HomeMy WebLinkAboutM_Reconsideration Request Letter_Amazon SWA2_220609_v1.pdf
AMAZON .COM SERVICES LLC | 410 TERRY AVE N SEATTLE, WA 98109 -5 210 | 1.888.280.43 31
May 20, 2022
Alex Morganroth, Senior Planner
Department of Community and Economic Development
City of Renton
1055 South Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
VIA EMAIL ONLY
RE: Request for Reconsideration of SEPA Determination for LUA21-000233
Location: 1905 Raymond Avenue SW (APN 2423049115)
Dear Mr. Morganroth:
We are submitting this letter as a follow up to our request for reconsideration of
the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Determination of Non-Significance –
Mitigated with five (5) mitigation measures (Determination) made by the
Environmental Review Committee (ERC) on April 5, 2022, for our proposed
project located at 1905 Raymond Avenue SW (Case Number LUA21-000233),
which will be ready to begin operating in July 2022.
The traffic study previously submitted to the City, which was based on pre-
pandemic levels, indicated the improvements in mitigation measures 1-4 are
required in 2025, when the facility is anticipated to operate at 100% capacity. NV5
has updated the traffic study based upon current traffic volumes, which as shown
in the table below are significantly lower than those in the prior traffic study since
many businesses in the area have not re-opened (or not fully) and/or traffic patterns
for nearby offices have changed.
Based upon these lower traffic volumes, the updated traffic study determined that
no improvements are needed to accommodate the traffic generated by the
facility based on a 2022 opening date. Moreover, the traffic generated by the
facility is only a percentage of the traffic impacting those intersections.
AMAZON .COM SERVICES LLC | 410 TERRY AVE N SEATTLE, WA 98109 -5 210 | 1.888.280.43 31
TOTAL TRAFFIC VOLUMES IN PRIOR TRAFFIC STUDY VS. UPDATED
TRAFFIC STUDY
TIME PERIOD PRIOR TRAFFIC STUDY UPDATED TRAFFIC
STUDY
Raymond Ave SW at SW 19th St
AM Peak 345 37
PM Peak 175 29
Lind Ave SW at SW 19th St
AM Peak 1492 521
PM Peak 1856 615
Raymond Ave SW at SW 16th St
AM Peak 1088 321
PM Peak 1549 310
The facility will be ready to open in July 2022. As discussed below, the
improvements required by mitigation measures 1-41 will not be needed at that time.
Our current goal is to meet the below schedules, which we will refine once we
have a general contractor. We therefore are requesting that the mitigation measure
language be revised to require the improvements be in place by Final Certificate
of Occupancy. That will allow us to open our facility pursuant to a Temporary
Certificate of Occupancy, which we request be valid for one year – the estimated
timeframe for us to complete the improvements.
Mitigation Measure 1: Raymond Ave SW and SW 19th St. - Widen SW 19th
Street to two full travel lanes via City standard
July 29, 2022 Submit DRAFT plans for improvements
August 19, 2022 City completes review of DRAFT plans
September 2, 2022 Submit FINAL plans for permitting
September 30, 2022 City issues construction permits
October – December 2022 Construction (estimated time: 3
months)
January 2023 Improvements complete
1 Mitigation measure 5 requires construction workers and employees on site to be notified if lead
or arsenic are found at concentrations above the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) cleanup level .
We are not requesting any modifications to that mitigation measure.
AMAZON .COM SERVICES LLC | 410 TERRY AVE N SEATTLE, WA 98109 -5 210 | 1.888.280.43 31
Revised Mitigation Measure for Raymond Ave SW and SW 19th St. (showing
proposed edits with underline and strikethrough):
1) The applicant shall construct the following improvements at the intersection of
Raymond Ave SW and SW 19th St:
a. Widen the westbound approach of SW 19th St by constructing vertical curb and
gutter to match alignment of the existing curb, providing a minimum of twenty
feet (20’) of pavement;
b. Construct ADA compliant curb ramps at the NE corner of Raymond Ave SW
and SW 19th St intersection and associated companion ramps;
c. Provide advanced warning signage on the westbound approach of SW 19th St
and the southbound approach of Raymond Ave SW;
d. Trim vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the intersection to improve sight
distance.
The final design of the improvements shall be reviewed and approved by the
Development Engineering Project Manager prior to implementation.
The improvements shall be fully constructed prior to issuance of a Temporary
Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) Final Certificate of Occupancy.
Mitigation Measure 2: Lind Ave SW and SW 19th St. - Traffic signal
July 15, 2022 Submit plans for improvements
July 29, 2022 City completes review of DRAFT plans
August 19, 2022 Submit FINAL plans for permitting
September 2, 2022 City issues construction permits
October 2022 – June 2023 Construction (estimated time: 9
months2)
July 2023 Traffic signal complete
Revised Mitigation Measure for Lind Ave SW and SW 19th St.: (showing
proposed edits with underline and strikethrough):
The applicant shall install a traffic signal at the intersection of Lind Ave SW and
SW 19th St. The traffic signal shall be designed in a manner that accommodates
the future construction of an additional 11-foot lane on Lind Ave SW. The final
design of the traffic signal infrastructure shall be reviewed and approved by the
Development Engineering Project Manager. The signalization of the intersection
2 This timeframe is longer than usual due to current delays in fulfill ment of orders for the required
equipment.
AMAZON .COM SERVICES LLC | 410 TERRY AVE N SEATTLE, WA 98109 -5 210 | 1.888.280.43 31
shall be implemented and operational prior to issuance of a (TCO) Final Certificate
of Occupancy.
Mitigation Measure 3: Raymond Ave SW and SW 16th St.: Roundabout
July 29, 2022 Submit DRAFT plans for improvements
August 19, 2022 City completes review of DRAFT plans
September 2, 2022 Submit FINAL plans for permitting
September 30, 2022 City issues construction permits
October – December 2022 Construction (estimated time: 3
months)
January 2023 Roundabout complete
Revised Mitigation Measure for Raymond Ave SW and SW 16th St: (showing
proposed edits with underline and strikethrough):
The applicant shall construct a roundabout at the intersection of Raymond Ave SW
and SW 16th St. The final design of the roundabout shall be reviewed and approved
by the Development Engineering Project Manager. The roundabout shall be
constructed prior to issuance of a (TCO) Final Certificate of Occupancy.
Mitigation Measure 4: Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) Split Cycle
Offset Optimization Technique (SCOOT) System
With respect to the ATCS/SCOOT system, in addition to it not being needed when
the facility opens in 2022, it is our understanding that Western Systems is the
licensed distributor of the system, and that they will not contract with a property
owner/developer/consultant/etc. for this work. Therefore, Amazon cannot be
required to implement the system. Based upon our research, the cost of obtaining
the necessary licenses and installing the system/equipment should not exceed
$100,000 per signal.
June 2022 Meet with City regarding proposed
cost for ATCS SCOOT at intersections
July 2022 Provide the City with funds (in an
amount not to exceed $400,000)
AMAZON .COM SERVICES LLC | 410 TERRY AVE N SEATTLE, WA 98109 -5 210 | 1.888.280.43 31
Revised Mitigation Measure Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) Split
Cycle Offset Optimization Technique (SCOOT) System: (showing proposed
edits with underline and strikethrough):
Prior to Final Certificate of Occupancy, tThe applicant shall provide the City with
funds in an amount not to exceed $100,000 per intersection for the City to
implement ATCS SCOOT at the following intersections: Oakesdale Ave SW and
SW Grady Way, Oakesdale Ave SW and SW 16th St, Lind Ave SW and SW Grady
Way, Lind Ave SW and SW 16th St. The final design of the system shall be
reviewed and approved by the Development Engineering Project Manager prior to
implementation. The ATCS SCOOT shall be implanted and fully operational prior
to issuance of a TCO.
Mitigation measure 5 requires construction workers and employees on site to be
notified if lead or arsenic are found at concentrations above the Model Toxics
Control Act (MTCA) cleanup level. We are not requesting any modifications to
that mitigation measure.
We thank the ERC in advance for your time taking our reconsideration request into
consideration.
Regards,
Amita Poole
Director, AMZL Entitlements