HomeMy WebLinkAboutSR_ERC_Report_172nd_St_Water_Quality_Retrofit_240319_FinalDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
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SR_ERC Report_172nd St Water Quality Retrofit_240319_Final
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT
ERC Meeting Date: March 25, 2024
Project File Number: PR21-000240
Project Name: SE 172nd St Water Quality Retrofit Project
Land Use File Number: LUA24-000064, ECF
Project Manager: Alex Morganroth, Senior Planner
Owner/Applicant/Contact: Kevin Evans, City of Renton, 1055 S Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057
Project Location: SE 172nd St from 122nd Ave SE to 127th Ave SE; 122nd Ave SE, 123rd Ave SE,
124th Ave SE, and 125th Ave SE from SE 172nd St to SE 169th Pl
Project Summary: The applicant, City of Renton, is requesting Environmental (SEPA) Review to retrofit
residential neighborhood streets by installing porous concrete sidewalks, new
stormwater pipes and structures, and water quality treatment facilities. The public
works project is located along SE 172nd St from 122nd Ave SE to 127th Ave SE (roughly
1,500 linear feet of roadway); along 122nd Ave SE, 123rd Ave SE, 124th Ave SE, and
125th Ave SE from SE 172nd St to SE 169th Pl for approximately half a block (600 linear
feet of roadway each street). The project consists of installing new conveyance
system and green infrastructure to collect and treat stormwater runoff from
approximately 2 acres of pollution-generating hard surface. It is estimated that
approximately 6,020 cubic yards (CY) of excavation and approximately 5,765 CY of
fill would be required to complete the project. This project would help restore
water quality within the City of Renton and downstream to Soos Creek, the Green
River, and Puget Sound. The project area is currently used for residential street
traffic in the Benson Community Planning Area, east of Cascade Village. No critical
areas are mapped on the project site. Project construction is estimated to begin on
November 1, 2024 and end on October 31, 2025.
Site Area: Approx. 72,000 sq. ft. Total Building Area GSF: N/A
STAFF
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff Recommends that the Environmental Review Committee issue a
Determination of Non-Significance - Mitigated (DNS-M).
DocuSign Envelope ID: 01C814B1-0BBA-4C1D-A80D-C3E897DA2B57
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
SE 172nd St Water Quality Retrofit Project
Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee
LUA24-000064, ECF
Report of March 25, 2024 Page 2 of 6
SR_ERC Report_172nd St Water Quality Retrofit_240319_Final
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In compliance with RCW 43.21C.240, the following environmental (SEPA) review addresses only those project
impacts that are not adequately addressed under existing development standards and environmental regulations.
A. Environmental Threshold Recommendation
Based on analysis of probable impacts from the proposal, staff recommends that the Responsible Officials:
Issue a DNS-M with a 14-day appeal period
B. Mitigation Measures
1) The applicant shall submit an inadvertent discovery plan (IDP) to the Current Planning Project Manager
prior to the start of construction.
2) If any Native American grave(s) or archaeological/cultural resources (Indian artifacts) are found all
construction activity shall stop in accordance with RCW 27.53.060 and 27.44.020, and the
owner/developer shall immediately notify the Current Planning Project Manager, concerned Tribes’
cultural committees, and the Washington State Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation.
C. Exhibits
Exhibit 1: Environmental Review Committee (ERC) Report
Exhibit 2: Neighborhood Detail Map
Exhibit 3: Site Plan
Exhibit 4: 90% Plan Set
Exhibit 5: Topography Map
Exhibit 6: Landscape and Restoration Plan
Exhibit 7: Construction Mitigation Description
Exhibit 8: SEPA Checklist
Exhibit 9: Subsurface Exploration, Geologic hazard, and Geotechnical Engineering Report,
prepared by Associated Earth Sciences, Incorporated dated March 23, 2020
Exhibit 10: 90% Design Report, prepared by Osborn Consulting, Incorporated dated July 21, 2021
Exhibit 11: Wetlands Delineation Report, prepared by The Watershed Company dated May 29,
2019
Exhibit 12: Public Comments and City Responses
Exhibit 13: Duwamish Tribe Comment dated March 4, 2024, and City Response
Exhibit 14: Advisory Notes
D. Environmental Impacts
The Proposal was circulated and reviewed by various City Departments and Divisions to determine whether
the applicant has adequately identified and addressed environmental impacts anticipated to occur in
conjunction with the proposed development. Staff reviewers have identified that the proposal is likely to have
the following probable impacts:
DocuSign Envelope ID: 01C814B1-0BBA-4C1D-A80D-C3E897DA2B57
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
SE 172nd St Water Quality Retrofit Project
Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee
LUA24-000064, ECF
Report of March 25, 2024 Page 3 of 6
SR_ERC Report_172nd St Water Quality Retrofit_240319_Final
1. Earth
Impacts: The applicant submitted a Subsurface Exploration, Geologic hazard, and Geotechnical
Engineering Report, prepared by Associated Earth Sciences, Incorporated, dated March 23, 2020
(Exhibit 9) with the project application materials. Topography in the area is generally flat with a
maximum slope of approximately one percent (1%). Five (5) hollow-stem auger (HSA) borings were
advanced to depths of between approximately 10 and 20 feet below the existing ground surface (bgs).
A surficial layer of asphalt pavement underlain by crushed rock road base was encountered at all
exploration locations. Asphalt thickness was approximately four (4”) to six (6”) inches thick with
approximately four inches (4”) of crushed rock road base underneath. Fill was encountered at the
locations of borings EB-2, EB-3, and EB-4 to approximately depths of three (3’) to five (5’) feet below
the ground surface. The exploration at boring B-2, medium dense, silty, fine sand ranging to stiff, sandy
silt with trace course sand dropstones was encountered beneath the fill. The consultant interpreted
the finding at B-2 as an ice contact deposit, which can consist of a wide variety of sediment types
deposited above, adjacent to, or within a glacial ice mass and later re-deposited when the ice melts.
Ice deposits consist primarily of fine sand and silt and as such, are considered fairly moisture sensitive.
The ice deposit sediments extended below the maximum boring depth (11.5 feet) of boring EB-2.
Sediments encountered below the fill at exploration borings EB-1, EB-3, EB-4, and EB-5 generally
consisted of dense to very dense silty sand with some gravel. The consultant interpreted the finding as
representative of Vashon lodgement till, which was deposited directly from basal, debris-laden glacial
ice approximately 12,500 to 15,000 years ago. The lodgement till extended below the maximum depths
explored of the four (4) borings. The report notes that all sediments of glacial origin may contain large
cobbles or boulders at random locations.
Groundwater levels observed during exploration were generally about four (4’) to six (6’) feet bgs. The
depth to groundwater is expected to vary with seasonal changes in rainfall and surface runoff, as well
as impacts of local development. Perched groundwater within the upper portion of the Vashon
lodgement till sediments likely occurs seasonally.
The report included recommendations for excavations, shoring, demolition, paving, and earthwork. It
is anticipated that the City’s adopted erosion control measure and seismic hazard regulations would
adequately mitigate for any adverse impacts that could occur as a result of the proposed project;
therefore no further mitigation is recommended.
Mitigation Measures: None recommended.
Nexus: Not applicable.
2. Water
a. Wetlands, Streams, Lakes
Impacts: According to City of Renton (COR) Maps, off-site wetlands are mapped south of the
project site near La Fortuna, a Habitat for Humanity multifamily project (APN 3956200000). As
such, the applicant submitted a Wetland Delineation Report prepared by The Watershed Company,
dated May 29, 2019 (Exhibit 11). The report identified the presence of two (2) wetlands (Wetlands
A and B) are located near the project area. Wetland A lies on the western side of the La Fortuna
property and extends west past the parcel boundary. Wetland B is on the north east portion of the
undeveloped area of the La Fortuna property. Wetland A is a Category II wetland with six (6) habitat
points, and Wetland B is a Category III wetland with four (4) habitat points. RMC 4-3-050.G requires
a 100-foot standard buffer for Wetland A and a 50-foot standard buffer for Wetland B. No work is
proposed within Wetland A, Wetland B, or their buffers. Therefore, no site-specific mitigation is
recommended.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 01C814B1-0BBA-4C1D-A80D-C3E897DA2B57
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
SE 172nd St Water Quality Retrofit Project
Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee
LUA24-000064, ECF
Report of March 25, 2024 Page 4 of 6
SR_ERC Report_172nd St Water Quality Retrofit_240319_Final
Mitigation Measures: None recommended.
Nexus: Not applicable.
a. Storm Water
Impacts: The applicant submitted a 90% Design Report, prepared by Osborn Consulting,
Incorporated, dated July 21, 2021 (Exhibit 10) with the project application materials. Based on the
City of Renton’s flow control map, the site falls within the Flow Control Duration Standard-
Matching Forested and is within the Soos Creek Drainage Basin. The project site currently consists
of approximately 152,420 sq. ft. of impervious surface and 59,125 sq. ft. of pervious surface. The
runoff from the project site discharges into a series of wetlands south of the site. The wetlands
discharge to Big Soos Creek, which eventually discharges to the Green River near SR 18, east of
Auburn. Surface flows enter the wetland located approximately 150 feet south of the intersection
of 127th Ave SE and SE 172nd St through piped conveyance systems, collecting runoff from
residential streets and areas east of the project limits on SE 172nd St.
The project proposes to update the stormwater collection and conveyance system and install
water quality treatment facilities within the project area. The project consists of installing new
conveyance system and green infrastructure, such as pervious sidewalks and Washington State
Department of Ecology (Ecology) approved general-use-level designation (GULD) facilities to
collect and treat stormwater runoff from approximately two (2) acres of pollution-generating hard
surface (PGHS). Other improvements include increasing the capacity of existing stormwater
conveyance systems to mitigate for flooding and nuisance ponding and decrease ice accumulation
in poor drainage areas during winter months.
Collected stormwater within the project limits along the north-south streets would be treated in
GULD treatment systems with the treated stormwater discharged back into the adjacent bypass
systems. Specifically, the project proposes the installation of multiple precast Filterra Bioretention
Systems (Filterras) for water quality treatment in order to improve the quality of stormwater runoff
into the basin. The Filterras are designed to provide enhanced treatment to reduce concentrations
of total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus, dissolved copper, dissolved zinc, and oil, before
discharging to Soos Creek. In order to improve existing conveyance capacities, allow for adequate
City maintenance access, and mitigate for flooding concerns, the existing stormwater systems in
the north-south streets that flow easterly toward 125th Ave SE would be disconnected and plugged
at the upstream end. The existing upstream flows from outside the project limits would then be
rerouted and conveyed southerly along the north-south streets through proposed 18-inch bypass
systems, which would connect to a new proposed bypass system. The new bypass system would
flows easterly, along SE 172nd St.
Permeable pavement is proposed for the new sidewalks on the east sides of 122nd Ave SE, 123rd
Ave SE, 124th Ave SE, and 125th SE, as well as the north side of SE 172nd St, which would provide
infiltration of rainfall onto the permeable surfaces.
The proposed conveyance system upgrade would be subject to the requirements of the City of
Renton Surface Water Design Manual in effect at the time of civil construction permit application.
It is anticipated that impacts from the proposed improvements would be mitigated through the
requirements of the City’s currently adopted stormwater regulations. Therefore, no site-specific
mitigation is recommended.
Mitigation Measures: None recommended.
Nexus: Not applicable.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 01C814B1-0BBA-4C1D-A80D-C3E897DA2B57
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
SE 172nd St Water Quality Retrofit Project
Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee
LUA24-000064, ECF
Report of March 25, 2024 Page 5 of 6
SR_ERC Report_172nd St Water Quality Retrofit_240319_Final
3. Vegetation
Impacts: According to the SEPA Checklist submitted by the applicant (Exhibit 8), shrubs, lawn, and nine
(9) trees are proposed for removal as part of the project. All vegetation proposed for removal is located
in the public right-of-way (ROW). Trees proposed for removal include three (3) eighteen-inch (18’)
diameter pines, three (3) ten caliper-inch (10”) pines, a sixteen caliper-inch (16”) birch, a twelve caliper-
inch (12”) diameter birch, and a sixteen caliper-inch (16”) fir. The applicant has proposed nine (9) new
street trees on along 125th Ave SE including four (4) two caliper-inch (2”)Katsura, three (3) two caliper-
inch Japanese snowbell, and two (2) European hornbeam for a one-to-one replacement ratio (Exhibit
6). Additional options for new street trees would be evaluated prior to the start of construction. All
other disturbed areas would be replanted with grass. Therefore, no site-specific mitigation is
recommended.
Mitigation Measure: None recommended.
Nexus: Not applicable.
4. Environmental Health
a. Noise
Impacts: Construction activity-related noise impacts would primarily result from the preparation
of the roadway and installation of stormwater improvements proposed as a part of the project.
Construction activity hours are restricted to the hours between seven o’clock (7:00) a.m. and eight
o’clock (8:00) p.m., Monday through Friday. Work on Saturdays shall be restricted to the hours
between nine o’clock (9:00) a.m. and eight o’clock (8:00) p.m. No wo rk shall be permitted on
Sundays. Haul hours shall be restricted to the hours between eight-thirty (8:30) a.m. and three-
thirty (3:30) p.m., Monday through Friday unless otherwise approved in advance by the
Development Services Division.
All noise levels would be required to comply with City of Renton code (Chapter 7 Noise Level
Regulations) and Washington State code (WAC 173-60-040). The anticipated temporary noise
impacts would be those commonly associated with roadway and stormwater infrastructure
construction. Therefore, no site-specific mitigation is recommended.
Mitigation Measures: None recommended.
Nexus: Not applicable.
5. Historic and Cultural Preservation
Impacts: A representative of the Duwamish Tribe submitted a comment (Exhibit 13) to City staff on
March 4, 2024 indicating the project has the potential to encounter cultural resources. The comment
identifies a moderately low potential for discovery of unknown archeological deposits per the
Washington Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) WISAARD model and
recommends the preparation of an inadvertent discovery plan (IDP). As such, staff recommends as a
mitigation measure, the applicant shall submit an inadvertent discovery plan (IDP) to the Current
Planning Project Manager prior to the start of construction. In addition, staff recommends as a
mitigation measure, if any Native American grave(s) or archaeological/cultural resources (Indian
artifacts) are found, the applicant shall cease all construction activity in accordance with RCW
27.53.060 and RCW 27.44.020, and the owner/developer shall immediately notify the City of Renton
planning department, concerned Tribes’ cultural committees, and the Washington State Department
of Archeology and Historic Preservation.
Mitigation Measure:
1) The applicant shall submit an inadvertent discovery plan (IDP) to the Current Planning Project
Manager prior to the start of construction.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 01C814B1-0BBA-4C1D-A80D-C3E897DA2B57
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
SE 172nd St Water Quality Retrofit Project
Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee
LUA24-000064, ECF
Report of March 25, 2024 Page 6 of 6
SR_ERC Report_172nd St Water Quality Retrofit_240319_Final
2) If any Native American grave(s) or archaeological/cultural resources (Indian artifacts) are found all
construction activity shall stop in accordance with RCW 27.53.060 and RCW 27.44.020, and the
owner/developer shall immediately notify the Current Planning Project Manager, concerned
Tribes’ cultural committees, and the Washington State Department of Archeology and Historic
Preservation.
Nexus: State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Review; Chapter 27.53 RCW,
Archaeological Site and Resources; and Chapter 27.44 RCW, Indian Graves and Records.
E. Comments of Reviewing Departments
The proposal has been circulated to City Department and Division Reviewers. Where applicable, their
comments have been incorporated into the text of this report and/or “Advisory Notes to Applicant.”
✓ Copies of all Review Comments are contained in the Official File and may be attached to this report.
The Environmental Determination decision will become final if the decision is not appealed within the 14 -day
appeal period (RCW 43.21.C.075(3); WAC 197-11-680).
Environmental Determination Appeal Process: Appeals of the environmental determination must be filed in
writing on or before 5:00 p.m. on April 8, 2024. 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.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 01C814B1-0BBA-4C1D-A80D-C3E897DA2B57
CITY OF RENTON
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STAFF REPORT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
EXHIBITS
Project Name:
SE 172nd St Water Quality Retrofit Project
Land Use File Number:
LUA24-000064, ECF
Date of Meeting
March 25, 2024
Staff Contact
Alex Morganroth
Senior Planner
Project Contact/Applicant
Kevin Evans
City of Renton
1055 S Grady Way, Renton,
WA 98057
Project Location
SE 172nd St from 122nd Ave SE to
127th Ave SE; 122nd Ave SE, 123rd
Ave SE, 124th Ave SE, and 125th
Ave SE from SE 172nd St to SE
169th Pl
The following exhibits are included with the ERC Report:
Exhibit 1: Environmental Review Committee (ERC) Report
Exhibit 2: Neighborhood Detail Map
Exhibit 3: Site Plan
Exhibit 4: 90% Plan Set
Exhibit 5: Topography Map
Exhibit 6: Landscape and Restoration Plan
Exhibit 7: Construction Mitigation Description
Exhibit 8: SEPA Checklist
Exhibit 9: Subsurface Exploration, Geologic hazard, and Geotechnical Engineering Report,
prepared by Associated Earth Sciences, Incorporated dated March 23, 2020
Exhibit 10: 90% Design Report, prepared by Osborn Consulting, Incorporated dated July 21, 2021
Exhibit 11: Wetlands Delineation Report, prepared by The Watershed Company dated May 29,
2019
Exhibit 12: Public Comments and City Responses
Exhibit 13: Duwamish Tribe Comment dated March 4, 2024, and City Response
Exhibit 14: Advisory Notes
DocuSign Envelope ID: 01C814B1-0BBA-4C1D-A80D-C3E897DA2B57