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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC_Public_Comment_1_Donnelly_180731.pdf10415—147thAvenueSERenton,WA98059July26,2018CTYOFRENTCINMs.AngieMathiasRECEVEDLongRanoePlanmnaManaoerPlanningDivision2018CityofRentonEVELOMNT1055S.GradyWaySERVCE6Renton,WA98059Re:WolfWoodsZoningDearMs.Mathias:Iwouldliketocommentonthecity’sproposedDNSfortheabovereferencedpropertytobeannexedintoRenton.Ifyoumustzonethisproperty—prezonedin1997,thenIwouldprezoneittoR—1.InSeptember2017,Itestifiedatthe10%hearingfortheproposedannexation.Ishowed—andleftacopyoftheenclosedpicturestakenonourpropertyfromtheLuckAnnexationbyRentonin1990—1997.Thecityseemstowanttoignorethesepictures.ThisiswhatapersonfromDNRsaid:itsoundsasifyouhaveanerosionissueandnotalandslideissue.Thedifferencebeingthaterosionismovementoftheupperlayerofsoils(typicallyafewinches),inyourcase,bywater.Erosionisanissueforsiteproductivityandforthosereceivingthesedimentdownstream;however,isnotaprocesswedealwithattheLandslideHazardsProgram.Youhavetakenthecorrectapproachbyaddressingtheissuewithyourlocalmunicipalitybecausetheyhavetheauthoritytodealwiththeerosionissues.Letter in reference to LUA18-000493,Wolf Woods Annexation Pre-zoning InsteadofnosignificantenvironmentalimpactshappeningtoGreenesStreamandourproperty—tothenorthandeastoftheproposedannexationarea,ifthecityallowsclearcuttingtooccuronthisproperty,thesametypeofdamagewillbeseenonourpropertyandMayCreek..Also,MayorLawsentalettertoDNRabouttheproposedclearcuttingofDeLeoWallareaonCougarMountain—attached.Hewroteofthecity’sconcernaboutdamagedonetoendangeredspeciesinMayCreek.GrreenesStreamalsoflowsintoMayCreek.Sowhydoesn’tRentoncareaboutwhathappenstoGreenesStream?Intheearly2000,atahearingbeforetheKingCountyStanTtus,KBSacknowledgedthata“Chinookreddwaslocated“9?”rivermilesdownstreamfromwhereGreenesStreamentersMayCreek.IalsohavealetterfromtheDOEAtt.GeneralwhosaidthatifRentonrequiresmitigationanddoesn’tupholdit,thatwemighthavealegalcaseagainstRentonandthedeveloper.Chinooksalmonareontheendangeredspecieslist.Inaddition,IhaveseenRentonofficialsallowdetentionpondstobreakandsendyellowwaterdowntoMayCreekinAugust2004,whitewateronThanksgiving2004andDecember2004,whereDOEwascalledouttoprotectMayCreek,thefishinthecreekandLakeWashington.IalsosawdamagebeingdonetoHoneyCreekfromthePiper’sBluffdevelopment—wheremoreyellowwaterwentintoHoneyCreekandawetland.MyconcernisthatiftheWolfsareallowedtoclearcutthepropertywithoutadetentionvaultorpondinplacebeforefinalgradingisallowed,thewater/dirt/crudwillgotomypropertyanddowntoMayCreek.HowcanyousaythatyellowwaterinGreenesStreamisnotanenvironmentalproblem?IhopethatthecityofRentonwillthinktwiceaboutthedesignationofDNS.PaulTanakawroteusadetailedletter.In1995andsaid:“Whetheranactivityisperformedunderanapprovedpermit orexemptedfrompermitrequirements,anupstreampropertyownerdoesnothavetherighttoadverselyimpactadownstreampropertyowner”.In1990-97basedonthepicturesIhave,we’—alongwithMayCreekhadsomedamagedonefromtheWindstonepropertythatRentonofficials—refusedtostopormitigate..WedonotwantanymorelakesinoursideyardbecauseofRenton’slackofconcernforGreenesStream,ourpropertyandMayCreek—byannexingWolf’sWoods.IlookedupWASEPArulesonlineandRentonhastofollowcertainrules—includinglookingatalldocuments.Ifoundthisparagraphonline..TheSTATEENVIRONMENTALPOLICYACT(SEPA)providesamediumforcitizensofthestatetoprotecttheirenvironment.Thelaw(Chapter43.2ICRCW)requiresstateandlocalgovernmentswithinthestateto:TheSTATEENVIRONMENTALPOLICYACT(SEPA)providesamediumforcitizensofthestatetoprotecttheirenvironment.Thelaw(Chapter43.21CRCW)requiresstateandlocalgovernmentswithinthestateto:•UTILIZEasystematic,interdisciplinaryapproachwhichwillinsuretheTheSTATEENVIRONMENTALPOLICYACT(SEPA)providesamediumforcitizensofthestatetoprotecttheirenvironment.Thelaw(Chapter43.2ICRCW)requiresstateandlocalgovernmentswithinthestateto:•“UTILIZEasystematic,interdisciplinaryapproachwhichwillinsuretheintegrateduseofthenaturalandsocialsciencesandtheenvironmentaldesignartsinplanningandindecisionmakingwhichmayhaveanimpactonman’senvironment;”and •ENSURE.environmentalamenitiesandvalueswillbegivenappropriateconsiderationindecisionmakingalongwitheconomicandtechnicalconsiderations...”•PROVIDEaforumforthepublicandothergovernmentagenciestocommentontheproposalsothatchangesmaybemadeduringtheplanningphasebeforeconstructionbegins,toreduceimpacts.Whensignificantimpactshavebeenidentifiedafullreviewofallaffectedelementsofourenvironmentmustbecompleted.ThisiscalledanEnvironmentalImpactStatement.IlookforwardtoseeingtheentireSEPAchecklistregardingtheERCreviewreleasesoftheprezoneoftheWolfWoods.Thankyou.Sincerely,aClaudiaDonnellyEnclosurescc:BRB 0 -4i :7 - 7__) - -—.3 -I - j r\.-::— I 0-—0zI z—C-oCE,c)2—C(4 .300 zLfc. c)C 3-00‘3-—0’—3-’3___-DD00 3pj‘.—. I‘3zc:N.c.-c—0-o (fCC0 204-0a KINGCOUNTYWATERANDLANDRESOURCESDIVISIONDRAINAGEINVESTIGATIONREPORTINVESTIGATIONREQUESTFLOODINGRRECEIVEDBY:BSIwkpDate:01105109OK’dby:FileNo20090008NAME:CLAUDIADONNELLYPHONE:Other:Address:10415147tmAVESECityRENTONStateZip98059AccessPermissionGrantedCallFirst(WouldLikeToBeCalledand/orPresent)REMARKS:Aportionofthedonnellypropertyfloodsduriñglàrgerainevents.Platname:COUOMGLENLotNo:2BlockNo:Otheragenciesinvolved:NofieldinvestigationrequitedY4SES3123R5Parcel#1776400020Krotl:800ETBros:626J5-J6MD134BasinMAYCouncilDist9Charge#:Citizennotifiedon______________Qphone[JletterLiinpersonLiemail-,.s4JLCY(f?7itc-’37‘rw•c-t-OT1Jf4NCYiSCtcrLY-t4rfrjr4-OtiJ4a&TJdIFT#F/‘47(5,fj2Turnedto:__________on_____________by—Leadagencyhasbeennotified:_________________Problemhasbeencorrected.Noproblemhasbeenidentified.Privateproblem-NDAPwillnotconsiderbecause:UWateroriginatesonsiteand/oronneighboringparcel.ULocationisoutsideWLRDServiceArea.UOther(Specify):_____-i2t2-kc.OR:Nofurtheractionrecommendedbecause:Priorinvestigation-addressesproblem:SEEFILE# DenisLawMayorApril27,201$StateDepartmentofNaturalResourcesForestPractices1111WashingtonStreetSEOlympia,WA98501-7010RE:CityofRentonCommentsRegardingForestPracticesApplication/Notification#2420111DearSirorMadam:TheCityofRentonisherebysubmittingcommentsonForestPracticesApplicationlNotification#2420111madebyDalpayPropertiesLLCanddatedApril20,201$.Theapplicationistoharvest28acresoftimberontwoadjacentparcelsonCougarMountain,onelocatedintheCityofNewcastle,andonelocatedinunincorporatedKingCounty.TheCityofRenton’sboundaryabutsthewestendoftheKingCountyparcel.Stream‘A,’aType‘F’fishbearingstream,flowsthroughtheNewcastleparcelandemptiesintoMayCreek,aShorelineoftheStatethatsupportsthefollowingspeciesofsalmonids:Chinook,Sockeye,Coho,Steelhead,CutthroattroutandKokanee(confirmedwithinthelasttwoyearsimmediatelyupstreamofthe1-405MayCreekBridge).MayCreekflowswestthroughRentonandemptiesintoLakeWashington.TheCityofRentonisveryconcernedaboutdeleteriousimpactsthisproposalcouldhaveonthedownstreamenvironmentandthefragileMayCreekBasin.Specificallyweareconcernedaboutimpactsonsteep,unstableslopes,thepotentialforsilt-bearingrunofftoenterStream‘A’andthenMayCreekleadingtotakesofthesalmonidsthatlivethere,thelossof0.7acresofforestedwetlandthatwouldbefilledtocreatetheaccessroad,theinstallationofaculvertinStream‘A’thatcouldintroduceafishpassagebarrierandotherassociatedimpacts.Theseimpactsarebarelyrecognizedintheapplication,andthereisnoevaluationormitigationoffered.Theseconcernsareaddressedmorespecificallyasfollows.RentonurgesthattheDNRdisapprovetheapplicationbecause,amongotherreasons,theintendedtimberharvestismisclassifiedasaClassIllforestpractices.Ataminimum,thisapplication,whichwassubmittedasaClassIllforestpractices,shouldbereclassifiedtoaClasstV-specialandsubjectedtoSEPAreview,andshouldbereviewedbytheDepartmentofFishandWildlifeasahydraulicprojectinvolvingTypeFwaters.RentonCityHall,7thFloor1055SouthGradyWay,Renton,WA98057.rentonwa.gov StateDepartmentofNaturalResourcesForestPracticesPage2of4Apr2?,2018DisturbanceofSteep,UnstableSlopesandLandforms1.ForestPracticesApplication2420111isself-contradictoryaboutsteep,unstableslopes.Whileitstatesthattherewillbeground-basedequipmentplacedonslopesgreaterthan40%andtheFPAindicatesthatunstableslopesorlandlormsconsistentwithWAC222-16-050fd)fi)maybepresentwithintheharvestarea,question11statestherearenopotentiallyunstableslopesintheareaoftheforestpracticesactivity.2.Thesteepestslopeintheharvestareaisstatedtobe65%inquestion21.3.WAC222-16-050,Classesofforestpractices,statesinProvision(1)thataClassIV-specialclassificationshouldbeusedandSEPAreviewappliedifthefollowingprovisionsapply.Provision(1)(d)ti)(A)statesthatpotentiallyunstableslopesareoneofthefollowing;innergorges.TheEnlargedForestPracticesActivityMapforthisapplicationshowsthatStream‘A’(TypeFwater)passesthroughan‘innergorge’wherea210-footlengthofthestreamisproposedtobeconfinedina24-inchby30-inchculvert.ProvisionfE)statesanyareascontainingfeaturesindicatingthepresenceofpotentialslopeinstabilitywhichcumulativelyindicatethepresenceofunstableslopesmakestheprojecteligibleforSEPAreview.4.WAC222-10-030statesthatSEPApoliciesforpotentiallyunstableslopesshouldbeappliediftheproposal“woulddeliversedimentordebristoapublicresource.”Silt-ladenrunofffromthisprojectwoulddeliversedimenttosalmon-bearingMayCreek,whichreceivestheflowofStream‘A’.Italsorequiresadditionalinformation,providedbyaqualifiedexpert,describingthepotentiallyunstablelandforms,thelikelihoodthattheprojectwoulddeliversedimentordebristoapublicresourceandanypossiblemitigationfortheidentifiedhazardsandrisks.Theapplicationappearstolackthisrequiredadditionalinformation.5.Bythesecriteria,thisapplicationshouldbedisapprovedasaClassIllforestpractices,reclassifiedasaClasslV-specialforestpractices,SEPAshouldbeappliedandtherequiredadditionalinformationshouldbesubmittedbytheapplicant.6.Sincethereappearstobenoanalysisbyaqualifiedexpert,theapplicationisincomplete.1055SouthGradyWay,Renton,WA98057rentonwa.gov StateDepartmentofNaturalResourcesForestPracticesPage3of4April27,2O1ImpactonSpecialThreatenedandEndangeredSpecies1.WAC222-10-040ClasstV-SpecialthreatenedandendangeredspeciesSEPApoliciesestablishesthatduetopotentialimpactsofsediment-ladenrunofffromthisprojectintodownstreariiMayCreekthatservesasthehomeofsalmonidsincludingthreatenedspecies,thatinadditiontoSEPApolities,thedepartmentshallconsultwiththedepartmentoffishandwildlifeandotheragencieswithexpertise,affectedlandowners,affectedIndiantribesandotherswithexpertisewhenevaluatingtheimpactsofforestpractices.2.WAC222-20-017,Applicationsthatincludeforestpracticeshydraulicprojects,Provision(4)requiresconcurrencereviewforculvertinstallationatorbelowthebankfullwidthinTypeFwaters.Thisproposalincludestheinstallationofa210footlongculvertforStream‘A,’whichisaTypeFwater.ThisrequireshydraulicprojectreviewbytheDepartmentofFishandWildlife.Provision(5)statesthatanapplicationwillbedisapprovedifthedepartmentdetermines,afterconsultationwiththeDepartmentofFishandWildlife,thataforestpracticeashydraulicprojectintheapplicationwillresultindirectorindirectharmtofishlife,unlessadequatemitigationcanbeassuredbyconditioningtheapplicationfortheproject.ApplicationIncompleteandContradictory1.TheEPAismisclassifiedasaClassIllforestpracticesbecausethereisnoapplicableapprovedwatershedanalysis.Reference:WAC222-16-OSOfl)(d)(ii)fA).2.Item20intheapplicationindicatesthat0.7acresofforestedwetlandswillbeharvestedfortheroad,andtheEnlargedForestPracticesActivityMapshowsthattheaccessroadwiltbebuiltthroughthewetlands.Thisisinexcessof0.5acresofwetlandareabeingfilledordrained,Accordingly,theFPAcannotbeapprovedasaClassIllforestpractices.Reference:WAC222-16-050f1)fh).3.Theapplicationlacksinformation,providedbyaqualifiedexpert,describingthepotentiallyunstablelandforms,thelikelihoodthattheprojectwoulddeliversedimentordebristoapublicresource,andanypossiblemitigationfortheidentifiedhazardsandrisks.4.Question14a.ontheapplicationstatesthattheproposalwillnotinstallaculvertatorbelowthehankfullwidthofTypeFwatersthatexceeds5%gradient.Italsostatesinitem31thatthe24-inchby30-inchculvertinstallationisproposedforaroadcrossingacrossStream‘B,’whichisanon-typedwaterfeature.However,theEnlargedForestPracticesActivityMapclearlyshowsthatitisStream‘A’thatwillbeplacedintheculvert.Stream‘A’isaTypeFwaterbearingfish,andtheculvertmaypresentafishpassagebarrier.1055SouthGradyWay,Renton,WA98057.rentonwa.gov Weconcludethatthisapplicationpresentsatimberharvestingproposalthatcouldposesignificantadverseenvironmentalimpactsonsteep,unstableslopes,potentiallycausesilt-ladenrunofftoenterStream‘A’andthenMayCreekwhichprovideshabitatforthreatenedsalmonids,bringabouttheunmitigatedfillingof0.7acresofforestedwetlands,andincludesinstallationofa210-footculverttocarryaTypeFstream,whichcouldpresentabarriertofishpassage.Theapplicationisself-contradictory,incompleteandindicatesthattheintendedtimberharvesthasbeenmisclassifiedasaClassIllforestpractices.Weurgethatitbedisapprovedforthesereasons,butifitistobeconsidered,itshouldbereclassifiedasaclasslV-specialapplication,andsubjectedtoSEPAandhydraulicprojectreviewbytheDepartmentofFishandWildlife,aswellasreviewbyotheragencieswithexpertiseaffectedlandowners,affectedIndiantribesandotherswithexpertisewhenevaluatingtheimpactsofforestpractices(WAC222-10-040).Inaddition,theapplicantshouldberequiredtosubmitthemissingstudiesanddocumentation,andrevisetheapplicationtoremovethecontradictionsandimproveitsaccuracy.Sincerely,cc:MembersoftheRentonCityCouncilBobHarrison,ChefAdministrativeOfficerGreggZimmerman,PublicWorksAdministratorKellyBeymer,CommunityServicesAdministratorChipVincent,CommunityandEconomicDevelopmentAdministratorShaneMoioney,CityAttorneyPreetShridhar,DeputyPublicAffairsAdministratorLeslieBetlach,ParksPlanning/NaturalResourcesDirectorLysHarnsby,UtilitySystemsDirectorJenniferHenning,PlanningDirectorLsiClark,SeniorAssistantCityAttorneyjasonSeth,CWClerkpriIAlexander,ExecutiveSecretaryJul:aMedzegian,CouncilLiaisonStateDepartmentofNaturalResourcesrorestPracticesPag€’4of4Aprl27,2018Thankyouforyourconsideration.DenisLawMayor1055SouthGradyWay,Renton,WA98057rentonwa.gov BobFergusonATTORNEYGENERALOFWASHINGTONEcologyDivisionP0Box40117•OlympiaWA98504-0117•(360)586-6770May3,2017ClaudiaDonnellyResponseviaemail:thedonnellys@oo.netRE:YourCorrespondencetotheAttorneyGeneral’sOfficedatedApril242017DearMs.Donnelly:Iaminreceiptofyourcorrespondencereferencedabove.Inyourcorrespondence,youaskwhetheraSEPAdocumentissuedbyalocalgovernmentisalegaldocumentandwhathappensifthelocalgovernmentdoesnotenforceit.Ihavebeenaskedtorespond.Ingeneral,SEPAdocumentssuchasanEnvironmentalImpactStatement(EIS)orMitigatedDeterminationofNon-Significance(MDNS)arenotdirectlyenforceable.Rather,theyprovideinformationtodecisionmakers.Theirpurposeistoidentifytheenvironmentalimpactsofaproposalandpotentialmitigationmeasuresthatmayreducethoseimpacts.Tobelegallyenforceable,mitigationmeasuresidentifiedinanElSorMDN$mustbeincorporatedintoapermitissuedtotheprojectproponent.Typically,mitigationmeasuresareincorporatedintoaland-usepermitsuchasashorelinesubstantialdevelopmentpermitorcriticalareaspermit.Ifadeveloperfailstoabidebytheconditionsofanapplicablepermit,thelocalgovernmentmaychoosetotakeenforcementaction.Suchenforcementactionmayincludeaceaseanddesistorder,penalty,orstopworkorder.Localgovernmentshavewidediscretiontodecidewhethertotakeenforcementactionandtodeterminethetypeofenforcement.Insteadofformalenforcement,localgovernmentsmaychoosetoworkwiththedevelopertotrytoobtainvoluntaryresolutionoftheviolation.liiyourcorrespondence,youallegethattheCityofRentonhasinthepastfailedtoenforcerequiredmitigationconditions.ifthatisthecase,youmaywishtoconsultan.attorneytoadvise ATTORNEYGENERALOFWASHINGTONClaudiaDonnellyMay3,2017Page2youofyourlegaloptions.Pleasebeadvisedthatthefunctionofourofficeistorepresentstateagenciesratherthanprivatepersons,andassuch,Icannotgiveyoulegaladvice.Ihopethisinformationisusefultoyou.Ifyouhaveadditionalquestions,pleasedonothesitatetocontactus.Sincerely,cTFIOMASJ.YOUNGSeniorCounselTJY:CAC