HomeMy WebLinkAboutD_Honey Creek Hazard Tree Removal_v2DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
D_Honey Creek Hazard Tree Removal_v2
PLANNING DIVISION
CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION
FROM CRITICAL AREAS REGULATIONS
EVALUATION FORM & DECISION
DATE OF DECISION: March 17, 2022
PROJECT NUMBER: LUA22-000080 CAE
PROJECT NAME: Honey Creek Apts Hazard Tree Removal
PROJECT MANAGER: Brittany Gillia, Assistant Planner
APPLICANT/CONTACT: Marsha Newman, A Plus Tree, Inc.
985 Walnut Ave
Vallejo, CA 94592
OWNER: Honey Creek Apartments
1332 Duvall Ave NE
Renton, WA 98059
PROJECT LOCATION: 1332 Duvall Ave NE, near Bldg A
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant, A Plus Tree, Inc, is requesting retroactive approval of a Critical Areas
Exemption for the removal of a dangerous tree that has fallen on a dwelling unit located on the northern edge of
1322 Duvall Ave NE (APN 5169700075), the Honey Creek Apartments. The subject parcel is located within the
Commercial Arterial (CA) zone and is approximately 237,022 square feet (5.44 acres). The tree that was removed
was a red alder (Alnus rubra) that was seven and a half inches (7.5”) diameter at breast height (DBH) and located
within a wetland buffer on the north edge of the property. The subject tree had been uprooted and fallen onto
the roof of neighboring townhomes. The wetland mapped on the property is an unidentified wetland and is
shown to be less than 50 feet away from the subject tree. An arborist report prepared by Izzy Nosan was
submitted with the project application (Attachment A). According to the report, the subject tree resting on the
roof was evaluated to be high-risk and was removed immediately to mitigate the risk of the tree sliding off the
townhome and into the neighboring community road.
CRITICAL AREA: Wetland, Stream
EXEMPTION JUSTIFICATION: Renton Municipal Code, Section 4-3-050C.3.c.iii. Dangerous Trees:
Removal of non-native invasive ground cover or weeds listed by King County Noxious Weed Board or
other government agency or dangerous trees, as defined in Chapter 4-11 RMC which have been
approved by the City and certified dangerous by a licensed landscape architect, or certified arborist,
selection of whom to be approved by the City based on the type of information required. Limited to
DocuSign Envelope ID: CDE96B9F-5D1E-4558-8A3E-075F80B552D8
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Certificate of Exemption From Critical Areas Regulations
Honey Creek Apts Hazard Tree Removal LUA22-000080 CAE
Permit Date: March 17, 2022 Page 2 of 3
D_Honey Creek Hazard Tree Removal_v2
cutting of dangerous trees; such hazardous trees shall be retained as large woody debris in critical
areas and/or associated buffers, where feasible.
FINDINGS: The proposed development is consistent with the following findings pursuant to RMC section
4-3-050C.2.d:
i. The activity is not prohibited by this or any other provision of the Renton Municipal
Code or State or Federal law or regulation;
Staff Comment: Removal of dangerous trees within wetlands, streams, and their
respective buffers is permitted with a letter of exemption pursuant to RMC 4-3-050C.2.
ii. The activity will be conducted using best management practices as specified by
industry standards or applicable Federal agencies or scientific principles;
Staff Comment: According to the arborist report (Attachment A), Nosan recommends
retaining the remains of the tree to become woody debris in the stream and wetland
buffer.
i. Impacts are minimized and, where applicable, disturbed areas are immediately
restored;
Staff Comment: The subject dangerous tree was uprooted naturally. As proposed and
as conditioned, the fallen tree will be retained as woody debris within the stream and
wetland buffer.
ii. Where water body or buffer disturbance has occurred in accordance with an
exemption during construction or other activities, revegetation with native vegetation
shall be required;
Staff Comment: The dangerous tree was uprooted due to natural forces as noted in
the arborist report. No known construction activities occurred. The fallen tree will be
retained for habitat within the stream and wetland buffer.
iii. If a hazardous material, activity, and/or facility that is exempt pursuant to this Section
has a significant or substantial potential to degrade groundwater quality, then the
Administrator may require compliance with the Wellhead Protection Area
requirements of this Section otherwise relevant to that hazardous material, activity,
and/or facility. Such determinations will be based upon site and/or chemical -specific
data.
Staff Comment: The subject property is not within a delineated Wellhead Protection
Zone as identified in the City’s 2019 Water System Utility Plan. The dangerous tree and
its retention for habitat is not anticipated to degrade groundwater quality.
DECISION: An exemption from the Critical Areas Regulations is hereby Approved with Conditions*
and subject to the following conditions:
1. The applicant shall retain the felled tree within the stream and wetland buffer as large woody
debris for natural habitat as per the arborist’s recommendation.
DocuSign Envelope ID: CDE96B9F-5D1E-4558-8A3E-075F80B552D8
City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Certificate of Exemption From Critical Areas Regulations
Honey Creek Apts Hazard Tree Removal LUA22-000080 CAE
Permit Date: March 17, 2022 Page 3 of 3
D_Honey Creek Hazard Tree Removal_v2
SIGNATURE & DATE OF DECISION:
________________________________________ ____________________________________
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 to 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: This administrative land use decision will become final if not appealed in writing to the Hearing Examiner
on or before 5:00 PM on March 31, 2022. An appeal of the decision must be filed within the 14-day appeal period
(RCW 43.21.C.075(3); WAC 197-11-680). Due to Governor Jay Inslee’s Proclamation 20-25 (“Stay Home, Stay
Healthy”), the City Clerk’s Office is working remotely. For that reason, appeals must be submitted electronically to the
City Clerk at cityclerk@rentonwa.gov. The appeal fee, normally due at the time an appeal is submitted, will be
collected at a future date. 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. If the situation
changes such that the City Clerk’s Office is open when you file your appeal, you have the option of filing the appeal in
person.
EXPIRATION: Five (5) years from the date of decision (date signed).
Attachments: Arborist Report
DocuSign Envelope ID: CDE96B9F-5D1E-4558-8A3E-075F80B552D8
3/17/2022 | 4:04 PM PDT
1
ARBORIST REPORT
for
- Honey Creek Apartments-
Indigo
Parcel: 5169700075
1332 Duvall Ave. NE
Renton, WA 98059
Wednesday, January 5th, 2022
- Site plan on final page of report -
By Izzy Nosan | ISA Certified Arborist WE-11653A | TRAQ Certified | izzy@aplustree.com
985 Walnut Avenue, Vallejo, CA 94592 | (206) 550-6679 | www.aplustree.com
ATTACHMENT A
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Background In-
formation
This report was prepared on behalf of Honey Creek Apartments con-
cerning a tree risk assessment of 1 uprooted red alder tree, from
within the northeast section of greenbelt on site (1332 Duvall Ave NE,
Renton, WA 98059).
The tree included on this report is:
1 uprooted red alder (Alnus rubra.). The tree is resting on the
neighboring property’s roof.
The assessment was regarding the condition of the tree at time of in-
spection. The tree was seen as an imminent hazard and was approved
for immediate mitigation by the City of Renton city planners. This re -
port was created as post-removal information for a tree removal per -
mit.
The tree was assessed with specific focus on the potential risk to the
property, residents, and neighboring property.
The tree on this report was viewed as being high risk, given its up-
rooted condition, nearby targets and occupancy rates, and has been
recommended for removal.
The recommended mitigation is within close proximity to critical tar -
get areas, a town-home and the neighboring community road.
ATTACHMENT A
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Assignment (and
any limiting fac-
tors)
The assignment was a visual assessment in regard to the immediate
expectations of the tree, structural integrity, and potential hazards.
This visual assessment was performed solely from the ground and
was completed to provide recommendations for mitigation.
Given the City of Renton’s pre-approval for removal, Honey Creek
management acquired arborist services for mitigation of this high risk
tree.
Honey Creek management intends to plant replacement trees
according to the City of Renton’s regulations for tree reten-
tion standards following mitigatory tree care.
No limiting factors were encountered during this assessment.
Report Continues On Following Page
Observations 1 1 7.5” DBH red alder (Alnus rubra)
•Approximate height: 45 feet
•A Plus Tree ID# 1000038587
1.a This tree has uprooted from the greenbelt on site and
is leaning on the neighboring townhome.
1.b The tree was removed to mitigate the risk of the tree
sliding off the townhome and into the neighboring com-
munity road.
1.c This tree was recommended to be removed in order to
minimize residual risk.
Testing No soil assessment or advanced testing procedures were conducted.
Discussion Upon inspection of the site, the tree discussed in this report was
viewed as high risk and was recommended to be removed immedi-
ately as it was resting on the neighboring townhome, with potential to
fall into the community road.
Given the associated targets, the tree presented on this report was
ranked as being high-risk to the Honey Creek community and neigh-
boring community. Given the high-risk of the tree, it was recom-
mended for immediate removal.
ATTACHMENT A
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Honey Creek management intends to plant replacement trees
according to the City of Renton’s standard, following mitiga-
tory tree care.
Report continues on following page
Recommenda-
tions
Following the site visit to the Honey Creek community, and the as-
sessment of the tree included on this report, the following was recom-
mended:
•1 uprooted red alder was recommended to be removed immediately
to avoid further damage to the neighboring community. It was rec-
ommended that all debris be deposited within the greenbelt to repli -
cate natural decomposition processes of the native area.
•Replacement trees should be a site and climate-appropriate species
with adequate access to critical resources. Acceptable species would
be: Western redcedar, Western hemlock, Douglas-fir, big leaf maple.
Photos On Following Pages
ATTACHMENT A
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Attachments:
Photo 1a:
ArborPlus inven-
tory data:
Tree ID:
101502470
1 uprooted red
alder, resting on
neighboring town-
home. Tree had
potential to slide
off home and into
community road.
Tree has been re-
moved per City of
Renton planner’s
approval.
Report continues on following page
ATTACHMENT A
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Site Plan
N
ATTACHMENT A
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