HomeMy WebLinkAboutERC_DNS_Report_and_Notice_of_Determination_2020 Docket #15, Group A_200601DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT
ERC Meeting Date: June 1, 2020
Project File Number: PR20-000002
Project Name: Docket #15, Group A
Land Use File Number: LUA20-000110, ECF
Project Manager: Paul Hintz, Senior Planner
Owner: City of Renton
Applicant: Chip Vincent, City of Renton, 1055 S Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057
Contact: Paul Hintz, City of Renton, 425-430-7436
Project Location: All docket items are citywide
Project Summary:
The applicant is requesting Environmental (SEPA) Review to review for the
following non-project items:
1. Site Plan Review - Revises criteria used to distinguish a minor from a
major modification of an approved site plan, and considers
measurable aspects of a development other than scale or area (e.g.,
density, building materials, etc.).
2. Waived Fees – Reduces waiver of impact fees to no more than 80%,
establishes cap and subsequent reduced rate (100 and 5 of every 10
thereafter) on the number of eligible dwelling units, and establishes
other information by which City Council may decide to waive, partially
waive, or deny a request for waived fees.
3. Mixed-Income Housing in the CV Zone – Establishes a cap of income-
restricted dwelling units in one project or adjoining lots before
requiring market-rate dwelling units.
Exist. Bldg. Area SF: N/A Proposed New Bldg. Area (footprint):
Proposed New Bldg. Area (gross):
N/A
Site Area: N/A Total Building Area GSF: N/A
STAFF
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff Recommends that the Environmental Review Committee issue a
Determination of Non-Significance (DNS).
DocuSign Envelope ID: EE2B3DA7-22D7-4FC9-BE56-7BE1881A7604
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Environmental Review Committee Report
2019 DOCKET #15, GROUP A LUA20-000110, ECF
ERC Report RMC Title IV Docket 15A
PART ONE: PROJECT DESCRIPTION / BACKGROUND
1. Site Plan Review - Staff propose to amend the threshold criteria used to distinguish a minor Site Plan
modification from a major modification. Specifically, staff propose consideration of not only increases to the
scale or area of an approved Site Plan, but also decreases. In addition to increases or decreases of the scale
or area, staff propose considering other measurable elements of a development (e.g., building height,
density, commercial area, public or private open space, parking spaces, etc.), and substantial changes to
“key features” (a new term to be defined).
2. Waived Fees – Renton Municipal Code (RMC) allows the City to waive impact and permit fees for affordable
housing projects. State law caps the total amount of impact fees cities may waive at 80% of the assessed
amount. If a city elects to waive more than 80% the excess amount must be deposited into the applicable
impact fee accounts from public funds other than impact fee accounts, such as the general fund. Because
granting a full (100%) waiver for impact fees requires money from the general fund – which is supported by
taxes that pay for existing services and programs – to be withdrawn, staff is proposing to limit the amount
that may be waived to 80% of all applicable impact fees.
Additionally, municipalities have a responsibility to be financially solvent and the cost of absorbing fees for
large residential projects (deemed more than 100 units) can be substantial. Therefore, staff propose a cap of
100 eligible units before reducing eligible units to five of every ten units thereafter, and allowing the City
Council to consider the following in order to determine if a project should be approved, partially approved,
or denied:
the public benefit of the specific project;
the impacts of the project on public facilities and services; and
the consistency of the project with adopted City plans and policies relating to affordable
housing.
3. Mixed-Income Housing in the CV Zone – For more than a decade, the City of Renton has been coordinating
strategic and significant public and philanthropic investments in the Sunset Area, which is located in the
Renton Highlands. The goal of these investments is to improve the area’s livability and attract high-quality
private development by demonstrating a commitment to improving or creating amenities, services,
infrastructure, and a mix of affordable and market-rate housing for existing and future residents. New
sizeable residential projects, deemed more than 100 dwellings, have the potential to make contributions
that are more meaningful to this goal if they also embody the City’s strategy of providing mixed-income
housing.
Therefore, staff recommends amending RMC to require that any site or adjoining lots in the CV
zone be limited to:
100 dwelling units for rent/lease with income restrictions, provided that an additional 10 such units may be
created for every 20 market-rate dwelling units (i.e., if 20 market-rate units are created, 10 more income-
restricted units may be created); or
200 dwelling units for fee-simple dwelling units (for-sale housing) with income restrictions provided that an
additional 10 such units may be created for every 20 market-rate dwelling units.
Furthermore, staff recommends requiring the floor area, number of bedrooms and bathrooms of market-rate
units have no substantial difference as compared to the varying sizes and number of bedrooms and bathrooms
for income-restricted units.
DocuSign Envelope ID: EE2B3DA7-22D7-4FC9-BE56-7BE1881A7604
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Environmental Review Committee Report
2019 DOCKET #15, GROUP A LUA20-000110, ECF
ERC Report RMC Title IV Docket 15A
PART TWO: 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
B. Mitigation Measures
1. None
C. Exhibits
None
D. Environmental Impacts
1. There are no environmental impacts that are anticipated to occur in conjunction with the proposal.
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.
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SIGNATURES:
Martin Pastucha, Utility Systems Director
Public Works Administrator
Date Rick M. Marshall, Administrator
Renton Regional Fire Authority
Date
Kelly Beymer, Administrator
Community Services Department
Date C.E. Vincent, Administrator Date
Department Of Community & Economic Development
Interim Chair
ENVIRONMENTAL (SEPA) DETERMINATION OF
NON-SIGNIFICANCE (DNS)
PROJECT NUMBER: PR20-000002/LUA20-000110, ECF
APPLICANT: Chip Vincent, City of Renton, 1055 S Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057
PROJECT NAME: 2020 Docket #15, Group A
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: 2020 Docket #15, Group A items:
#D-169: Site Plan Review – Revises criteria used to distinguish a minor from a major modification of an
approved site plan, and considers measurable aspects of a development other than scale or area (e.g., density,
building materials, etc.).
#D-173: Waived Fees – Reduces amount eligible to be waived to 80%, and after 100 units a reduced rate of
five of every ten affordable units may have fees waived.
#D-174: Mixed-Income Housing in the CV Zone – Requires market-rate dwelling units be incorporated into
affordable housing developments that surpass 100 units, at a rate of twenty market -rate units for every ten
affordable (income-restricted) units.
PROJECT LOCATION: City-Wide
LEAD AGENCY: City of Renton
Environmental Review Committee
Department of Community & Economic Development
The City of Renton Environmental Review Committee has determined that it does not have a probable
significant adverse impact on the environment. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required
under RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c). This Determination of Non-Significance is issued under WAC 197-11-340. Per
WAC197-11-340(2)(c) any person, affected tribe, or agency may submit comments to the City within
fourteen days of the date of issuance of the DNS. Per WAC197 -11-340(2)(a) an agency shall not act upon a
proposal for fourteen days after the date of issuance of a DNS. There is no agency appeal.
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Planning Division
1055 South Grady Way, 6th Floor | Renton, WA 98057 | 425-430-7200, ext. 2
www.rentonwa.gov
OF ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
ISSUANCE OF A DETERMINATION OF NON-SIGNIFICANCE (DNS)
POSTED TO NOTIFY INTERESTED PERSONS OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
DNS: THE CITY OF RENTON ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE (ERC) HAS DETERMINED THAT THE
PROPOSED ACTION DOES NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
DATE OF NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
DETERMINATION:
June 1, 2020
PROJECT NAME/NUMBER: PR20-000002 2020 Docket #15, Group A /
LUA20-000110, ECF
PROJECT LOCATION: City-Wide
APPLICANT/PROJECT CONTACT
PERSON:
Chip Vincent, City of Renton/1055 S Grady Way, Renton, WA
98057/cvincent@rentonwa.gov
LOCATION WHERE APPLICATION MAY
BE REVIEWED:
Applicant documents are available online through the City of Renton
Document Center website. See also https://bit.ly/3dFFMpm
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: 2020 Docket #15, Group A items:
#D-169: Site Plan Review – Revises criteria used to distinguish a minor from a major modification of an
approved site plan, and considers measurable aspects of a development other than scale or area (e.g.,
density, building materials, etc.).
#D-173: Waived Fees – Reduces amount eligible to be waived to 80%, and after 100 units a reduced rate of
five of every ten affordable units may have fees waived.
#D-174: Mixed-Income Housing in the CV Zone – Requires market-rate dwelling units be incorporated into
affordable housing developments that surpass 100 units, at a rate of twenty market-rate units for every ten
affordable (income-restricted) units.
Per WAC197-11-340(2)(c) any person, affected tribe, or agency may submit comments to the City within
fourteen days of the date of issuance of the DNS.
Per WAC197-11-340(2)(a) an agency shall not act upon a proposal for fourteen days after the date of
issuance of a DNS. There is no agency appeal.
CONTACT PERSON: Paul Hintz, Senior Planner; Tel: (425) 430-7436; Email: phintz@rentonwa.gov
NOTICE