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Home My WebLink AboutD_RVMPKekic_FINALDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT D_Kekic Tree Removal_FINAL_221110 PLANNING DIVISION ROUTINE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PERMIT EVALUATION FORM & DECISION DATE OF DECISION: November 10, 2022 PROJECT NUMBER: LUA22-000380, RVMP PROJECT NAME: Kekic Tree Removal PROJECT MANAGER: Andrew Van Gordon, Associate Planner APPLICANT: Andrew Raines 5730 Highway Place #1 Everett, WA 98203 OWNER: Alicia C Kekic 16320 119th Ave SE Renton, WA 98058 CONTACT: Same as Applicant PROJECT LOCATION: 16320 119th Ave SE, Renton, WA 98058 (APN 1423400080) PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is requesting approval of a Routine Vegetation Management Permit (RVMP) to allow for the removal of one (1) Western Red Cedar with a caliper of 41 inches (41”). A Routing Vegetation Management Permit is required for the removal of any landmark tree without an associated land development permit. The property is approximately 9,192 square feet (0.21 acre) in size. The property is located within the Residential 6 (R-6) zone. The applicant proposes to remove one (1) Western Red Cedar. The tree is in the southern portion of the property in the front yard near the residence. ROUTINE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT REVIEW CRITERIA 4-9-195D4: YES 1. The lot shall comply with minimum tree credit requirements pursuant to RMC 4-4- 130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations. Staff Comments: The minimum tree credit requirement is 30 tree credits per net acre. The property is approximately 9,192 square feet (0.21 acre); six (6) tree credits are required (0.21 acre x 30 tree credits = 6.3, rounded down to 6 tree credits). A minimum of 30% of significant trees are required to be retained on the site; per the provided arborist report, there is a total of six (6) significant trees onsite. Five (5) significant trees would remain after removal of the Western Red Cedar for DocuSign Envelope ID: 5E6CE6D8-9B53-4745-9C7F-03E9B59A83C3 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Devel opment Routine Vegetation Management Permit Kekic Tree Removal LUA22-000380, RVMP Permit Date: November 10, 2022 Page 2 of 4 D_Kekic Tree Removal_FINAL_221110 a total of 53 tree credits. The lot would comply with minimum tree density and retention requirements pursuant to RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations following removal of the Western Red Cedar. 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. Staff Comments: Not applicable. Per COR Maps, the tree proposed to be removed is not within a critical area or critical area buffer. 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. i. The tree is determined to be dangerous; or ii. The tree is causing obvious physical damage to structures including but not limited to building foundations, driveways or parking lots, and for which no reasonable alternative to tree removal exists. Routine maintenance of roofs that is required due to leaf fall does not constitute obvious physical damage to structure; or iii. Removal of tree(s) to provide solar access to buildings incorporating active solar devices. Windows are solar devices only when they are south- facing and include special storage elements to distribute heat energy; or iv. The Administrator determines the removal is necessary to achieve a specific and articulable purpose or goal of this Title. Staff Comments: A landmark tree is defined as a tree with a caliper of 24 inches (24”) or greater, except for big leaf maples, black cottonwoods and red alder trees which qualify as landmark trees with a caliper of 30 inches (30”) or greater. Per the Arborist Report (Attachment 1) the Western Red Cedar proposed to be removed has a caliper of 41 inches (41”) and is a landmark tree. Review criterion RMC 4-4-130F2civ. “The Administrator determines the removal is necessary to achieve a specific and articulable purpose or goal of this Title” applies per the analysis below. Purpose 3 of RMC 4-4-130, Tree Retention and Land Clearing Regulations states: “Promote land development practices that result in minimal adverse disturbance to existing vegetation and soils within the City while at the same time recognizing that certain factors such as condition (e.g., disease, danger of falling, etc.), proximity to existing and proposed structures and improvements, interference with utility services, protection of scenic views, and the realization of a reasonable enjoyment of property may require the removal of certain trees and ground cover.” The Western Red Cedar proposed for removal, identified as tree 1 in the Arborist Report (Attachment 1), is in very close proximity to the existing residence. Pictures from the arborist report show the tree with one (1) leader touching the gutter of the residence and portions of the trunk within an approximately two feet (2’) of the home’s facade. The property has an additional five (5) significant trees, of which three (3) are landmark trees. There is no other vegetation that would be removed or disturbed by removal of the Western Red Cedar. Removal of the single DocuSign Envelope ID: 5E6CE6D8-9B53-4745-9C7F-03E9B59A83C3 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Devel opment Routine Vegetation Management Permit Kekic Tree Removal LUA22-000380, RVMP Permit Date: November 10, 2022 Page 3 of 4 D_Kekic Tree Removal_FINAL_221110 Western Red Cedar tree in conjunction with long term preservation of the remaining trees on-site would not result in a significant reduction of tree canopy on the property. Maintaining the existing Significant and Landmark trees on the property would be consistent with the purpose statements of the City’s tree retention regulations. Therefore, staff recommends as a condition of approval, the remaining four (4) Western Red Cedars noted as trees 2 through 5 and the Douglas Fir noted as tree 6 on the Arborist Report (Attachment 1) shall be retained unless an updated Arborist Report determines the tree(s) to be: (1) high-risk; or (2) determined to be causing obvious physical damage to buildings (over 200 square feet), driveways, parking lots, or utilities, and it can be demonstrated to the Administrator’s satisfaction that no reasonable alternatives to tree removal exist, including tree root pruning, tree root barriers, tree cabling, or preventive maintenance, such as cleaning leaf debris, deadwood removal, or directional/clearance pruning ; or (3) removal is associated with a land development permit. YES 4. Street frontage and parking lot trees and landscaping shall be preserved unless otherwise approved by the Administrator. Staff Comments: Not applicable. The tree is not a street frontage tree or a parking lot tree. Neither street frontage nor parking landscaping is proposed to be removed. YES 5. The land clearing and tree removal shall not remove any landscaping or protected trees required as part of a land development permit. Staff Comments: Not applicable. The tree removal would not be removing landscaping or protected trees required as part of a land development permit. 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 setback provisions. Staff Comments: Not applicable. Detached dwellings are adjacent to 16320 119th Ave SE and are of an equal intensity as the existing detached dwelling. 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. Staff Comments: The Arborist Report did not indicate that the removal of the tree would create or contribute to a hazardous condition. DECISION: Kekic Tree Removal, LUA22-000380 for the removal of one (1) Western Red Cedar tree noted as Tree #1 in the arborist report (Attachment 1) is Approved with Conditions* and subject to the following conditions: DocuSign Envelope ID: 5E6CE6D8-9B53-4745-9C7F-03E9B59A83C3 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Devel opment Routine Vegetation Management Permit Kekic Tree Removal LUA22-000380, RVMP Permit Date: November 10, 2022 Page 4 of 4 D_Kekic Tree Removal_FINAL_221110 *CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL: 1. The applicant shall retain the remaining four (4) Western Red Cedars noted as trees 2 through 5 and the Douglas Fir noted as tree 6 on the Arborist Report (Attachment 1) unless an updated Arborist Report determines the tree(s) to be: (1) high-risk; or (2) determined to be causing obvious physical damage to buildings (over 200 square feet), driveways, parking lots, or utilities, and it can be demonstrated to the Administrator’s satisfaction that no reasonable alternatives to tree removal exist, including tree root pruning, tree root barriers, tree cabling, or preventative maintenance, such as cleaning leaf debris, deadwood removal, or directional/clearance pruning; or (3) removal is associated with a land development permit. 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 their decision if material evidence not readily discoverable prior to the original decision is found or if they find 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 November 28, 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 the City Clerk’s Office working remotely appeals must be submitted electronically to the City Clerk at cityclerk@rentonwa.gov or delivered to City Hall 1st floor Lobby Hub Monday through Friday. 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. 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 (1) year from the date of decision. An extension may be granted by the Planning Division for a period of one (1) year upon application by the property owner or manager. Application for such an extension must be made at least 30 days in advance of the expiration of the original permit and shall include a statement of justification for the extension. Attachments: Attachment 1: Arborist Report prepared by Andrew Raines, October 6, 2022 DocuSign Envelope ID: 5E6CE6D8-9B53-4745-9C7F-03E9B59A83C3 11/10/2022 | 3:14 PM PST Andrew Raines ARBORIST SOLUTIONS ISA Certified Arborist ISA TRAQ Certified ISA Utility Specialist PN-7684AU 206-747-5907 1 2 3 4 5 6 RECEIVED PLANNING DIVISION 11/07/2022 AVanGordon DocuSign Envelope ID: 5E6CE6D8-9B53-4745-9C7F-03E9B59A83C3 Arborist Report: Tree 1: Western Red Cedar- Trunk is touching house (house damage), root growth is obstructed by house foundation (danger to power-line side), 5 lead co-dominant trunk starting at chest height with 5 feet of included bark (structural defect prone to failure), visible girdling root (root issues that can cause serious structural defects), and basal damage with signs of decay (structural defect prone to failure). After doing a TRAQ form I've conduced that the overall risk rating on this tree is HIGH and mitigation actions require removal. Tree 2 is in similar condition. TREE#SPECIES DBH CONDITION MITIGATION RESULT 1 Western Red Cedar 41”Hazardous,co- dom,root issues, lead touching house Removal 2 Western Red Cedar 58”Hazardous,co- dom,root issues, lead almost touching house Keep 3 Western Red Cedar 34”Close proximity to tree 4, sharing backside root zone Keep 4 Western Red Cedar 22”Close proximity to tree 3, sharing backside root zone Keep 5 Western Red Cedar 19”Hazardous, Girdling roots and base/root decay Keep 6 Douglas Fir 31”Good Keep DocuSign Envelope ID: 5E6CE6D8-9B53-4745-9C7F-03E9B59A83C3 ALL PICTURE ARE OF TREE 1 DocuSign Envelope ID: 5E6CE6D8-9B53-4745-9C7F-03E9B59A83C3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 5E6CE6D8-9B53-4745-9C7F-03E9B59A83C3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 5E6CE6D8-9B53-4745-9C7F-03E9B59A83C3