HomeMy WebLinkAboutC_On_Hold_Letter_180118_v1
January 18, 2018
Kimberly Toal, I-405 Team
Washington State Department of Transportation
600 108th Ave NE, Suite 900
Bellevue, WA 98004
SUBJECT: "On Hold" Notice
I-405, Tukwila to Renton Improvement Project, Stage 3, LUA17-000810, SM, CAR
Dear Ms. Toal:
The Planning Division of the City of Renton accepted the above master application for review on
December 8, 2017. During our review, staff has determined that additional information is necessary
in order to proceed further.
The following information will need to be submitted before April 18, 2018 so that we may continue
the review of the above subject application:
On December 22, 2017, Karen Walter with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Fisheries Division
provided agency comments and questions regarding the subject application. These
comments and questions have been modified slightly to give you an opportunity to
comment on each question.
1. Regarding Lighting on I-405 Bridge over Cedar River: Nighttime lighting can have a
strong effect on fish behavior and may increase their vulnerability to predation.
With the expansion of the existing I-405 bridge crossing over the Cedar River, please
demonstrate or develop and submit a plan to reduce artificial lighting from the I-405
bridge structure that negatively impacts juvenile salmon outmigrating from the
Cedar River.
2. Regarding Tree Removal along Cedar River: Additional details are needed regarding
the proposed tree removal within the regulated shoreline. The preliminary tree
impacts and restoration assessment (“Tree Assessment”) estimated that up to 14
trees would need to be removed. The impacted tree species include bigleaf maple
and black cottonwood. See Table 1.
I-405, Tukwila to Renton Improvement Project, Stage 3, LUA17-000810, SM, CAR
Page 2 of 2
Table 1. Preliminary Tree Assessment
Shoreline Site Category # Impacted Avg. DBH Species
Cedar River
2-4” DBH 3 3 Acer macrophyllum
5-30” DBH 10 9 Acer macrophyllum, Populus
trichocarpa
>30” DBH 1 35 Acer macrophyllum
Total 14 9.5
Please elaborate, within the Tree Assessment, to include the functions these
identified tree species provide and a mitigation plan detailing and discussing how
these removed trees would be mitigated, particularly for future wood recruitment
needs to be provided.
3. Stormwater Improvements: Please clarify if this project would be providing further
treatment of stormwater. The “Summary of Stormwater Management Concepts”
document is unclear if there would be stormwater improvements with the I-405
Tukwila to Renton Improvement Project – Stage 3 (“Stage 3”). The summary
document indicates that the Stage 3 project will be adding pollutant generating
impervious surfaces area (PGIS) by 0.35 acres within the City of Renton. This
increase should be fully treated as part of this project to reduce impacts to salmon
in the Cedar River. Please updated the Summary of Stormwater Management
Concepts document to provide more text and illustrations indicated how the final
design would account for the additional pavement added during Stage 3.
4. Houser Way S and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) Bridges: The
project narrative mentions the Houser Way S bridge and the BNSF Bridge (west of I-
405 north and southbound lanes) in the project work area. Will one or both of these
bridges require modification or replacement to implement the I-405, Tukwila to
Renton Improvement Project? If this is the case, at what stage would this work
occur for these two bridges?
At this time, your project has been placed “on hold” pending receipt of the requested information.
Please contact me at (425) 430-7289 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Clark H. Close
Senior Planner
cc: Linda Cooley / Applicant