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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDOE5_PN_Project Narrative_Verizon SEA Classics Revision_200924_v1 Verizon Site ID: SEA Classics Written Narrative Page 1 of 8 Narrative for Proposed Communication Site Verizon Site ID: SEA Classics Submitted to City of Renton I. General Information Applicant: Verizon Wireless 3245 158TH Ave SE Bellevue, WA 98008 Representative: Actualize, LLC Brent Sutten #538 3020 Issaquah Pine Lake Rd. Sammamish, WA 98075 Project Information: Property Owner: Ramac Inc. Site Address: 2003 Maple Valley Hwy., Renton, WA 98055 Parcel: 1723059103 Site Area: 166.25 sq. ft. (new lease area) Land Use District: COR Existing Use: Office Building Original Project Approval: LUA17-000869 II. Project Overview Actualize LLC is pleased to submit this Substantial Shoreline Development Permit, along with a minor revision to the ACUP and SEPA permits reference above for a new wireless facility on behalf Verizon Wireless (“Verizon”) and the property owner (stated above). This proposal includes the modification of the original permit application to include a small fenced equipment compound adjacent to the existing building, designed to match the aesthetic of the existing building. The modification was required after extensive investigation found that placing the equipment inside the building, as originally planned, would not be structurally feasible. As such, pursuant to Renton Municipal Code (“RMC”) Section 4-3-090 E (11) and as supported in the following narrative, Verizon respectfully requests that The City of Renton approve this application for a Substantial Shoreline Development Permit and approve a subsequent minor modification the ACUP and SEPA approval listed above for this project. The proposed site is designed to improve the voice and data capacity for Verizon’s customers in the City of Renton. This installation is necessary to address the growing demand of wireless service being driven by residential areas. The increase in wireless data consumption and streaming activities necessitates enhanced coverage and capacity in the area. The proposed installation best achieves the balance of increased service and capability while maintaining the current aesthetics of the surrounding area to a very high degree. Verizon Site ID: SEA Classics Written Narrative Page 2 of 8 III. Demonstration of Compliance with the City of Renton Code RMC 4-3-090 SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM REGULATIONS (Provisions 1-10 Intentionally omitted) 11. Utilities: a. Criteria for All Utilities: i. Local utility services needed to serve water-dependent and other permitted uses in the shoreline are subject to standards for ecological protection and visual compatibility. Response: This project will comply with the standards for ecological protection and visual compatibility as demonstrated in this narrative. ii. Major utility systems shall be located outside of shoreline jurisdiction, to the extent feasible, except for elements that are water-dependent and crossings of water bodies and other elements of shorelands by linear facilities. Response: The proposed facility cannot feasibly be located outside of the shoreline area. Along this stretch of Maple Valley Highway, all parcels are within the shoreline area or are in residential areas, which do not allow telecommunications facility development. As shown and supported in the originally approved ACUP application, this location best serves the coverage goals of this site and fills the gap in service for this area. Therefore, locating this project outside of the shoreline area is not practicable, given the coverage requirements and surrounding site conditions. iii. New public or private utilities shall be located inland from the land/water interface, preferably out of shoreline jurisdiction, unless: (a) Perpendicular water crossings are unavoidable; or (b) Utilities are necessary for authorized shoreline uses consistent with the Shoreline Master Program. Response: The proposed facility cannot feasibly be located outside of the shoreline area. However, the facility will be located as far as possible from the land/water interface and will provide necessary cellular communication service to authorized uses of the shoreline area, including E-911 service. iv. Linear facilities consisting of pipelines, cables and other facilities on land running roughly parallel to the shoreline shall be located as far from the water’s edge as feasible and preferably outside of shoreline jurisdiction. Verizon Site ID: SEA Classics Written Narrative Page 3 of 8 Response: All cables and conduits associated with this project will be located as far from the water’s edge as practicably feasible. v. Linear facilities consisting of pipelines, sewers, cables and other facilities on aquatic lands running roughly parallel to the shoreline that may require periodic maintenance that would disrupt shoreline ecological functions shall be discouraged except where no other feasible alternative exists. When permitted, provisions shall assure that the facilities do not result in a net loss of shoreline ecological functions or significant impacts to other shoreline resources and values. Response: All cables and conduits associated with this project will be located as far from the water’s edge as practicably feasible. Per the attached biological report, the proposed facility will not cause any significant impacts to the shoreline area or loss of shoreline ecological function. vi. Utilities shall be located in existing rights-of-way and corridors, whenever reasonably feasible. Response: Utilities required for site functionality will have to cross private property to serve the project area. vii. Local service utilities serving new development shall be located underground, wherever reasonably feasible. Response: All utilities required to service the site will be installed underground. However, the installation of the cellular equipment underground is not feasible. Therefore, the equipment area will be designed to blend with the aesthetic of the existing building. viii. Utility crossings of water bodies shall be attached to bridges or located in other existing facilities, if reasonably feasible. If new installations are required to cross water bodies or wetlands they should avoid disturbing banks and streambeds and shall be designed to avoid the need for shoreline stabilization. Crossings shall be tunneled or bored where reasonably feasible. Installations shall be deep enough to avoid failures or need for protection due to exposure due to streambed mobilization, aggregation or lateral migration. Underwater utilities shall be placed in a sleeve if reasonably feasible to avoid the need for excavation in the event of the need for maintenance or replacement. Response: This code section does not apply to the proposed project; no water crossings are proposed with this project. Verizon Site ID: SEA Classics Written Narrative Page 4 of 8 ix. In areas where utility installations would be anticipated to significantly alter natural groundwater flows, a barrier or conduit to impede changes to natural flow characteristics shall be provided. Response: This code section does not apply to the proposed project; no ground water flows are anticipated to be significantly altered. x. Excavated materials from construction of utilities shall be disposed of outside of the vegetation conservation buffer except if utilized for ecological restoration and shall be specified in submittal materials. Response: Proposed project will not entail large excavation of the area. xi. Utilities shall be located and designed to avoid natural, historic, archaeological or cultural resources to the maximum extent feasible and mitigate adverse impacts where unavoidable. Response: Project will comply with this provision. Installation will be properly engineered to meet all applicable building codes. xii. Utilities shall be located, designed, constructed, and operated to result in no net loss of shoreline ecological functions with appropriate on- and off-site mitigation including compensatory mitigation. Response: Project will comply with this provision. Per the attached biological report, the proposed facility will not cause any significant impacts to the shoreline area or loss of shoreline ecological function. xiii. All utility development shall be consistent with and coordinated with all local government and State planning, including comprehensive plans and single purpose plans to meet the needs of future populations in areas planned to accommodate growth. Response: Project will comply with this provision. Project will be reviewed and approved by the City of Renton for consistency with planning codes. xiv. Site planning and rights-of-way for utility development should provide for compatible multiple uses such as shore access, trails, and recreation or other appropriate use whenever possible. Utility right-of-way acquisition should be coordinated with transportation and recreation planning. Response: Project will comply with this code provision if required. Project is located on private property and will not disturb any existing shoreline access on the property. Verizon Site ID: SEA Classics Written Narrative Page 5 of 8 xv. Vegetation Conservation: (a) Native vegetation shall be maintained whenever reasonably feasible. Response: Native vegetation will be retained to the maximum extent practicable. (b) When utility projects are completed in the water or shoreland, the disturbed area shall be restored as nearly as possible to the original condition. Response: Project will restore the disturbed area as nearly as possible to the original condition. (c) All vegetation and screening shall be hardy enough to withstand the travel of service trucks and similar traffic in areas where such activity occurs. Response: All vegetation and screening will be hardy enough to withstand the traffic around the project. xvi. A structure or other facility enclosing a telephone exchange, sewage pumping or other facility, an electrical substation, or other above ground public utility built in the shoreline area shall be: (a) Housed in a building that shall conform architecturally with the surrounding buildings and area or with the type of building that will develop as provided by the zoning district and applicable design standards. Response: Project will comply with screening regulations. The lease area will be surrounded by a stucco fence to blend with the aesthetic of the current building and will be surrounded with evergreen shrubs and trees to blend with the current aesthetic of the area. (b) An unhoused installation on the ground or a housed installation that does not conform with the standards above shall be sight-screened in accordance with RMC 4-4-095 with evergreen trees, shrubs, and landscaping materials planted in sufficient depth to form an effective and actual sight barrier within five (5) years. Response: Project will comply with screening regulations. The lease area will be surrounded by a stucco fence to blend with the aesthetic of the current building and will be surrounded with evergreen shrubs and trees to blend with the current aesthetic of the area. (c) An unhoused installation of a potentially hazardous nature, such as an electrical distribution substation, shall be enclosed with an eight (8) foot high open wire fence, or masonry wall. Such installations shall be sight-screened in accordance with RMC 4-4- Verizon Site ID: SEA Classics Written Narrative Page 6 of 8 095 with evergreen trees, shrubs, and landscaping materials planted in sufficient depth to form an effective and actual sight barrier, except at entrance gate(s), within five (5) years. (d) Response: Project will comply with screening regulations. The lease area will be surrounded by a stucco fence to blend with the aesthetic of the current building and will be surrounded with evergreen shrubs and trees to blend with the current aesthetic of the area. b. Special Considerations for Pipelines: Response: Intentionally Omitted (Relevancy) c. Major Utilities – Specifications: i. Electrical Installations: Response: Intentionally Omitted (Relevancy) ii. Communications: This Section applies to telephone exchanges including radar transmission installations, receiving antennas for cable television and/or radio, wireless communication facilities and any other facility for the transmission of communication signals. (a) Communications installations may be permitted in the shoreline area only when there exists no feasible site out of the shoreline and water area. Response: The proposed facility cannot feasibly be located outside of the shoreline area. Along this stretch of Maple Valley Highway, all parcels are within the shoreline area or are in residential areas, which do not allow telecommunications facility development. As shown and supported in the originally approved ACUP application, this location best serves the coverage goals of this site and fills the gap in service for this area. Therefore, locating this project outside of the shoreline area is not practicable, given the coverage requirements and surrounding site conditions. (b) All structures shall meet the screening requirements in the criteria for all utilities, above. Response: Project will comply with screening regulations. The lease area will be surrounded by a stucco fence to blend with the aesthetic of the current building and will be surrounded with evergreen shrubs and trees to blend with the current aesthetic of the area. Verizon Site ID: SEA Classics Written Narrative Page 7 of 8 (c) If approved within the shoreline, such installations shall reduce aesthetic impacts by locations as far as possible from residential, recreational, and commercial activities. Response: The project will comply with these criteria. The proposed project will be installed along the SW corner of the existing building and will reduce visual impacts by designing the site area to blend with the aesthetic of the building, and by landscaping with evergreen trees and shrubs. (d) Cellular communication facilities may be located in the shoreline only when mounted on buildings and screened by architectural features compatible with the design of the building. Response: The proposed project will comply with this requirement. The proposed facility will install the new fenced equipment location on the SW corner of the existing building and will develop the new area in a manner that blends with the aesthetic of the existing building by iii. Pipeline Utilities: Response: Intentionally Omitted (Relevancy) iv. Public Access: All utility companies shall be asked to provide pedestrian public access to utility owned shorelines when such areas are not potentially hazardous to the public. Where utility rights-of-way are located near recreational or public use areas, utility companies shall be encouraged to provide said rights-of-way as parking or other public use areas for the adjacent public use area. As a condition of location of new utilities within the shoreline, the City may require provision of pedestrian public access. Response: Project will comply with this code provision if required. Project is located on private property and will not disturb any existing shoreline access on the property. v. All-Inclusive Utility Corridor: When it is necessary for more than one major utility to go along the same general route, the common use of a single utility right-of-way is strongly encouraged. It would be desirable to include railroad lines within this right-of-way also. Response: Project will comply with this code provision if required. Verizon Site ID: SEA Classics Written Narrative Page 8 of 8 IV. Conclusion Per the above narrative, Verizon’s project meets all of the criteria for Substantial Shoreline Development Permit approval. As stated in the narrative and supported by the application materials, this proposed installation maintains the current aesthetic of the site location to a very high degree with little impact on the shoreline environment, all while meeting the coverage goals for the site. Therefore, Verizon respectfully requests that the City of Renton approve the facility as proposed, subject only to standard conditions of approval.