HomeMy WebLinkAboutERC_Applicant_Ltr_221107
November 7, 2022
Julia Reeve
1215 Fourth Ave, Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98161
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL (SEPA) THRESHOLD DETERMINATION
Sounders FC Center at Longacres / LUA22-000357, CUP-H, SA-H, ECF, MOD
Dear Ms. Reeve:
This letter is written on behalf of the Environmental Review Committee (ERC) to advise you that they have completed
their review of the subject project and have issued a threshold Determination of Non -Significance-Mitigated with
Mitigation Measures. Please refer to the enclosed ERC Report and Decision for more details.
Appeals of the environmental determina tion must be filed in writing on or before 5:00 p.m. on November 21, 2022.
Due to the ongoing state of emergency enacted by Governor’s Proclamation 20-28.14 (and as amended), the City Clerk’s
Office is working remotely. For that reason, appeals must be submitted electronically to the City Clerk at
cityclerk@rentonwa.gov or delivered to City Hall 1st floor Lobby Hub Monday through Friday. The appeal fee, normally
due at the time an appeal is submitted, will be collected at a future date if your appeal is submitted electronically .
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 Environmental Determination is appealed, a public hearing date will be set and all parties notified. If you have any
questions or desire clarification of the above, please reach me at jding@rentonwa.gov or at (425) 430-6598.
In addition, this matter is tentatively scheduled for a Virtual Public Hearing on December 13, 2022 at 11:00AM, by
means of the Zoom video conferencing web application which includes a phone-in option. The applicant or
representative(s) of the applicant are required to attend the public hearing. A copy of the staff recommendation will
be mailed to you prior to the hearing.
For the Environmental Review Committee,
Jill Ding
Senior Planner
Enclosures
cc: Unico Longacres South Building LLC, Unico Longacres South Campus Land, LLC, Unico Longacres Central Drainage LLC/ Owner(s)
Unico Properties/Applicant
King County Metro Transit, Duwamish Tribe, Seattle Public Utilities , Washington State Department of Ecology, Jonathan Legin / Parties of Record
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL (SEPA) DETERMINATION OF
NON-SIGNIFICANCE - MITIGATED (DNS-M)
Project File Numbers: PR22-000301 / LUA22-000357, SA-H, CU-H, ECF, MOD
Project Name: Sounders FC Center at Longacres
Applicant: Unico Properties, 1215 4th Ave, Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98161 and Seattle Soccer, LLC,
d/b/a Seattle Sounders FC, 406 Occidental Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98104
Project Location: 1901 Oakesdale Ave SW, Renton, WA 98057 (Parcel Nos. 0886700220, 0886700110,
0886700120, 0886700130, 0886700210, 0886700370, and 0886700140)
Project Description: The applicant is requesting a Hearing Examiner Conditi onal Use Permit, Hearing
Examiner Site Plan Review, Environmental (SEPA) Review, and a Street Modification for
the use of a portion of an existing office building for Sounders FC office space and indoor
training facilities and associated activities, outdoor recreation facilities including 5 full-
size soccer fields a Goal Keepers Field and accessory structures, and reconfiguration of
and existing surface parking lot. The overall project site totals approximately 30 acres in
area and is zoned Commercial Office (CO). Access to the Site would be maintained via
existing curb cuts off Oakesdale Ave SW. The project site is currently developed with an
existing 5-story office building totaling approximately 311,982 sq. ft., and the Sounders
propose to lease approximately 50,000 sq. ft. of floors 1 and 2. A new accessory viewing
deck proposed to overlook Field 1 from floor 2 would total approximately 1,650 sq. ft. in
area. Some existing surface parking would be removed for the placement of Fields 1 and
2 and additional parking would be removed to create a secure 1st team parking area in
the existing southern parking lot. The total remaining parking area would include
approximately 766 surface parking stalls. A maintenance building (approximately 4,000
sq. ft.) and future field restroom (approximately 800 sq. ft.) are proposed to be co-
located between fields 2 and 4. A Modification to the City's Street Standards was
requested to maintain the existing frontage improvements around the project site. The
project site is mapped with high seismic hazard areas, wetlands, and flood hazard areas.
A Category II wetland was identified to the northwest of the project site, a Category II
wetland has a standard buffer of 100 feet for low impact land uses and 150 feet for all
other land uses. The proposal includes a reduction in the standard buffer width in the
vicinity of the soccer fields and the paper fill of the wetland. Wetland buffer
enhancement plantings and the purchase of wetland mitigation bank credits are
proposed to mitigate the indirect wetland impacts and impacts to the buffer.
Lead Agency: City of Renton
Environmental Review Committee
Department of Community & Economic Development
Date of Decision: November 7, 2022
Mitigation Measures:
1. Construction on the project site shall comply with the recommendations of the submitted Geotechnical
Report, prepared by GeoEngineers, dated June 23, 2022.
2. The applicant’s geotechnical engineer shall review the project’s construction plans for the new fields and the
building permit plans for the proposed maintenance building and elevated patio addition to verify compliance
DocuSign Envelope ID: A56F3DC7-D564-4883-A9F5-21D84A1EE521
Environmental Review Committee De termination
November 7, 2022
Page 2 of 2
SIGNATURES:
Martin Pastucha, Administrator
Public Works, Chair
Date Anjela Barton, Fire Marshal
Renton Regional Fire Authority
Date
for Kelly Beymer, Administrator
Parks and Recreation Department
Date Chip Vincent, Administrator Date
Community and Economic Development
with the submitted geotechnical report. The geotechnical engineer shall submit a sealed letter stating that
he/she has reviewed the construction and building permit plans and in their opinion the plans and
specifications meet the intent of the report.
3. The fill material used on the synthetic fields shall be comprised of a mater ial that would be non-toxic to fish
and other wildlife.
4. The applicant shall demonstrate that the proposed underground storage chambers, to be utilized for
compensatory storage, would not have an adverse impact on salmonids and would ensure that salmonid s
would not get trapped within the proposed underground storage chambers.
5. The applicant shall follow the Department of Ecology guidance for Tacoma Smelter Plume soil contamination
testing and remediation as instructed in the agency’s letter (Exhibit 15).The City of Renton Environmental
Review Committee has determined that probable significant environmental impacts fr om the proposed
project can be mitigated. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required under RCW
43.21C.030(2)(c). Conditions were imposed as mitigation measures by the Environmental Review Committee
under their authority of Section 4-9-070D Renton Municipal Code. These conditions are necessary to mitigate
environmental impacts identified during the environmental review process. Because other agencies of
jurisdiction may be involved, the lead agency will not act on this proposal for fourteen (1 4) days.
6. The applicant shall submit an Inadvertent Discoveries Plan prepared by a qualified professional with the civil
construction permit for review and approval by the Current Planning Project Manager prior to permit
issuance.
The City Clerk’s Office is working remotely. For that reason, appeals must be submitted electronically to the City Clerk
at cityclerk@rentonwa.gov or delivered to City Hall 1st floor Lobby Hub Monday through Friday. The appeal fee,
normally due at the time an appeal is submitted, will be collected at a future date if your appeal is submitted
electronically. 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.
DocuSign Envelope ID: A56F3DC7-D564-4883-A9F5-21D84A1EE521
11/7/2022 | 2:43 PM PST
11/7/2022 | 2:49 PM PST11/7/2022 | 3:49 PM PST
11/7/2022 | 3:53 PM PST
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Planning Division
1055 South Grady Way, 6th Floor | Renton, WA 98057 | 425-430-7200, ext. 2
www.rentonwa.gov
OF ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
ISSUANCE OF A DETERMINATION OF
NON-SIGNIFICANCE - MITIGATED (DNS-M)
POSTED TO NOTIFY INTERESTED PERSONS OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
DNS-M: The City of Renton Environmental Review Committee (ERC) has determined that the proposed action has
probable significant impacts that can be mitigated through mitigation measures. This DNS-M is issued after using the
optional DNS process in WAC 197-11-355. There is no further comment period.
DATE OF NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
DETERMINATION:
November 7, 2022
PROJECT NAME/NUMBER: PR22-000301 Sounders FC Center at Longacres / LUA22-
000357, CUP-H, SA-H, ECF, MOD
PROJECT LOCATION: 1901 Oakesdale Ave SW (APN’s 0886700220,
0886700210, 0886700110, 0886700130, 0886700120,
0886700140, 0886700370)
APPLICANT/PROJECT CONTACT
PERSON:
Julia Reeve /1215 Fourth Ave, Suite 600 Seattle, WA 98161 /
juliar@unicoprop.com
LOCATION WHERE APPLICATION MAY
BE REVIEWED:
Applicant documents are available online through the City of Renton
Document Center website. See also https://cutt.ly/yBQ3iK7
DESCRIPTION: The applicant is requesting a Hearing Examiner Conditional Use Permit, Hearing Examiner Site Plan
Review, Environmental (SEPA) Review, and a Street Modification for the use of a portion of an existing office building for
Sounders FC office space and indoor training facilities and associated activities, outdoor recreation facilities including 5
full-size soccer fields a Goal Keepers Field and accessory structures, and reconfiguration of and existing surface parking
lot. The overall project site totals approximately 30 acres in area and is zoned Commercial Office (CO). Access to the Site
would be maintained via existing curb cuts off Oakesdale Ave SW. The project site is currently developed with an existing
5-story office building totaling approximately 311,982 sq. ft., and the Sounders propose to lease approximately 50,000
sq. ft. of floors 1 and 2. A new accessory viewing deck proposed to overlook Field 1 from floor 2 would total approximately
1,650 sq. ft. in area. Some existing surface parking would be removed for the placement of Fields 1 and 2 and additional
parking would be removed to create a secure 1st team parking area in the existing southern parking lot. The total
remaining parking area would include approximately 766 surface parking stalls. A maintenance building (approximately
4,000 sq. ft.) and future field restroom (approximately 800 sq. ft.) are proposed to be co-located between fields 2 and 4.
A Modification to the City's Street Standards was requested to maintain the existing frontage improvements around the
project site. The project site is mapped with high seismic hazard areas, wetlands, and flood hazard areas. A Category II
wetland was identified to the northwest of the project site, a Category II wetland has a standard buffer of 100 feet for
low impact land uses and 150 feet for all other land uses. The proposal includes a reduction in the standard buffer width
in the vicinity of the soccer fields and the paper fill of the wetland. Wetland buffer enhancement plantings and the
NOTICE
purchase of wetland mitigation bank credits are proposed to mitigate the indirect wetland impacts and impacts to the
buffer.
Appeals of the environmental determination must be filed in writing on or before 5:00 p.m. on November 21, 2022 .
Due to the ongoing state of emergency enacted by Governor’s Proclamation 20-28.14 (and as amended), the City Clerk’s
Office is working remotely. For that reason, appeals must be submitted electronically to the City Clerk at
cityclerk@rentonwa.gov or delivered to City Hall 1st floor Lobby Hub Monday through Friday. The appeal fee, normally
due at the time an appeal is submitted, will be collected at a future date if your appeal is submitted electronically. Appeal s
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.
PUBLIC HEARING: If the Environmental Determination is appealed, a public hearing will be set and all parties notified.