HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 19.1 Talbot Hill Landscape NarrativePSE Talbot Hill Substation
Landscape Narrative
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The work proposed is in association with improvements to the PSE Talbot Hill substation. A
stormwater detention pond is proposed to be constructed to the southeast of the substation. The
grading of the stormwater pond will require 52 significant trees to be removed while 28 significant trees
to the east of the stormwater pond are proposed to be retained.
We are also proposing to remove 11 Douglas fir trees to the west of the entrance driveway along
the south side of the substation; this area contains 17 significant trees in total and 6 of these
significant trees are proposed to be retained. The majority of these trees are reaching a height in
which their risk toward the substation is enhanced due to the prevalence of windblown limbs
damaging equipment within the substation. Please refer to images 1 and 2 in the arborist report.
The existing shrubs and smaller trees in this area are to remain to continue to provide their view
buffer for the southern neighbors.
The significant tree removals for the stormwater pond grading requires a landscape planting effort to
bolster the view buffer planting for the neighbor’s to the south per Renton Municipal Code 4-4-070,
specifically section F.4.c and H.6.c which calls for fully sight obscuring landscape visual buffer. The
execution of this view buffer planting to meet the letter and intent of the code is challenging in that the
nearest location available for planting is between a maintenance road and the clearance zone of overhead
transmission lines managed by Seattle City Light.
In light of these constraints the fully sight-obscuring landscaped visual buffer is proposed to be
20 feet in width in two locations and contain a mixture of trees and large shrubs, some of which
will mature to 35 feet tall. The visual buffer plantings include Vine Maple, Western
Serviceberry, Beaked Hazelnut, California Wax Myrtle, Silk Tassel and Strawberry Trees planted
at 6 feet triangular on-center spacing. The vine maple and western serviceberry are proposed to
be 6 feet tall and the other plants are to be 5 gallon containerized plantings at the time of
installation. The visual buffer planting is 50% evergreen species to maximize the screening
provided by the planting while also providing some variation to improve ecological services as
well as aesthetics.
To: Jeff McMeekin, PSE
From: Tom Early, Otak, Inc.
Date: December 13, 2016
Project No.: 31983.H
11241 willows road ne
suite 200
redmond, wa 98052
phone (425) 822-4446 fax (425) 827-9577