a 15 foot tall wildlife snag and retain the felled tree as large woody debris for natural habitat where feasible. 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 DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 8/2/2021 | 2:18 PM PDT City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Certificate of Exemption From Critical Areas Regulations 2000 Lake Washington Apartments Tree Removal LUA21-000231, CAE Permit Date: August 2, 2021 Page 3 of 3 D_2000 Lake Washington Blvd N CAE_210625 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 August 16, 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: Arborist Report, Letter from Patricia Abbey cc: REEP-SP Marina Land LLC; Patricia Abbey DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 1 ARBORIST REPORT for - 2000 Lake Washington Apartments - Security Properties Parcel: 3344500315 1300 N 20th St, Renton, WA 98056 Friday, January 29th, 2021 (Site map on ﬁnal page of report) By Izzy Nosan | ISA Certiﬁed Arborist WE-11653A | izzy@aplustree.com 3490 Buskirk Ave., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 | (206) 550-6679 | www.aplustree.com ATTACHMENT A DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 2 Background Information A Plus Tree, Inc. was contacted by 2000 Lake Washington apartments requesting a tree risk assessment of all trees on site. The assessment was regarding the present conditions, tree integrity, and future expectations of the trees. The trees were assessed with speciﬁc focus on the trees’ potential risk to the property, residents, and visitors. The trees included on this report were viewed as being high risk, given nearby targets and occupancy rates, and have been recommended for removal. The recommended removals are all within close proximity to critical targets such as the main entrance/road to the community, apartment homes, recreational area, and sidewalks. Assignment (and any limiting factors) A Plus was requested to assess the trees at 2000 Lake Washington Apartments and provide a report regarding recommendations for safety concerns and potential impact to the property, and to distinguish which, if any, trees posed a risk. 2000 Lake Washington management intends to reduce the risk of any tree failures and/or structural damage on site by acquiring arborist services for mitigation of high risk trees. This report discuses the assessment of each individual high risk tree encountered on site and being recommended for removal. If the City of Renton requires replacement trees to be planted, 2000 Lake Washington management intends to replant according to tree replacement regulations. No limiting factors were encountered during assessment. Report continues on following page DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 3 Observations 1)1 16” DBH red maple (Acer rubrum) •A Plus Tree ID# 1000430416 a.This tree is in decline with dieback in the upper canopy. The tree has signiﬁcant signs of basal decay with a fruiting body present at the base.The tree was originally planted in a poor manner and has since developed large girdling roots within the piled up soil around its base. The roadway and sidewalk are within the drip line of the tree. b.If retained, the tree is expected to either suffer whole-tree failure, and/or other individual tree part failures in a heavy loading event or under normal circumstances. Large-diameter tree pieces are found within the canopy. If any of these tree parts were to fail and contact a pedestrian or vehicle, mild to severe consequences would be expected. c.This tree is being recommended for removal in order to minimize residual risk. 2)1 multistem (19” and 17”) DBH Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra) •A Plus Tree ID# 1001099785 a.This codominant tree is half dead. This tree has a species characteristic of having weak limbs/wood strength and very susceptible to failures. They are also rated as having very high root damage potential. Lombardy poplars are relatively fast- growing and short lived, growing very large, very fast. They are also very prone to stem canker diseases. An apartment home is within the drip line of the tree, and a recreational area within 1 X Height of the tree. b.If retained, the tree is expected to either suffer whole-tree failure, trunk failure, and/or other individual tree part failures in a heavy loading event or under normal circumstances. Large- diameter branches are found within the canopy. If any of these tree parts were to fail and contact the apartment home or recreational area-user, signiﬁcant to severe consequences would be expected. c.This tree is being recommended for removal in order to minimize residual risk. 3)1 8.5” DBH purple-leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera) •A Plus Tree ID# 997701 a.This tree has sap rot and a large ganoderma fruiting body at the base of the trunk. An apartment home, sidewalk, carport, and parking spaces are within the drip line of the tree. b.If retained, the tree is expected to either suffer whole-tree failure, trunk failure, and/or other individual tree part failures in a heavy loading event or under normal circumstances. Large- diameter branches are found within the canopy. If any of these tree parts were to fail and contact a pedestrian or vehicle/ driver, mild to severe consequences would be expected. c.This tree is being recommended for removal in order to minimize residual risk. Report continues on following page DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 4 Testing and Analysis No soil assessment or advanced testing procedures were conducted. Discussion Upon inspection of the site, the 1 red maple, 1 Lombardy poplar, and 1 purple- leaf plum discussed in this report were viewed as high risk and likely to fail under normal conditions or a heavy loading event. Given the associated targets, occupancy rates, and signiﬁcant/severe consequences upon failure, the trees presented on this report were ranked as being high-risk to the 2000 Lake Washington apartment community and visitors. Given the very poor conditions and high-risk of the trees, they have exhausted their usefulness as landscape trees and have become liabilities; expected to fail towards critical target areas with occasional to constant occupancy. Future failures are expected to occur in a heavy-loading event, or under normal conditions, if these trees are retained as-is. Given that the associated targets are either within the dripline of the trees or within 1.5X the dripline, they are expected to cause future property or personal damage if retained. 2000 Lake Washington management intends to plant replacement trees if deemed necessary by the City of Renton. Recommendations Following the site visit to 2000 Lake Washington apartments, and the assessment of the trees included on this report, the following is recommended: •The 4 trees on this report should be removed to the ground, and stumps ground where accessible. •If required, replacement trees should be planted in a species-appropriate location with adequate access to essential resources. It is being recommended that Alaskan cedars (Cupressus nootkatensis) are utilized as replacement species. Other acceptable species would be: Paciﬁc dogwood, Japanese stewartia, Japanese maple, Persian ironwood. Alternative mitigation options were considered, but removal was deemed the preferred recommendation out of practicality and to minimize residual risk. PHOTOS ON FOLLOWING PAGES DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 5 Attachments: Photo 1a: ArborPlus inventory data: Tree ID: Declining red maple with signs of basal decay and girdling roots. Located near street, sidewalk, and main entrance to property. DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 6 Photo 1b: DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 7 Photo 1c: DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 8 Photo 2a: ArborPlus inventory data: Tree ID: 1001099785 Codominant Lombardy poplar with 1 large dead leader. Overhanging apartment home. DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 9 Photo 2b: DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 10 Photo 3a: ArborPlus inventory data: Tree ID: 997701 Purple leaf plum with sap rot and ganoderma. Sidewalk, carport, parking, apartment in drip zone. DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 11 Photo 3b: DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 12 Photo 3c: DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A 13 Site Map DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A ATTACHMENT B DocuSign Envelope ID: BC4B0587-CE96-42C0-B768-FD8F73F0266A