HomeMy WebLinkAboutD_RVMP Decision_Airport Tree Removal_210929_v2_FINALDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
D_RVMP Decision_Airport Tree Removal_210929_v2_FINAL
PLANNING DIVISION
ROUTINE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PERMIT
EVALUATION FORM & DECISION
DATE OF DECISION: October 6, 2021
PROJECT NUMBER: LUA21-000348, RVMP
PROJECT NAME: Renton Municipal Airport Tree Removal
PROJECT MANAGER: Alex Morganroth, Senior Planner
APPLICANT/CONTACT: Jason Anderson, City of Renton, 616 W Perimeter Rd, Renton, WA 98057
OWNER: City of Renton, 1055 S Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057
PROJECT LOCATION: 1101 W Perimeter Rd (APN 0723059007)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is requesting approval of a Routine Vegetation Management Permit
(RVMP) to allow for the removal of twelve (12) significant trees at the Renton
Municipal Airport site. The property is located at 1101 W Perimeter Rd (APN
0723059007) and is approximately 152.4 acres in size. The property is located within
the Medium, Industrial (IM) zone and has a Comprehensive Land Use designation of
Employment Area (EA). The trees proposed for removal include eight (8) Austrian pine
trees with sizes of ranging from 11 to 20 caliper inches, three (3) Paper birch trees with
sizes ranging from 8 to 9 caliper inches, and one 6 caliper inch Horse chestnut tree. A
significant tree is defined as a tree with a caliper of at least six inches (6"), or an alder
or cottonwood tree with a caliper of at least eight inches (8") (RMC 4-11-200). All trees
proposed for removal are concentrated near the northwestern portion of the site near
an existing parking lot and a small informal park area. According to the applicant, the
trees need to be removed in order to reduce the potential for a bird strike when
planes are taking off and landing at the airport. The applicant submitted a memo
(attached) prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture which includes a
request for the Renton Municipal Airport to remove the trees as soon as possible. The
site plan submitted by the applicant (attached) identifies the fourteen (14) significant
trees recommended for removal as well as two additional non-significant trees with
diameters of less than 6 caliper inches. According to the applicant, the trees identified
create potential perching locations for predatory birds, specifically ospreys and bald
eagles, which can cause significant damage to an aircraft during an impact. The City's
Urban Forestry and Natural Resources Manager inspected the property and concurs
with the recommendations made. The applicant submitted a Tree Replacement Plan
(attached) that proposes fourteen (14) replacement trees including three (3) Hinoki
cypress, three (3) Columnar sergeant cherry, three (3) Spring snow crabapple, and five
(5) Gold Leyland cypress. The species were chosen in consultation with the Urban
Forestry and Natural Resources Manager and have physical characteristics that reduce
the likelihood birds nesting in the trees. All replacement trees are located in the same
DocuSign Envelope ID: 941D27CE-3F0B-4BA7-8413-709592EC8EE0
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit
Renton Municipal Airport Tree Removal LUA21-000348, RVMP
Date of Permit: October 6, 2021 Page 2 of 4
D_RVMP Decision_Airport Tree Removal_210929_v2_FINAL
general area as the trees proposed for removal. In order to increase the chance of the
trees surviving during the dry summer season, staff recommends as a condition of
approval that the applicant be required to install all fourteen (14) replacement trees
by April 1, 2022. According to COR Maps, Sensitive Slopes (15-40%), Protected Slopes
(40%+), a High Erosion Hazard, a High Seismic Hazard, a Moderate Landslide Hazard, a
Special Flood Hazard, and the Wellhead Protection Areas Zone 1 and 2 are present on
the site. A piped Type Ns stream is located under the project area. The trees proposed
for removal are not located within any of the critical areas or buffers, except for the
High Seismic Hazard area. The trees are also located within Lake Washington Reach J
High Intensity Shoreline Overlay district. Per RMC 4-3-050.F, dangerous tree removal
within a regulated shoreline area requires an approved RVMP. Additionally RMC 4-4-
130C.9 requires a RVMP for the removal of any trees within the shoreline jurisdiction if
the removal is not included in another land use permitting process.
CRITICAL AREA: Sensitive Slopes (15-40%), Protected Slopes (40%+), High Erosion Hazard, High Seismic
Hazard, Moderate Landslide Hazard, Special Flood Hazard Area, and Wellhead
Protection Areas Zone 1 and 2
EXPIRATION DATE: October 6, 2022
GENERAL REVIEW CRITERIA 4-9-195.D.4:
YES 1. The lot shall comply with minimum tree density requirements pursuant to RMC 4-4-130,
Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations.
Comments: No minimum tree density requirements for lots in non-residential zones.
YES 2.The land clearing and tree removal shall be consistent with restrictions for critical areas,
pursuant to RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations, and RMC 4-3-
050, Critical Areas Regulations.
Comments: No trees are located on the regulated slopes, high erosion hazard, or
moderate landslide hazard present on the site.
YES 3.Removal of a landmark tree shall meet the review criteria for removal off landmark tree,
pursuant to RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations.
Comments: No landmark trees are proposed for removal.
YES 4.Street frontage and parking lot trees and landscaping shall be preserved unless
otherwise approved by the Administrator.
Comments: The trees proposed for removal are not part of the street frontage. Five (5)
trees are proposed for removal in the parking lot interior landscape area. The applicant
has proposed five (5) new trees within the interior landscape area that are more
appropriately sized for the type of use on the airport site.
YES 5.The land clearing and tree removal shall not remove any landscaping or protected trees
required as part of a land development permit.
Comments: Not applicable. The original land development permit is not on file with the
City due to the development of the site occurring in the early 1940s.
YES 6.The land clearing and tree removal shall maintain visual screening and buffering
between land uses of differing intensity, consistent with applicable landscaping and
DocuSign Envelope ID: 941D27CE-3F0B-4BA7-8413-709592EC8EE0
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit
Renton Municipal Airport Tree Removal LUA21-000348, RVMP
Date of Permit: October 6, 2021 Page 3 of 4
setback provisions.
Comments: The trees proposed for removal are all located on the east side of W
Perimeter Rd. A multifamily development with multiple buildings is located adjacent to
the site on the east side of W Perimeter Rd. The applicant has proposed the installation
of six (6) new trees on the west side of W Perimeter Rd which would provide both noise
attenuation and as well as a more robust visual buffer between the residential use and
airport activities.
YES 7.The land clearing and tree removal shall not create or contribute to a hazardous
condition, such as increased potential for blowdown, pest infestation, disease, or other
problems that may result from selectively removing trees and other vegetation from a
lot.
Comments: The permit is requested in order to mitigate the danger to aircraft created
by birds nesting in the trees. Removal of the trees would reduce the habitat available
for birds and therefore reduce the potential for bird strike incidents at the airport. The
Urban Forestry and Natural Resources Manager confirmed that removal of the trees
would not create a hazardous condition due to the lack of other vegetation in the
surrounding area.
DECISION: The Renton Municipal Airport Tree Removal Routine Vegetation Management Permit is
Approved with Conditions*.
Conditions of Approval:
1.The applicant shall install all fourteen (14) replacement trees by April 1, 2022.
SIGNATURE & DATE OF DECISION:
________________________________________ ____________________________________
for Vanessa Dolbee, Planning Director Date
RECONSIDERATION: Within 14 days of the decision date, any party may request that the decision be reopened
by the approval body. The approval body may modify his decision if material evidence not readily discoverable
prior the original decision is found or if he finds there was misrepresentation of fact. After review of the
reconsideration request, if the approval body finds sufficient evidence to amend the original decision, there
will be no further extension of the appeal period. Any person wishing to take further action must file a formal
appeal within the 14-day appeal time frame.
APPEALS: Appeals of permit issuance must be filed in writing on or before 5:00 p.m. on October 20, 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.
D_RVMP Decision_Airport Tree Removal_210929_v2_FINAL
DocuSign Envelope ID: 941D27CE-3F0B-4BA7-8413-709592EC8EE0
10/6/2021 | 12:12 PM PDT
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Routine Vegetation Management Permit
Renton Municipal Airport Tree Removal LUA21-000348, RVMP
Date of Permit: October 6, 2021 Page 4 of 4
D_RVMP Decision_Airport Tree Removal_210929_v2_FINAL
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.
EXPIRATION: The Routine Vegetation Management Permit shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance.
An extension may be granted by the Planning Division for a period of one year upon application by the property
owner or manager. Application for such an extension must be made at least thirty (30) days in advance of the
expiration of the original permit and shall include a statement of justification for the extension.
Attachments: Tree Removal Plan, Tree Installation Plan, USDA Letter
DocuSign Envelope ID: 941D27CE-3F0B-4BA7-8413-709592EC8EE0
United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Safeguarding American Agriculture
United States
Department of
Agriculture
Marketing and
Regulatory
Programs
Animal and
Plant Health
Inspection
Service
Wildlife
Services
Washington/Alaska
State Office
720 O’Leary St. NW
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 753-9884
fax: (360) 753-9466
Renton Municipal Airport 3/17/21
Globally, wildlife strikes have killed more than 282 people and destroyed over 263
aircraft from 1988-2018. Of those aircraft destroyed, 64 percent occurred at GA
airports. The annual cost of wildlife strikes to the USA civil aviation industry is
an estimated $92 million dollars in direct and other monetary losses, however
actual losses are likely 2 or more times higher (Annual Report: Wildlife Strikes to
Civil Aircraft in the United States (1990-2017); this is due to the difficulty in
obtaining actual incurred losses from aircraft operators based on parts and labor
costs, aircraft delays and downtime, passenger re-accommodations, etc.
Understanding the risks to aviation safety and how to properly manage those risks
is a critical component to a comprehensive wildlife hazard mitigation program at
any airport.
After discussions with airport managers regarding areas around the airport which
are owned by the City of Renton, USDA Wildlife Services (WS) recommends the
trees located in the parcel adjacent to the Will Rogers Wiley Post Memorial
Seaplane Base be removed. These trees are specifically identified in the
accompanying attachments. WS identified these trees as perching locations for
Bald eagles and Ospreys, which rank 6th and 9th respectively on the Federal
Aviation Administration’s (FAA) hazardous species composite ranking (FAA A/C
150-3200-38). USDA WS recommends that the proposed re-vegetation efforts
designed to replace the lost biomass of the trees planned for removal be rejected.
By replacing these trees, the airport may be creating favorable perching, roosting,
and nesting habitat for bird species hazardous to aviation safety immediately
adjacent to the runway. This is counterproductive to wildlife hazard mitigation
efforts performed by airport personnel and USDA WS Biologists, which are aimed
at increasing safety to aviation and wildlife.
Scott Gilbert
Wildlife Biologist
USDA Wildlife Services
253-285-6165
Scott.M.Gilbert@usda.gov
RECEIVED
10/01/2021
AMorganroth
PLANNING DIVISION
DocuSign Envelope ID: 941D27CE-3F0B-4BA7-8413-709592EC8EE0
RECEIVED
10/01/2021
AMorganroth
PLANNING DIVISION
DocuSign Envelope ID: 941D27CE-3F0B-4BA7-8413-709592EC8EE0
1,128
94
City of Renton Print map Template
This map is a user generated static output from an Internet mapping site and
is for reference only. Data layers that appear on this map may or may not be
accurate, current, or otherwise reliable.
None
3/16/2021
Legend
64032
THIS MAP IS NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION
Feet
Notes
64
WGS_1984_Web_Mercator_Auxiliary_Sphere
Information Technology - GIS
RentonMapSupport@Rentonwa.gov
City and County Labels
Addresses
Parcels
City and County Boundary
<all other values>
Renton
Art Work
Trees
Vacant Planting Sites
Boat Launch
Water Trails - Launch/Landing
Boat Ramp
Trails
Open Spaces
Golf Course
Parks
Streets
Points of Interest
Parks
Waterbodies
2019.sid
Red: Band_1
Green: Band_2
Blue: Band_3
RECEIVED
10/01/2021
AMorganroth
PLANNING DIVISION
Paper Birch;
9" Diam;American Elm;
3" Diam;
Prunus
4" Diam;
Austrian Pine;
13" Diam;
Austrian Pine;
14" Diam;
Austrian Pine;
11" Diam;
Paper Birch;
9" Diam;
Paper Birch;
8" Diam;
Austrian Pine;
20" Diam;
Austrian Pine;
19" Diam
Austrian Pine;
16" Diam;
Austrian Pine;
16" Diam;
Horse chestnut;
6" Diam;
Austrian Pine;
15" Diam;
DocuSign Envelope ID: 941D27CE-3F0B-4BA7-8413-709592EC8EE0