HomeMy WebLinkAboutSR_ERC_Report_Sunset_WCF_Monopine_210706_v2_FINALDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SR_ERC Report_Sunset WCF Monopine_210706_v2_FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT
ERC Meeting Date: July 12, 2021
Project File Number: PR21-000210
Project Name: Crown Castle: 816039 WCF
Land Use File Number: LUA21-000203, ECF, CUP-A, MOD
Project Manager: Alex Morganroth, Senior Planner
Owner: Renton Housing Authority, 2900 NE 10th St, Renton, WA 98056
Applicant: Sally Natalino, Crown Castle, 2055 S Stearman Dr, Chandler, AZ 85286
Contact: Jennifer Taylor, Lynx Consulting, 17311 135th Ave NE, Ste A100, Woodinville, WA
98072
Project Location: 2902 NE 12th St (APN 7227802040 and 7227802041)
Project Summary: The applicant, Crown Castle (on behalf of AT&T), is requesting Environmental (SEPA)
Review, an Administrative Conditional Use Permit, and a modification (height) in order
to construct a new stealth Wireless Communication Facility (WCF) at 2902 NE 12th St
(7227802040). The subject site is 61,133 sq. ft. (1.4 acres) in size and is located in the
Residential 14 du/ac (R-14) zoning district and Residential High Density (RHD)
Comprehensive Plan Land Use Designation. The property is owned by the Renton
Housing Authority. A CUP (LUA18-000127) was approved in April 2018 to allow RHA to
operate the Sunset Multi-Service and Career Development Center on the site. The
applicant is proposing a 120-foot tall “faux tree” WCF. The WCF, classified as a ‘stealth’
tower, would be designed to visually mimic a coniferous tree. The purpose of the new
facility is to replace an existing roof-top WCF located on a building on an site. The total
lease area, approximately 2500 sq. ft., would be located to the north of the existing
building. Maintenance access to the site is proposed via an existing partially-improved
public alley that connects the site to Harrington Ave NE. A gated entrance on the north
side of the site provides access to the alley. No critical areas are mapped on the project
site according to COR Maps. The applicant has proposed the removal of six (6) out of 48
total trees on the site, as well as three (3) trees in the alley. The proposal includes 1,996
sq. ft. of new or replaced impervious surface. The applicant submitted a geotechnical
report, drainage report, and environmental checklist with the application.
Exist. Bldg. Area SF: 6,160 Proposed New Bldg. Area (footprint):
Proposed New Bldg. Area (gross):
N/A
N/A
Site Area: 1.4 ac Total Building Area GSF: 6,160
STAFF
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff Recommends that the Environmental Review Committee issue a Determination
of Non-Significance - Mitigated (DNS-M).
DocuSign Envelope ID: 10F04B11-B1B6-4ECF-85A1-13D99F6F674A
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
Crown Castle: 816039 WCF
Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee
LUA21-000203, ECF, CUP-A, MOD
Report of July 12, 2021 Page 2 of 4
SR_ERC Report_Sunset WCF Monopine_210706_v2_FINAL
Project Location Map
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-M with a 14-day appeal period
B. Mitigation Measures
1. The applicant shall improve the portion of the public alley (APN 7227802041) extending north from
the project site with a length of approximately 250 feet per the City of Renton street standards
contained in RMC 4-6-060. The final design and extent of the alley improvements shall be reviewed
and approved by the Public Works Plan Reviewer at the time for Civil Construction Permit review.
C. Exhibits
Exhibit 1: Environmental Review Committee (ERC) Report
Exhibit 2: SEPA Checklist
Exhibit 3: Site Plan
Exhibit 4: Construction Plan Set
Exhibit 5: Photo Simulations
Exhibit 6: Drainage Report, prepared by Duncanson Company, dated July 11, 2019
Exhibit 7: Subsurface Exploration Report, prepared by Tower Engineering Professional, dated April
30, 2019
Exhibit 8: Advisory Notes
Exhibit 9: Resolution 4393
DocuSign Envelope ID: 10F04B11-B1B6-4ECF-85A1-13D99F6F674A
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
Crown Castle: 816039 WCF
Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee
LUA21-000203, ECF, CUP-A, MOD
Report of July 12, 2021 Page 3 of 4
SR_ERC Report_Sunset WCF Monopine_210706_v2_FINAL
D. Environmental Impacts
The Proposal was circulated and reviewed by various City Departments and Divisions to determine whether the
applicant has adequately identified and addressed environmental impacts anticipated to occur in conjunction
with the proposed development. Staff reviewers have identified that the proposal is likely to have the following
probable impacts:
1. Vegetation
Impacts: The Plan Set (Exhibit 4) submitted by the applicant identifies a total of 48 existing trees on the
project site. In order to provide a flat pad where the tower base and equipment will be located, the
applicant has proposed the removal of six (6) trees within the 50 feet by 50 feet lease area. The trees
proposed for removal include two (2) 10-inch Maples, a 24-inch Maple, a 24-inch Madronna, an 8-inch
Maple, and a 10-inch Madronna. The applicant has also proposed the removal of three (3) deciduous
trees approximately 28, 32, and 36 inches in diameter within the partially improved public alley to the
north (APN 7227802041) that will be used to access the site for maintenance. Minor vegetation removal
is also proposed in order to clear the brush within the access corridor. In order to screen the 50 foot by
50 foot equipment and base enclosure, the applicant has proposed the planting of nineteen (19)
Compact Strawberry trees that grow to a height of approximately 10 feet and would provide a fairly
significant level of screening at full maturity. At project completion, the total number of trees across the
site will be greater than the existing number of trees and therefore no significant impacts to vegetation
are anticipated. Therefore staff does not recommend any specific mitigation measures related to
impacts to vegetation.
Mitigation Measures: No further mitigation required.
Nexus: N/A
2. Aesthetics
Impacts: The applicant is proposing the construction of a 120-foot tall wireless communication facility
(WCF) designed to visually mimic a coniferous tree. The WCF, classified as a stealth tower, would be
located within an existing stand of mature coniferous and deciduous trees behind the building on the
site. Due to the significant height of the facility compared to the nearby live trees, the facility would be
highly visible to residents of the neighborhood to the north, a primarily residential area. The photo
simulations submitted by the applicant (Exhibit 5) demonstrate that the existing live trees would provide
a moderate level of screening at lower levels, but would not provide any meaningful screening near the
top half of the proposed stealth tower where the relay equipment is located. While the design attempts
to approximate the overall look of a typical coniferous tree, the antenna panels located near the top of
the facility negatively interrupt the camouflaging effect and remain highly visible to the surrounding
property neighborhood. In a primarily industrial or commercial area where utilities are expected to part
of the visual landscape, the stealth tower may provide a close-enough approximation of a real tree to
successfully mitigate the visual impact. However, the location of the proposed stealth tower near a
primarily residential neighborhood where no other similar structures exist requires a higher level of
detail to mitigate the visual impact. In order to ensure that the proposed stealth tower is better
integrated into the visual landscape of the neighborhood and utilizes of a high-quality design, staff
intends to recommend a condition of approval as part of the associated Conditional Use Permit
administrative decision. The condition of approval would include additional requirements related to
design and materials used for the stealth tower, with the final design ultimately approved by the Current
Planning Project Manager. Therefore staff does not recommend any specific mitigation measures
related to aesthetic impacts.
Mitigation Measures: No further mitigation required.
Nexus: N/A
DocuSign Envelope ID: 10F04B11-B1B6-4ECF-85A1-13D99F6F674A
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development
Crown Castle: 816039 WCF
Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee
LUA21-000203, ECF, CUP-A, MOD
Report of July 12, 2021 Page 4 of 4
SR_ERC Report_Sunset WCF Monopine_210706_v2_FINAL
3. Transportation
Impacts: The applicant is proposing to utilize the partially improved public alley on the parcel to the
north of the site in order to access the proposed WCF for installation and maintenance of the
equipment. The parcel (APN 7227802041) is owned by the City of Renton and was created as part of a
short plat recorded in 2017 (LUA16-000960). A resolution (RES4393) passed by the Renton City Council
on November 18th, 2019 (Exhibit 9) officially designated the parcel as a “public alley” subject to the
access and maintenance standards contained in the Renton Municipal Code. The intent of the resolution
was to ensure consistency with the Sunset Area Community Planned Action, which designates the parcel
as intended for alley use or a green space connection. The portion of the alley extending directly north
of the WCF, or approximately 250 linear feet, is currently overgrown with brush, shrubs, and various
vegetation, which the applicant intends to remove and install gravel in order to provide vehicular access
to the site. The remaining portion of the alley is currently improved with hard-packed gravel and is
adequate for vehicular access according to the applicant. The installation of new gravel near the
southern terminus of the public alley parcel would not comply with the City’s design standards for
streets. Therefore in order to meet the intent of Resolution 4393 and the Sunset Area Community
Planned Action which is to provide a public alley on the parcel (APN 7227802041), staff recommends as
a mitigation measure that the applicant be required to improve the portion of the public alley extending
north from the project site approximately 250 feet per the street standards in RMC 4-6-060. The final
design and extent of the alley improvements shall be reviewed and approved by the Public Works Plan
Reviewer at the time for Civil Construction Permit review.
Mitigation Measures: The applicant shall improve the portion of the public alley (APN 7227802041)
extending north from the project site with a length of approximately 250 feet per the City of Renton
street standards contained in RMC 4-6-060. The final design and extent of the alley improvements shall
be reviewed and approved by the Public Works Plan Reviewer at the time for Civil Construction Permit
review.
Nexus: Resolution 4392, Sunset Area Community Planned Action, SEPA Environmental Review
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.
✓ Copies of all Review Comments are contained in the Official File and may be attached to this report.
The Environmental Determination decision will become final if the decision is not appealed within the 14-day
appeal period (RCW 43.21.C.075(3); WAC 197-11-680).
Environmental Determination Appeal Process: Appeals of the environmental determination must be filed in
writing on or before 5:00 p.m. on July 26, 2021. Due to the ongoing state of emergency enacted by Governor’s
Proclamation 20-05, the City Clerk’s Office is working remotely. For that reason, appeals must be submitted
electronically to the City Clerk at cityclerk@rentonwa.gov or delivered to City Hall 1st floor Lobby Hub only on
Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays. The appeal fee, normally due at the time an appeal is submitted, will be collected at a
future date if your appeal is submitted electronically. Appeals to the Hearing Examiner are governed by RMC 4-8-110
and additional information regarding the appeal process may be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office,
cityclerk@rentonwa.gov.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 10F04B11-B1B6-4ECF-85A1-13D99F6F674A
CITY OF RENTON
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STAFF REPORT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
EXHIBITS
Project Name:
Crown Castle: 816039 WCF
Land Use File Number:
LUA21-000203, ECF, CUP-A, MOD
Date of Meeting
July 12, 2021
Staff Contact
Alex Morganroth
Senior Planner
Project Contact/Applicant
Jennifer Taylor, Lynx Consulting
17311 135th Ave NE, Ste A100,
Woodinville, WA 98072
Project Location
2902 NE 12th St (APN
7227802040 and 7227802041)
The following exhibits are included with the ERC Report:
Exhibit 1: Environmental Review Committee (ERC) Report
Exhibit 2: SEPA Checklist
Exhibit 3: Site Plan
Exhibit 4: Construction Plan Set
Exhibit 5: Photo Simulations
Exhibit 6: Drainage Report, prepared by Duncanson Company, dated July 11, 2019
Exhibit 7: Subsurface Exploration Report, prepared by Tower Engineering Professional, dated April
30, 2019
Exhibit 8: Advisory Notes
Exhibit 9: Resolution 4393
DocuSign Envelope ID: 10F04B11-B1B6-4ECF-85A1-13D99F6F674A