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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit_19_HEX_Energize_Eastside_Staff_PPTPuget Sound Energy Energize Eastside Public Hearing Date Names/Titles January 8, 2020 Jill Ding, Senior Planner •4 miles of two existing 115 kV transmission lines would be replaced with two 230 kV transmission lines beginning at the City’s northern boundary with Newcastle and ending at the existing Talbot Hill substation. Brief Description •Proposed upgrade located within existing transmission line corridor. •Corridor located within multiple zoning designations: CA, COR, CV, IL, R-1, R-10, R-14, R- 4, R-6, R-8, RC, and RM- F. •144 existing poles would be replaced with 41 steel poles. •Pole height anticipated between 85 and 95 feet. Brief Description •Multiple critical areas are mapped along the project corridor including wetlands, streams, steep slopes, landslide hazards, coal mine hazards, and wellhead protection areas. •The project would include the replacement of aerial wire across the Cedar River, which is classified as a Shoreline of the State. •The project proposes the replacement of poles outside of the 200-foot shoreline jurisdiction and aerial wire crossing would not require any disturbances within the shoreline jurisdiction. Brief Description Cont. Three environmental review documents under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) have been prepared : •Energize Eastside Phase I Draft Environmental Impact Statement (January 2016); •Energize Eastside Phase II Draft Environmental Impact Statement (May 2017); •Energize Eastside Final Environmental Impact Statement (March 2018). Brief Description •In order to ensure that the submitted Conditional Use Permit application materials are consistent with the existing environmental documents prepared for the Energize Eastside project, the City contracted with EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC to prepare an Environmental Consistency Analysis. •The Environmental Consistency Analysis determined that the impacts of development under the proposed Conditional Use Permit application materials are within the impacts analyzed under the EIS alternatives in the past SEPA review. •Staff recommends as a condition of approval that the mitigation measures referenced in the EIS Consistency Analysis be adopted as conditions of approval. EIS Consistency Analysis •A 14-day public comment period commenced on March 14, 2018 and ended on March 28, 2018. Based on public comments received, the public comment period was extended to April 30, 2018. •Staff received 36 public comment letters and 2 agency letters. Staff responses to public comments were included as Exhibit 7 of the Staff Report. •The project was placed on hold June 11, 2018 and was taken off hold on November 27, 2019. Brief Description Cont. The proposal is consistent with relevant Comprehensive Plan Utility Element policies. The proposal is compliant with all relevant zoning regulations if all conditions of approval are complied with. The proposal qualifies as an exemption from the Washington State Shoreline Management Act and is consistent with the City’s Shoreline Master Program. The proposal complies with the Conditional Use Permit criteria. Conditional Use Permit and Shoreline Exemption Analysis •Staff recommends approval of the Energize Eastside Conditional Use Permit and Shoreline Exemption, File No. LUA18-000055, CUP, SME as depicted in Exhibit 12, subject to 8 conditions of approval. Recommendation