HomeMy WebLinkAbout21706 - Modification Narrative.pdf
Western Washington Division Eastern Washington Division
165 NE Juniper St., Ste 201, Issaquah, WA 98027 108 East 2nd Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922
Phone: (425) 392-0250 Fax: (425) 391-3055 Phone: (509) 674-7433 Fax: (509) 674-7419
www.EncompassES.net
June 2, 2023
City of Renton – Department of Community and Economic Development
Attn: Alex Morganroth, Senior Planner
1055 S Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
Subject: Street Modification Narrative; Sierra Homes Short Plat, LUA22-00042
Dear Alex,
In response to the comments you sent on January 20th, 2023 for the application of the Sierra Homes Short
Plat located at 702 Nile Ave NE, I would like to address the requirement that all existing and proposed
utility lines along the property frontage must be relocated underground, per RMC 4-6-090. I do not
believe this requirement applies to this project for the following reasons:
RMC 4-6-090. C. APPLICABILITY: 2. Existing overhead power and utility facilities abutting a
development or redevelopment site triggering street frontage improvements under RMC 4 -6-060 shall
be required to be relocated underground, pursuant to the standards of this Section.
This development does not trigger street frontage improvements because the street frontage
improvements are already installed and they are not a requirement of the short plat. All of the street
frontage improvements along Nile Ave NE were built by the developer of Weston Heights in 2017.
RMC 4-6-090. D. EXEMPTIONS: h. iii. When an existing single-family home is served with overhead
electrical power lines from a pole that also serves other properties. The overhead utility pole that serves
our property on Nile Ave, which would be removed as part of the undergrounding, also serves two other
properties on the West side of Nile Avenue.
RMC 4-6-090. D. EXEMPTIONS: i. ii. The cost of undergrounding such a facility outweighs the general
welfare consideration implicit in underground installation. The costs to underground the overhead
utilities will total more than $500,000 (see cost breakdown below). A half million dollars to underground
two sections of utilities for a small, three lot plat is unreasonably high and outweighs the public benefit
from undergrounding the utilities. There is no benefit in spending that much money undergrounding the
utilities for such a small project that already has frontage improvements. In addition, the utilities south
of the project on Nile Ave past the intersection of NE 6th Place will remain overhead because those
properties have already been redeveloped.
City of Renton – Department of Community and Economic Development
Sierra Homes Short Plat Street Modification Narrative
06/02/2023
Page | 2
Undergrounding the utilities is very costly because the sidewalks, landscaping strip, fire hydrants, water
lines and storm system are already installed and will need to be worked around and some possibly
replaced. There are also two street crossings and a street light. Comcast and Verizon both have fiber
optic cables on the poles, which are very expensive to underground. PSE estimates the process will take
at least a year, so there will also be financing costs to hold the property while PSE designs and approves
the plans.
Cost Breakdown to underground overhead utilities at 702 Nile Ave NE
PSE $150,000
Installation of conduit and street crossings $146,152
Comcast $75,000
Street Light $64,221
Verizon $25,000
Century link $15,000
Street restoration for one street crossings $10,000
Contingency $15,000
City fees and bond $5,000
Total $505,373
*Individual estimates from PSE and others can be provided upon request
This development will not be feasible with this requirement, and as a result, the property would remain a
single lot with an old house. I do not believe that this was the intent of the code when it was written and
it should not apply to this small project. I am requesting that the administrator please remove this
requirement.
Thank you for your consideration.
Dan Finkbeiner
Project Owner