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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC_Conner Homes City of Renton CED_2210312 6. Protect trees during construction activities from damage to tree roots, trunks, and branches; and 7. Recognize that trees increase real estate values. Aron Golden VP of Land Development, Conner Homes Tel: 206-271-6613 Email: arong@connerhomes.com | Web: Connerhomes.com From: Andrew Van Gordon <AVanGordon@rentonwa.gov> Sent: Monday, October 10, 2022 11:20 AM To: Aron Golden <arong@connerhomes.com> Cc: Chip Vincent <CVincent@Rentonwa.gov>; Vanessa Dolbee <VDolbee@Rentonwa.gov>; Matthew Herrera <MHerrera@Rentonwa.gov> Subject: RE: Maple Highlands aka Chambers property Hello Aron, I’m responding on behalf of Chip as he is out of the office for an extended amount of time. As requested, we’d be more than happy to accept your arborist report and review it, but, as a he External (avangordon@rentonwa.gov) Report This Email FAQ Protection by INKY Hello Aron, I’m responding on behalf of Chip as he is out of the office for an extended amount of time. As requested, we’d be more than happy to accept your arborist report and review it, but, as a heads up, we may have additional comments once review is complete. Please be aware that if the report is submitted separately from the other items requested in the On Hold notice from August 5, 2022, the project will remain on hold until all requested items are submitted. Please let me know when you’re ready to submit documents, and I will provide a FileShare link for upload. Thank you. ANDREW VAN GORDON, Associate Planner City of Renton | CED | Planning Division 1055 S Grady Way | 6th Floor | Renton, WA 98057 Virtual Permit Center | Online Applications and Inspections (425) 430-7286 | avangordon@rentonwa.gov From: Aron Golden <arong@connerhomes.com> Sent: Monday, October 10, 2022 9:52 AM To: Chip Vincent <CVincent@Rentonwa.gov> Cc: Audrey Lee <audreyl@connerhomes.com>; Vanessa Dolbee <VDolbee@Rentonwa.gov>; Matthew Herrera <MHerrera@Rentonwa.gov>; Andrew Van Gordon <AVanGordon@rentonwa.gov>; Mark, Benjamin 3 <Benjamin.Mark@afmforest.com>; Kyle Carrick <kyle.carrick@kpff.com> Subject: RE: Maple Highlands aka Chambers property Chip, Apologies, but still a little confused. -Priority 1 trees conflict with houses (lots 5 and 6) and will not survive construction and must be removed. We would like to submit the arborist report justifying this now and before the Hearing so we are all on the same page. -Priority 2 trees can be kept, but if in a tract the lots become too small to meet density requirements. If Priority 2 trees are kept, but not in a tract then the plat works. Maybe a quick meeting with Staff would help clarify? We’d like to resubmit. Thank you Aron Aron Golden VP of Land Development, Conner Homes Tel: 206-271-6613 Email: arong@connerhomes.com | Web: Connerhomes.com From: Chip Vincent <CVincent@Rentonwa.gov> Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2022 9:16 AM To: Aron Golden <arong@connerhomes.com> Cc: Audrey Lee <audreyl@connerhomes.com>; Vanessa Dolbee <VDolbee@Rentonwa.gov>; Matthew Herrera <MHerrera@Rentonwa.gov>; Andrew Van Gordon <AVanGordon@rentonwa.gov> Subject: RE: Maple Highlands aka Chambers property Aaron, we can address the uncertainty of the approach outlined in the original e-mail, by prioritizing the Priority One Trees, which would be the trees between Lots 5 and 6. These could be placed within a tract and the remainder of the trees could be removed as this approach would comply with the tree regulations without attempting the balance between preservation of Priority One and Priority Two trees. Chip From: Aron Golden <arong@connerhomes.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 7, 2022 4:06 PM To: Chip Vincent <CVincent@Rentonwa.gov> Cc: Audrey Lee <audreyl@connerhomes.com>; Vanessa Dolbee <VDolbee@Rentonwa.gov>; Matthew Herrera <MHerrera@Rentonwa.gov>; Andrew Van Gordon <AVanGordon@rentonwa.gov> Subject: RE: Maple Highlands aka Chambers property 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. 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. 4 Chip, Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. This is a tough one. Continuing with engineering and entitlement without resolving trees we know conflict with planned homes on lots 5 and 6 is problematic. Trees 97-99 are inside the building footprint and would not be able to stay. Our Arborist informs us a root reconnaissance would be of roots within the drip lines of the trees. Even if a portion of the roots could be impacted with an Arborist approval, the tree trunks for 97-99 would be coincident with the house foundation or inside the house. Trees 100-101 are 5’ and 7’ from the house foundation. This is too close for roots or a house to be safe. Even with flexible setbacks the house will be reduced to less than 30’ in width at its mid-point, which is not economically feasible and likely still too close to be safe. I propose we make this determination regarding removal of trees 97-101 now for safety and welfare of future homes. The tree code to which we are vested allows for this action. 4-4-130 A. states as purpose of the code to: 3. Promote land development practices that result in minimal adverse disturbance to existing vegetation and soils within the City while at the same time recognizing that certain factors such as condition (e.g., disease, danger of falling, etc .), proximity to existing and proposed structures and improvements, interference with utility services, protection of scenic views, and the realization of a reasonable enjoyment of property may require the removal of certain trees and ground cover; Thank you again, Aron 5 Aron Golden VP of Land Development, Conner Homes Tel: 206-271-6613 Email: arong@connerhomes.com | Web: Connerhomes.com Building footprint 6 From: Chip Vincent <CVincent@Rentonwa.gov> Sent: Friday, September 2, 2022 12:17 PM To: Aron Golden <arong@connerhomes.com> Cc: Audrey Lee <audreyl@connerhomes.com>; Vanessa Dolbee <VDolbee@Rentonwa.gov>; Matthew Herrera <MHerrera@Rentonwa.gov>; Andrew Van Gordon <AVanGordon@rentonwa.gov> Subject: RE: Maple Highlands aka Chambers property Aaron, it was good to speak with you earlier this week. After discussing with staff, it sounds like you have provided a tree protection tract with the plat layout that retains 30% of what the tree regulations refer to as Priority Two trees on the site along the northern border of Lot 7. As this grouping is ranked second in priority, we would like you to also attempt to retain several of the mature Douglas Fir trees within the grove located on Lots 5 and 6, the cedars that continue west of the tree protection tract along the north side of Lot 10, and look at the trees that may be incorporated into the right of way planter strip along 152nd Ave SE, however we are not asking for you to place these other areas within tracts therefore preserving all lots as currently designed. To accomplish this, we would like you to have a root reconnaissance done prior to grading so that we can understand where the important root structures are located and if it’s possible, and under the guidance of an arborist, construct the foundations and utilities in and around the trees and their roots. If we come to find out after a reconnaissance that it would not be feasible for certain trees, then those deemed infeasible could be removed allowing for construction to continue as planned. Once the root reconnaissance is completed, we can look at flexible setbacks of the future homes if saving trees would be the result. This condition would be written in a manner that states we are attempting to save these other trees where possible, but not at the risk of the trees becoming a future hazard. This option is a compromise to allow retention of Priority Two trees in a tract over the Priority One trees, preserving all lots on the site. Requiring the Priority One trees to be placed in a tract would result in a loss of lots which is why the City is willing to compromise with retention of Priority Two trees and an concerted effort to retain some of the Priority One trees though a root reconnaissance. Please let me know if you have any questions. Chip From: Aron Golden <arong@connerhomes.com> Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:15 AM To: Chip Vincent <CVincent@Rentonwa.gov> Cc: Audrey Lee <audreyl@connerhomes.com> Subject: Maple Highlands aka Chambers property Chip, Thank you again for your time yesterday. we look forward to seeing the updated tree code and how this allows the plat to move forward without the trees on lots 5 and 6. Aron Aron Golden VP of Land Development, Conner Homes Tel: 206-271-6613 Email: arong@connerhomes.com | Web: Connerhomes.com 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.