HomeMy WebLinkAboutExh.27_Critical_Areas_Assessment.pdfSoundview Consultants LLC February 20, 2018
1298.0008 Renton Highlands – Critical Areas Assessment Page 1
2907 Harborview Drive, Suite D
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Technical Memorandum
To: Corey Watson, Quadrant Homes File Number: 1298.0008
From: Jon Pickett, Soundview Consultants LLC Date: February 20, 2018
Re: Critical Areas Assessment; Renton Highlands – Northeast Sunset Blvd and
Northeast 12th Street, Renton, Washington
Dear Mr. Watson,
Soundview Consultants LLC (SVC) conducted a critical areas assessment of an 11.07-acre property
located near the intersection of Northeast Sunset Boulevard and Northeast 12th Street (King County
Tax Parcel Numbers 7227801205, 7227801206, 7227801235, 7227801405, and 7227801406, and
7227801785) in the City of Renton, Washington. The subject property is situated in the Northwest
¼ of Section 9, Township 23 North, Range 5 East, W.M. SVC investigated the site to evaluate if any
potentially-regulated aquatic features or fish and wildlife habitat are located on or near the subject
property for proposed redevelopment of the site. This Technical Memorandum has been prepared
to document the results of this assessment.
Figure 1. Subject Property Location.
Subject Property
Location
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Background Data
Prior to the site investigation, SVC conducted background research using King County Geographic
Information System (GIS) data, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Priority
Habitat and Species (PHS) database, WDFW SalmonScape mapping tool, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) National Wetland Inventory (NWI), Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) Soil Survey map, and Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stream typing
map. All determinations were made using observable vegetation, hydrology, and soils in conjunction
with data from the U.S. Geographic Survey (USGS) topographic maps, NRCS, USFWS, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) precipitation data, and various orthophotographic
resources. Background maps are provided in Attachment A.
The King County topographic map shows that the subject property gently slopes down from northeast
to the southwest. The NRCS Soil Survey map (Attachment A2) identifies three hydric soil series in
the offsite project area: Arents, Alderwood material, 6 to 15 percent slopes (AmC), Ragnar-Indianola
association, sloping (RdC), and Urban land (Ur). The USFWS NWI map (Attachment A3), City of
Renton wetland map (Attachment A4), City of Renton streams map (Attachment A5), DNR stream
typing map (Attachment A6), WDFW Salmonscape map (Attachment A7), and WDFW PHS map
(Attachment A8) do not identify any potential critical areas on or near the subject property.
Methods
A formal site investigation was performed by SVC in the Fall of 2017. This investigation consisted of
a walk-through survey of the subject property and any accessible areas within 300 feet of the subject
property for potentially-regulated wetlands, waterbodies and fish and wildlife habitat per Renton
Municipal Code (RMC) 4-3-050.
Wetlands, streams, and select fish and wildlife habitats and species are regulated as critical areas under
RMC 4-3-050 and subject to restricted uses/activities under the same title. Wetland presence/absence
was determined in accordance with RMC 4-3-050G.9 and as outlined in the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) Wetlands Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory, 1987), as modified
according to the guidelines established in the Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland
Delineation Manual: Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Region, Version 2.0 (USACE, 2010).
The fish and wildlife habitat assessment was conducted during the same site visit by a qualified fish
and wildlife biologist. The experienced biologist made visual observations using stationary and walking
survey methods for both aquatic and upland habitats noting any special habitat features or signs of
fish and wildlife activity.
Results
The subject property is a fully developed property consisting entirely of paved surfaces, commercial
buildings and associated infrastructure and landscaping. Onsite vegetation consists of sparse planted
ornamental and native trees and shrubs in landscaping strips and contained in planters and maintained
lawn area. Two artificial rain gardens were observed approximately 80 to 120 feet southwest of the
subject property across Northeast 10th Street, which appear to be constructed as part of the City of
Renton’s Sunset Neighborhood park development (City of Renton et al, 2014). Google Earth aerial
imagery indicates that these rain gardens were constructed following demolition of residential homes
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between 2014 and 2015. Surrounding land use consist of single and multifamily-residential
development and mix commercial development. No potentially-regulated wetlands or fish and wildlife
habitat was observed on the subject property.
Regulatory Considerations
The offsite rain gardens are exempt from regulatory consideration per RMC 4-3-50.B.1:
f. Wetlands created or restored as a part of a mitigation project are regulated wetlands. Regulated wetlands do not include
those artificial wetlands intentionally created from non-wetland sites, including, but not limited to, irrigation and drainage
ditches, grass-lined swales, canals, detention facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, farm ponds, and landscape
amenities, or those wetlands created after July 1, 1990, that were unintentionally created as a result of the construction
of a road, street, or highway.
The offsite rain gardens were likely constructed as stormwater facilities between 2014 and 2015 as part
of the City of Renton’s Sunset Neighborhood park development (City of Renton et al, 2014) and are
not regulated features.
Conclusions
The site investigation did not identify any critical areas on or within 300 feet of the subject property,
and therefore, redevelopment at the subject property should not impact wetlands, waterbodies or fish
and wildlife habitat.
If you have any further questions, please contact me at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
____________________________ February 20, 2018
Jon Pickett Date
Senior Environmental Planner
Soundview Consultants LLC
2907 Harborview Drive, Suite D
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
(253) 514-8952 Office
(253) 514-8954 Fax
Jon@soundviewconsultants.com
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References
Brinson, M. M. 1993. A hydrogeomorphic classification for wetlands, Technical Report WRP-DE-4, U.S.
Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS.
Cooke, S.S. 1997. Wetland Plants of Western Washington. Seattle Audubon Society. Seattle, Washington.
City of Renton, HBB Landscape Architecture, and CH2MHill. 2014. “Sunset Neighborhood Park
Final Master Plan.” November 3, 2014.
Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater
Habitats of the United States. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Washington D.C.
Environmental Laboratory. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. Technical Report Y-
87-1, US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Hruby, T. 2014. Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington: 2014 Update.
Washington State Department of Ecology Publication # 14-06-029.
Lichvar, R.W., D.L. Banks, W.N. Kirchner, and N.C. Melvin. 2016. The National Wetland Plant List:
2016 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2016-30: 1-17. Published 28 April 2016. ISSN 2153 733X.
Munsell Color. 2000. Munsell Soil Color Charts. New Windsor, New York.
Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2001. Hydric Soils List: King County, Washington. U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Washington D.C.
Renton Municipal Code. 2017. 4-3-050 Critical Areas Regulations. December 11, 2017.
Snyder, D.E., Gale, P.S., Pringle, R.F. 1973. Soil Survey of King County Area, Washington. United States
Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service in cooperation with Washington State
Department of Natural Resources, and Washington State University, Agriculture Research Center.
Washington, D.C.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 2010. Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation
Manual: Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Region (Version 2.0), ed. J. S. Wakeley, R. W. Lichvar,
and C. V. Noble. ERDC/EL TR-10-13. Vicksburg, MS: U.S. Army Engineer Research and
Development Center.
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2017. Field
Indictors of Hydric Soils in the United States, Version 8.1. L.M. Vasialas, G.W. Hurt, and C.V. Noble (eds.).
USDA, NRCS, in cooperation with the National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils.
Soundview Consultants LLC February 20, 2018
1298.0008 Renton Highlands – Critical Areas Assessment
Attachment A – Background Information
This attachment includes a USGS Topographic Map (A1), NRCS Soil Survey Map (A2), USFWS NWI
Map (A3), City of Renton Wetlands Map (A4), City of Renton Streams Map (A5), DNR Stream Typing
Map (A6), WDFW SalmonScape Map (A7), and WDFW PHS Map (A8).
Soundview Consultants LLC February 20, 2018
1298.0008 Renton Highlands – Critical Areas Assessment
Attachment A1 – King County Topographic Map
Subject Property
Location
Soundview Consultants LLC February 20, 2018
1298.0008 Renton Highlands – Critical Areas Assessment
Attachment A2 – NRCS Soil Survey Map
Subject Property
Location
Soundview Consultants LLC February 20, 2018
1298.0008 Renton Highlands – Critical Areas Assessment
Attachment A3 – USFWS NWI Map
Subject Property
Location
Soundview Consultants LLC February 20, 2018
1298.0008 Renton Highlands – Critical Areas Assessment
Attachment A4 – City of Renton Wetlands Map
Subject Property
Location
Soundview Consultants LLC February 20, 2018
1298.0008 Renton Highlands – Critical Areas Assessment
Attachment A5 – City of Renton Streams Map
Subject Property
Location
Soundview Consultants LLC February 20, 2018
1298.0008 Renton Highlands – Critical Areas Assessment
Attachment A6 – DNR Stream Typing Map
Subject Property
Location
Soundview Consultants LLC February 20, 2018
1298.0008 Renton Highlands – Critical Areas Assessment
Attachment A7 – WDFW SalmonScape Map
Subject Property
Location
Soundview Consultants LLC February 20, 2018
1298.0008 Renton Highlands – Critical Areas Assessment
Attachment A8 – WDFW PHS Map
Subject Property
Location
Soundview Consultants LLC February 20, 2018
1298.0008 Renton Highlands – Critical Areas Assessment
Attachment B – Site Photographs
Onsite street trees Onsite landscaping