HomeMy WebLinkAboutD_RVMP_Singh_230630_v3_FINALDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
D_RVMP_Singh_230630_v2
PLANNING DIVISION
ROUTINE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PERMIT
EVALUATION FORM & DECISION
DATE OF DECISION: July 5, 2023
PROJECT NUMBER: LUA23-000192, RVMP
PROJECT NAME: Singh Tree Removal
PROJECT MANAGER: Alex Morganroth, Senior Planner
APPLICANT/CONTACT: Christine Leonard
Pacific Arboriculture
5101 S 372nd St
Auburn, WA 98001
OWNER: Anurag Singh
16018 SE 141st Pl
Renton, WA 98059
PROJECT LOCATION: 16018 SE 141st Pl (APN 1472750110)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is requesting approval of a Routine Vegetation Management
Permit (RVMP) to allow the removal of two (2) significant trees: a 20-inch
caliper Douglas fir and a 40-inch caliper Bigleaf maple. The Bigleaf maple is
classified as a landmark tree. These two (2) trees were required to be retained
as part of the Cedars at the Highlands preliminary plat project (LUA17-000189)
and as such, are classified as Protected Trees per RMC 4-11-200. A Routine
Vegetation Management Permit is required for the removal of protected trees,
in addition to the removal of any landmark tree without an associated land
development permit. The property is located at 16018 SE 141st Pl and is
approximately 9,101 square feet (0.21 acres) in size. The property is located
within the Residential 4 (R-4) zone. According to City of Renton (COR) Maps,
no critical areas are mapped on the site.
The applicant submitted a Level 1 Tree Risk Assessment, prepared by Ryan
Seeley of Pacific Arboriculture, an ISA Certified Arborist (Attachment 1).
According to the Arborist, the two (2) trees proposed for removal are in poor
overall condition due to poor drainage in the backyard area which has
saturated the root systems and caused significant rot within the roots and
lower trunks of both trees. The applicant submitted a revegetation plan
(Attachment 2) that proposes the installation of one (1) two-inch (2”) caliper
Pacific black willow (Salix lucida) tree, a species that thrives in wet areas and
DocuSign Envelope ID: 731C5AD2-1A92-484F-8149-A332767DBBC7
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Devel opment Routine Vegetation Management Permit
Singh Tree Removal LUA23-000192, RVMP
Permit Date: July 5, 2023 Page 2 of 4
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will have a significancy greater chance of surviving within an area with
saturated soil.
ROUTINE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT REVIEW CRITERIA, RMC 4-9-195D.4:
YES 1. The lot shall comply with minimum tree credit requirements pursuant to RMC 4-4-130,
Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations.
Staff Comments: The site was developed as part of the Cedars at the Highlands (LUA17-
000189) preliminary plat. The single-family home on the site was constructed in 2021
(B20005912). The vesting regulations in RMC 4-1-045F.2 state that the lots in a final
plat may be developed by the terms of approval of the final plat, and the development
regulations in effect at the time the preliminary plat application was deemed complete
for a period of five (5) years from the recording date unless the City finds that a change
in conditions creates a serious threat to the public health, safety or welfare. The Cedars
at the Highlands final plat was recorded on October 13, 2023, and as such, the lot is
subject to the tree regulations in effect at the time of preliminary plat review
(Attachment 3). The tree regulations in effect at the time required a minimum tree
density of two (2) significant trees for every 5,000 sq. ft. of lot area for single family
development (detached dwellings). The property is approximately 9,101 square feet
(0.21 acres); therefore, four (4) trees are required (9,101 sq. ft./5,000 sq. ft. *2 = 3.64
trees). A minimum of thirty percent (30%) of the significant trees are required to be
retained on the site.
The applicant provided a full tree survey of the site as part of the arborist report. In
addition to the two (2) trees proposed for removal, three (3) additional trees are located
on the site including a one-inch (1”) caliper Ornamental maple variety, a two-inch (2”)
caliper Sugar maple, and a one-inch (1”) caliper Hinoki cypress. The three (3) significant
trees on the site combined with the one (1) new tree proposed would comply with the
minimum tree density required on the site. At least 30% of the significant trees are
retained.
N/A 2. The land clearing and tree removal shall be consistent with restrictions for critical
areas, pursuant to RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations, and
RMC 4-3-050, Critical Areas Regulations.
Staff Comments: Not applicable. Per COR Maps, the property is not encumbered with
critical areas or critical area buffers.
YES 3. Removal of a landmark tree shall meet the review criteria for removal off landmark
tree, pursuant to RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations.
i. The tree is determined to be dangerous; or
ii. The tree is causing obvious physical damage to structures including but not
limited to building foundations, driveways or parking lots, and for which no
reasonable alternative to tree removal exists. Routine maintenance of roofs
that is required due to leaf fall does not constitute obvious physical damage
to structure; or
iii. Removal of tree(s) to provide solar access to buildings incorporating active
solar devices. Windows are solar devices only when they are south-facing and
include special storage elements to distribute heat energy; or
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City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Devel opment Routine Vegetation Management Permit
Singh Tree Removal LUA23-000192, RVMP
Permit Date: July 5, 2023 Page 3 of 4
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iv. The Administrator determines the removal is necessary to achieve a specific
and articulable purpose or goal of this Title.
Staff Comments: Under the tree regulations in effect at the time of preliminary plat
approval for Cedars at the Highlands, a landmark tree is defined as a tree with a caliper
of thirty inches (30”) or greater. Per the Arborist Report there is Bigleaf maple which
has a caliper of 40 inches (40”) and is therefore classified as a landmark tree. The
provided arborist report identifies that the tree is in poor condition and dying due to
the heavy flooding and poor drainage in the area. Therefore, the tree is determined to
be a dangerous tree and is eligible for removal.
N/A 4. Street frontage and parking lot trees and landscaping shall be preserved unless
otherwise approved by the Administrator.
Staff Comments: Not applicable. The trees are not street frontage trees or parking lot
trees. Neither street frontage nor parking landscaping is proposed to be removed.
N/A 5. The land clearing and tree removal shall not remove any landscaping or protected
trees required as part of a land development permit.
Staff Comments: The proposed tree removal would include the removal of protected
trees required as part of a land development permit. However, as discussed elsewhere
in the report, no alternative to removal of the trees is available due to the degradation
of root and support structures documented by the arborist. Therefore, this criterion is
not applicable to the subject review.
N/A 6. The land clearing and tree removal shall maintain visual screening and buffering
between land uses of differing intensity, consistent with applicable landscaping and
setback provisions.
Staff Comments: Not applicable. Detached dwellings abut the lot on the east and west
sides. A tree tract is located to the north. Removal of the trees would not remove
required visual screening and buffering between land uses of differing intensity.
YES 7. The land clearing and tree removal shall not create or contribute to a hazardous
condition, such as increased potential for blowdown, pest infestation, disease, or
other problems that may result from selectively removing trees and other vegetation
from a lot.
Staff Comments: The Arborist Report did not indicate that the removal of the tree
would create or contribute to a hazardous condition.
N/A 8. The land clearing and the tree removal shall be consistent with the requirements of
the Shoreline Master Program, pursuant to RMC 4-3-090F1, Vegetation Conservation,
and RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations.
Staff Comments: Not applicable. The project is not located within shoreline jurisdiction.
DECISION: The Singh Tree Removal, LUA23-000192, RVMP for the removal of two (2) trees noted as
DocuSign Envelope ID: 731C5AD2-1A92-484F-8149-A332767DBBC7
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Devel opment Routine Vegetation Management Permit
Singh Tree Removal LUA23-000192, RVMP
Permit Date: July 5, 2023 Page 4 of 4
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Trees #1 and #2 in the arborist reports is Approved.
SIGNATURE & DATE OF DECISION:
_____________________________________________ _______________________________________
Angie Mathias, Acting Planning Director Date
Community and Economic Development
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 their decision if material evidence not
readily discoverable prior to the original decision is found or if they find 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: Appeals of permit issuance must be filed in writing on or before 5:00 p.m. on July 19, 2023. An
appeal of the decision must be filed within the 14-day appeal period (RCW 43.21.C.075(3); WAC 197-11-
680). 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. The appeal
submitted in person may be paid on the first floor in our Finance Department. 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.
EXPIRATION: The Routine Vegetation Management Permit shall be valid for one (1) year from the date of
decision. An extension may be granted by the Planning Division for a period of one (1) year upon
application by the property owner or manager. Application for such an extension must be made at least
30 days in advance of the expiration of the original permit and shall include a statement of justification for
the extension.
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Level 1 Tree Risk Assessment prepared by Ryan Seely, ISA Certified Arborist
Attachment 2: Revegetation Plan prepared by Ryan Seeley, ISA Certified Arborist
Attachment 3: Ordinance 6076
DocuSign Envelope ID: 731C5AD2-1A92-484F-8149-A332767DBBC7
7/5/2023 | 1:14 PM PDT