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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTier_2_Temporary_Use_Permit_ERC_Rail_Removal_Phase_1_LUA16-000848DenisLawMayorCommunity&EconomicDevelopmentC.E.“Chip”Vincent,AdministratorFebruary17,2017InOng,ApplicantKingCounty2015.JacksonStreet,Suite700Seattle,WA98104SUBJECT:EastsideRailCorridorRailRemovalPhase1LUA16-000$48ITier2TemporaryUsePermitDecisionDearMr.Ong,Pleasefindtheabovereferenceddecisionthatisbeingmailedagainwiththereferencedattachments.Iapologizethatthereferenceddocumentswerenotattachedintheinitialmailingearlierthisweek.Ifyouhavefurtherquestionsregardingthisproject,pleasecallmeat(425)430-7246.Sincerely,(&6X&uJMonaDavisSeniorPlannerAttachments:-Projectaerialofworklimits-LetterfromJayCovingtondated6-17-16regardingparkingalternative-FinalMasterPlanpage4-15cc:KingCountyParksPartiesofRecord1055SouthGradyWay,Renton,WA98057.rentonwa.gov DenisLawMayorJune17,2016ChristieTrue,DirectorKingCountyDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandParksM.S.KSC-NR-0700201SouthJacksonStreet,Suite700Seattle,WA98104RE:EASTSIDERAILCORRIDOR(ERC)REGIONALTRAILMASTERPLANANDENVIRONMENTALIMPACTSTATEMENT(ElS)DearMs.True:ThankyouformeetingearlierthisweektodiscusstheEastsideRailCorridorandparticularlythepotentialfutureconnectionsthroughtheCityofRenton.TheEastsideRailCorridorLakefrontSegmentisanimportantconnectiontotheexistingCedarRiverTrailandthefutureLaketoSoundTrail;theCityappreciatesbeinginvolvedinfacilitatingtheseconnections.Thisletterisasummarytoourconversationregardingtheselectionofapreferredalternative,GeneCoulonMemorialBeachParkandparking.TheCitysupportstheon-railbedalternativeandunderstandstheneedforsmallsectionstobeshiftedslightlyeastwardtoallowspaceforbufferingthetrailfromnearbyresidences,whileprovidingspaceforthefulltrailprofile.Usingtheexistingrailbedwillprovidesignificantcostefficiencies.Asdiscussed,GeneCoulonMemorialBeachParkisaveryhighlyutilizedcityfacilitywithover1.5millionvisitorsannually.WhiletheparkwasdesignedtoservetheRentoncommunity,itservesthearearegionallybydefault;duringpeakseason,parkcapacityisexceeded.Theparkoffersawiderangeofactiveandpassiverecreationalopportunitiesandislimitedtopedestrianuseonlyduetopublicsafetyanduserexperience.Petsarenotallowed.StaffhascommunicatedthroughouttheERCmasterplanningandEISprocesstheimportanceoflocatingthefutureERCtrail(forbicycleuse)outsideofCoulonParkandwecontinuetosupportthatapproach.IwanttoemphasizetheCity’srecommendationtotransitionthetrailforbicyclesfromtherailbednorthoftheparkontoLakeWashingtonBoulevard.Alternatively,asdiscussed,theCitywouldsupporttransitioningthetrailforbicycleusefromtherailbednorthoftheparktowithintheexistingrailroadcorridor,outsidetheexistingfencedparkboundary.Ifinthefuturetherailroadcorridorisabandoned,thetrailcouldberealignedontheformerRentonCityHaIl,7thFloor1055SouthGradyWay,Renton,WA98057.rentonwa.gov ChristieTrue,DirectorKingCountyDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandParksJune17,2016Page2of2railbed.Inallscenarios,theparkhasthepotentialtoserveastheregionalpedestrianconnection.WeappreciatetheresearchtoidentifypotentialparkingaccommodationswithinRentonalongexistingroadROW’sandhavesincereceivedadditionalinformationasafollowup.Afterfurtherreviewandinternaldiscussions,theCityrecommendsincludingtheSoundTransitBusRapidTransitfBRT)FlyerstoponN.E.44Streetasaparkingalternative.TheCitypreferstheBRTparkingoptioninordertominimizeaddedcongestiontoLakeWashingtonBoulevardwhilestillprovidinganexcellentpublicamenity.Again,thankyoufortheopportunitytomeetanddiscussplanningoptionsfortheEastsideRailCorridor.Shouldyouhaveanyquestions,pleasedonothesitatetocontactme.Sincerely,_J11LJayCovingtonChiefAdministrativeOfficercc:DenisLaw,MayorKellyBeymer,CommunityServicesAdministratorLeslieBetlach,ParksPlanningandNaturalResourcesDirectorJimSeitz,TransportationSystemsDirectorDougJacobson,DeputyPWAdministratorDianeCarison,DirectorofRegionalInitiatives,KingCountyExecutiveOfficeKevinBrown,DirectorofKingcountyParks&RecreationDivisionDavidSt.John,GovernmentRelations,KingCountyDept.ofNaturalResourcesandParksEricaJacobs,ERCProjectManager,KingCountyParks&RecreationDivision EASTSIDE RAIL CORRIDOR REGi 1AIL FINAL MASTER PLAN LAKEFRONT SEGMENT ACCESS There are frequent access locations for access to the ERC between Gene Coulon Park and Newcastle Beach Park. Residents of nearby neighborhoods,walkers,and bicyclists along Lake Washington Boulevard would be able to enter and leave the trail where short roads accessing the waterfront neighborhoods intersect the trail. The ERC connects to the May Creek Trail near the Barbee Mill neighborhood.Eventually,the May Creek Trail is planned to extend east approximately 4.5 miles from Lake Washington in Renton to King County’s Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlife Park. which is connected to the City of Bellevue’s Coal Creek Natural Area with 4.5 miles of soft-surface trails.The Coal Creek Natural Area connects to the Lake Washington Loop Trail.which leads back to the City of Renton for an extended trail loop. Newcastle Beach Park is adjacent to the ERC but requires navigating a challenging hill for access.There is also on-road access to the ERC near Newcastle Beach Park to connect to the Newport Hills Park-and-Ride. Based on agency comments and input,a connection between the ERC and Coal Creek Parkway emerged as a location for additional emphasis.To the east,Coal Creek Parkway collects several nonmotorized routes from Lakemont,Newcastle and Newport residential areas.Newport High School is also located close to the connection between the ERC and Coal Creek Parkway,and the ERC could become part of a nonmotorized route to access the school.To the west and north,Coal Creek Parkway/llSth Avenue SE is a direct connection to the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail and downtown Bellevue. Connections between the ERC and Coal Creek Parkway would be desirable both on the north and south sides of the Parkway.The connection on the south side of Coal Creek Parkway is anticipated to be constructed in coordination with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) project to widen -405 and replace portions of the Lake Washington Loop Trail that are impacted by the widening project. King County and WSDOT are collaberatively planning trail improvements associated with the 1-405 widening project. Gateways There are limited opportunities for large parking areas to serve the trail in this segment,especially within current public ownership.A large gateway is proposed at the intersection of the ERC trail and May Creek that would provide parking for at least 20 vehicles,and could also be a location for restrooms and other associated trail amenities (Figure 4-12).This gateway would have the benefit of serving both the ERC and the May Creek Trail.Future design will address regulatory setbacks from May Creek,stormwater treatment to protect water quality,and safe entry and exit for vehicles. Smaller parking areas with capacity for between five and ten vehicles may be identified during the design phase.The County recognizes the value of providing smaller gateways for the trail;however,constraints to the right-of-way make it difficult to identify specific locations prior to the design phase.The County anticipates identifying one or more smaller locations for parking between milepost 5 and the proposed May Creek gateway during the design phase.These parking locations would be subject to additional environmental review as part of the design phase review for the associated trail sections. North of May Creek there are also limited opportunities for smaller parking areas.The County anticipates continuing coordination with the City of Bellevue Parks to investigate opportunities for an improved connection between the ERC and Newcastle Beach Park.There may also be opportunities for parking areas located within the 1-405 right-of-way,and the County is continuing discussions with WSDOT to coordinate ERC trail needs with the upcoming project to widen 1-405. A i4 h. FiGURE 4-12.MAY CREEK GATEWAY Parking and Amenities ERC Traii May Creek Traii Connection May Creek Traii JULt ;...,•4-15 DEPARTMENTOFCOMMUNITYANDECONOMICDEVELOPMENTPLANNINGDIVISIONTIER2TEMPORARYUSEPERMITPROJECTNUMBER:LUA16-000848,TPPROJECTNAME:EastsideRailCorridorRailRemovalPhase1PROJECTMANAGER:MonaDavis,SeniorPlannerAPPLICANT:TRIONG,KINGCOUNTY201SJacksonStSuite700Seattle,WA98104OWNER:KingCountyParks5004thAve830Seattle,WA98104LOCATION:3501LAKEWASHINGTONBLVDNDATEOFDECISION:February14,2017DATEOFEXPIRATION:February14,2022DESCRIPTION:Theapplicantisproposingremovaloftherailinfrastructuretoimproveaccess,efficiency,andsafetyformaintenanceandoperationsuntiltheEastsideRailCorridorcanbeofficiallydevelopedintoaregionaltrail.Theinterimtrailbedwillfunctionasapublictrailuntiltheregionaltrailplanpermitsarereviewedandapproved.Themaintenanceandrepairprojectincludesrailsandtimbertiesremoval,minorgradingtoevenouttherailbed,minortimbertrestlerepairatSE32ndStreet,andcappingtherailbedwith4-inchesofADAcrushedgravelmaterialtoenhancemaintenanceaccessandusersafety.Allworkwillbedonewithintheexistingfootprintoftherailbed.Notreesareproposedtoberemovedandcriticalareaswillnotbeimpacted.Theprojectwillalsoincludeappropriatesafetysignageatcrossings,placementofremovablebollardsandbouldersatcrossings,installationofchainlinkfencingforfallprotectioninthevicinityofsteepslopes,andinstallationoflowsplitrailfencingalongsensitiveareas(wetlands)topreventencroachmentintocriticalareas.AGradingLicensewillbeissuedaspartofthispermitprocess.WhileanimageofapotentialgatewayattheintersectionoftheERCandMayCreekisshownontheERCTrailMasterPlanandEIS(page4-15),theCityofRentonisre-emphasizingtherecommendationmadeintheletterdatedJune17,2016fromJayCovingtontoChristieTruethat“theCityrecommendsincludingtheSoundTransitBusRapidTransit(BRT)FlyerstoponNE44thStreetasaparkingalternative”(referenceSheet9of45,MatchlineSta72+00,topimage),where“AllowableStorage/StagingArea”isindicated.TheCityrequeststheCountypursuethisalternativeoveranypreviousonesdiscussedtothispoint.TheCityunderstandsthatconstructionofthis‘gateway’isnot CityofRentonDeportmentofCommunity&EconomicDevelopmentAdministrativeTemporaiyUsePermitEastsideRoilCorridorRoilRemovalPhase1TemporaryUsePermitLUAI6-000848,TPDECISIONDATE:02/14/2017Page2of3partofthisproject,butwantstokeepthispositionfreshineveryone’smindsforwhentheformaltrailandassociatedparkingisbeingdesigned(seeattacheddocuments).Inaddition,theCityofRentonwouldliketoemphasizethatthespeedlimitonlocalandregionaltrailsislimitedto10MPHpertheRentonMunicipalCode,Title2,Chapter9.TheCityandKingCountywillcontinuetocollaboratetoassurethattheportionofthetrailgoingthroughtheCityofRentonabidesbytheapplicablespeedlimitandadjustsignagetocomplywiththeCity’sregulationsandpostedspeedlimitsonthepublictrailasnecessary.TheTemporaryUsePermitisherebyApprovedwithConditions*andsubjecttothefollowingconditions.*CONDITIONSOFAPPROVAL:1)SpecifythesizeofthecrushedrockidentifiedinItemNo.$CrushedSurfacingTopCourseandItemNo.9CrushedSurfacingBaseCourseontheconstructionplanstobesubmittedwiththeGradingLicense.2)Furtherexpansionand/orworkoutsideofthescopeofthisTemporaryUsePermitontheEastsideRailCorridorshallrequirefurtherreviewandpermittingbytheCityofRenton.SIGNATURE:_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ _z1JenniferHenning,PlanningDirectorDateRECONSIDERATION:Within14daysofthedecisiondate,anypartymayrequestthatthedecisionbereopenedbytheapprovalbody.Theapprovalbodymaymodifyhisdecisionifmaterialevidencenotreadilydiscoverablepriortotheoriginaldecisionisfoundorifhefindstherewasmisrepresentationorfact.AfterreviewoftheReconsiderationrequest,iftheapprovalbodyfindssufficientevidencetoamendtheoriginaldecision,therewillbenofurtherextensionoftheappealperiod.Anypersonwishingtotakefurtheractionmustfileaformalappealwithinthe14-dayappealtimeframe.APPEALS:Appealsofthepermitissuancemustbefiledinwritingonorbefore5:00p.m.onFebruary2$,2017.AppealsmustbefiledinwritingtogetherwiththerequiredfeewithHearingExaminerc/oCityClerk,CityofRenton,10555GradyWay,Renton,WA,98057.AppealstotheExamineraregovernedbyCityofRentonMunicipalCodeSection4-8-110.AdditionalinformationregardingtheappealprocessmaybeobtainedfromtheRentonCityClerk’sOffice,425-430-6510. CityofRentonDeportmentofCommunity&EconomicDevelopmentAdministrativeTemporaryUsePermitEastsideRailCorridorRailRemovalPhase;TemporaryUsePermitLUA6-000848,TPDECISIONDATE:02/14/2017Page3of3EXPIRATION:ATemporaryUsePermitisvalidforuptooneyearfromtheeffectivedateofthepermit,unlesstheCommunity&EconomicDevelopmentAdministratorordesigneeestablishesashortertimeframeoranapplicantcanrequestthatapermitbevalidbeyondtheoneyearexpiration,foruptofiveyearsatthetimeofapplicationorpriortopermitexpiration.EXTENSIONS:ExtensionrequestsdonotrequireadditionalfeesandshallberequestedinwritingpriortopermitexpirationtotheDepartmentofCommunity&EconomicDevelopmentAdministrator.