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HomeMy WebLinkAboutERC_Report_City_of_Renton_Surface_Water_Utility_System_PlanDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Project Location Map ERC Report_City of Renton Surface Water Utility System Plan ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT ERC Meeting Date: November 16, 2020 Project File Number: PR20-000002 Project Name: City of Renton Surface Water Utility System Plan Land Use File Number: LUA20-000230, ECF Project Manager: Angelea Weihs, Associate Planner Owner/Applicant: City of Renton; 1055 S Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057 Contact: Kristina Lowthian, City of Renton, 1055 S Grady Way, 5th Floor, Renton, WA 98057 Project Location: Citywide Project Summary: The City of Renton, Utility Systems Division, is requesting Environmental (SEPA) Review for the proposed adoption of an updated Surface Water Utility System Plan (Plan). The Plan is a comprehensive citywide surface water guiding document that examines the existing surface water management system, with primary focus on projects and programs that identify and minimize flooding, erosion, and water quality problems, as well as improve riparian habitat and meet regulatory requirements. Furthermore, the Plan is intended to guide programmatic and capital improvement needs for Renton’s Surface Water Utility for the next six years and for future years’ guidance. The Plan is applicable throughout the City of Renton’s city limits and is scheduled for adoption in 2020. Exist. Bldg. Area SF: N/A Proposed New Bldg. Area (footprint): Proposed New Bldg. Area (gross): N/A 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: 050BABE2-5D7F-4D9E-BBFF-58C5C0290D28 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development City of Renton Surface Water Utility System Plan Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee LUA20-000230, ECF Report of November 16, 2020 Page 2 of 3 ERC Report_City of Renton Surface Water Utility System Plan PART ONE: PROJECT DESCRIPTION / BACKGROUND No actions are being taken at this time. This is a non-project action. This Surface Water Utility System Plan represents the City of Renton’s (City’s) first comprehensive citywide surface water planning effort since the 1990s (Exhibit 3). In summary, the Plan examines the existing surface water management system, with primary focus on projects and programs that identify and minimize flooding, erosion, and water quality problems, as well as improve riparian habitat and meet regulatory requirements. Furthermore, the Plan is intended to guide programmatic and capital improvement needs for Renton’s Surface Water Utility (Utility) for the next six years and for future years’ guidance. This includes identifying and developing long-term solutions, prioritizing needs that reflect the community’s priorities, quantifying Operation and Maintenance (O&M) needs of the Utility and making sure that there is adequate funding to implement recommendations. Utility was created in 1987 as an entity within the Public Works Department, Utility Systems Division to maintain, manage, and implement the City’s Surface Water Management (SWM) Program. At that time, its main task was to focus on quantity-related flooding problems through the planning, design, maintenance, and construction of public drainage facilities; review and approval of the construction of private drainage facilities; and improving maintenance of existing facilities. The surface water program has evolved over the years. The desired outcome of Utility programs and services is to reduce flooding hazards and to help protect the environmental, recreational, and aesthetic uses of the City's streams, lakes, rivers, and wetlands, which contribute to the livability and appeal of the community. The mission of the Plan is to manage the quantity and quality of runoff in the City in order to reduce flood hazards, protect public safety, prevent property damage, and protect water quality, environmental resources, and habitat. The Plan identifies future challenges and includes a comprehensive list of capital projects proposed to reduce flooding and improve water quality and habitat within the six-year planning period. The plan includes a three-tiered priority system for project implementation (Priority 1, 2, and 3). Priority 1 projects include highest priority projects considering such things as public safety, flooding of arterials that potentially close emergency vehicle access, the number of buildings flooded, the extent of flooding and potential cost of flood damage, and the reoccurrence of flooding. Some examples of priority 1 projects include: Monroe Avenue NE and NE 2nd Street Infiltration System Improvements, Downtown Storm System Improvements, Madsen Creek Sedimentation Basin Cleaning, and Maplewood Creek Sediment Facility Maintenance. The City will plan to implement most of the Priority 1 projects within the 6-year Capital Improvement Program planning period, with some projects expected to extend beyond the 6-year planning period. 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 None DocuSign Envelope ID: 050BABE2-5D7F-4D9E-BBFF-58C5C0290D28 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development City of Renton Surface Water Utility System Plan Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee LUA20-000230, ECF Report of November 16, 2020 Page 3 of 3 ERC Report_City of Renton Surface Water Utility System Plan C. Exhibits Exhibit 1: Environmental Review Committee (ERC) Report Exhibit 2: Environmental Checklist Exhibit 3: City of Renton Surface Water Utility System Plan Exhibit 4: Advisory Notes D. Environmental Impacts The proposed Plan is a non-project action and there are no adverse environmental impacts that are anticipated to occur in conjunction with the non-project proposal. In addition, there are no significant adverse impacts identified in review of the Environmental Checklist (Exhibit 2). The capital projects identified in the Plan would be required to comply with any applicable land-use, development, environmental, and permit requirements at the time of application. 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. DocuSign Envelope ID: 050BABE2-5D7F-4D9E-BBFF-58C5C0290D28 CITY OF RENTON DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE EXHIBITS Project Name: City of Renton Surface Water Utility System Plan Land Use File Number: LUA20-000230, ECF Date of Meeting November 16, 2020 Staff Contact Angelea Weihs Associate Planner Project Contact/Applicant Kristina Lowthian City of Renton 1055 S Grady Way, 5th Floor, Renton, WA 98057 Project Location Citywide The following exhibits are included with the ERC Report: Exhibit 1: Environmental Review Committee (ERC) Report Exhibit 2: Environmental Checklist Exhibit 3: City of Renton Surface Water Utility System Plan Exhibit 4: Advisory Notes DocuSign Envelope ID: 050BABE2-5D7F-4D9E-BBFF-58C5C0290D28