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12-102271 CITY OF CITY HALL Federal Way 3332Feder 8th Avenue South Federal Way,WA 98003-6325 (253)835-7000 www.cityoffederalway.corn July 11,2012 F LE Mr.Brian Erickson Evergreen Tree Care 3020 Issaquah/Pine Lake Road Sammamish, WA 98075 Re: File#12-102271-00-AD; TREE TRIMMING APPROVAL Sayles Hazardous Tree Removal; 2842 SW 302"d Place,Federal Way Dear Mr.Erickson: The Community and Economic Development Department has received your request to address potential hazards represented by three mature trees: a 32"dbh Oregon broad leaf maple,a 22"dbh bitter wild cherry, and a 20"dbh red alder that are located within a 100'major stream setback area. According to the city's critical areas inventory, the trees are within a major stream buffer and therefore, removal does not qualify as an exempt action listed in Federal Way Revised Code(FWRC) 19.120.030. The department has issued Interpretation#10-01 that provides clarification of the proper procedure, application materials, and decisional criteria for vegetation removal within identified critical areas. DECISION Trimming of the three trees utilizing hand tools and/or hand powered tools is hereby approved per the findings and conclusions provided below. CONDITIONS 1. Each of the three trees shall be reduced in height to a habitat stump ranging from 20 to 30 feet in height.The height of each stump will vary from 20 to 30 feet amongst the trees to allow for a more natural appearance. 2. Ongoing maintenance will be conducted as least once every 5 years by a certified arborist to monitor tree health and conduct maintenance pruning as may be required. 3. All tree cutting will be done by climbers with hand tools/hand powered tools. 4. Debris will be lowered and removed from the area using no heavy equipment within the sensitive area. File e12-I02271-00-AD Doc.ID.61281 Mr Brian Erickson Page 2 July 11,2012 BACKGROUND The subject property owner,Joan Sayles, obtained the services of ISA Certified Arborist H. Brian Erickson to assess the condition of the above-referenced trees. As detailed in a letter, email,and exhibits provided by Mr.Erickson,the trees are leaning toward neighbors' property,or showing signs of decline. Mr. Erickson hagFrecottimettdedcutting the tops of each of the trees to create a"habitat stump"as they pose a potential future risk toile subject property and neighboring properties.According to Mr.Erickson, the property owner has'reeentl} planted the surrounding area with 8-10 foot tail native cherry and western red cedars, so no new plantings are proposed. DECISIONAL CRITERIA Planning Division staff reviewed your request and provided a bulleted response to each of the director's decisional criteria below. 1. The proposed activity will not adversely affect water quality. • Trees will be trimmed to 20-30 foot tall"habitat stumps."Tree roots will not be disturbed,and the property owner has already planted native cherry and western red cedar in the area so that the canopy and adequate erosion protection to the stream will be retained.Further,the decision has been conditioned to allow removal via hand tools only to limit impact on surrounding soils. 2. The proposed activity will not destroy nor damage a significant habitat area. • The parcel is not designated a Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Area.Habitat stumps will be retained and the area has been planted with native cherry and western red cedar,which will serve as habitat area. 3. The proposed activity will not adversely affect drainage or stormwater retention capabilities. • Tree stumps and root systems will be retained so work will not alter the drainage course or contribute to drainage and stormwater retention failures. 4. The proposed activity will not lead to unstable earth conditions nor create erosion hazards. • Tree trimming is limited in scope. Remaining vegetation and removal conditions will provide adequate stabilization and erosion controls. 5. The proposed activity will not be materially detrimental to any other property nor to the city as a whole, including the loss of significant open space. • Tree trimming will reduce the likelihood of private property damage. Result of tree trimming will not contribute to loss of open space. 6. The proposed activity is necessary to: a)maintain existing pathways and landscaping,ensure the health of existing vegetation,achieve limited pruning to allow for view maintenance, reduce tree File#12-102271-00-AD Doc.ID.61281 Mr Brian Erickson Page 3 July 11,2012 mass or redirect tree growth, or similar purposes; and/or b)the proposed activity is necessary to minimize potential impacts from dead, dying, diseased, or otherwise dangerous or nuisance vegetation.(Emphasis added.) • Certified Arborist H. Brian Erickson has determined the trees are leaning toward adjacent properties and/or are diseased and have the potential for future property damage.His recommendation is to reduce the trees to habitat stumps to eliminate the property damage risk. 7. The proposed activity does not require review under the State Environmental Policy Act. • The department concludes hazardous tree removal within critical areas is a maintenance activity and categorically exempt from an environmental threshold determination pursuant to FWRC 14.15.070. 8. The proposed activity is consistent with the requirements of Chapter 19.120,"Clearing, Grading,and Tree and Vegetation Retention." • A limited scope of work, recent planting of trees within the area where the canopy is being reduced, and preservation of existing vegetation is consistent with the purpose statement and regulations of Chapter 19.120. CLOSING This administrative decision shall not waive compliance with future City of Federal Way codes,policies, and standards relating to this site. Please contact Senior Planner Janet Shull at 253-835-2644, or janet.shull@cityoffederalway.com, if you have any questions regarding this decision. Sincerely, Isaac Conlen, Planning Manager for Patrick Doherty, Director c: Janet Shull,AICP,Senior Planner Joan Sayles,2842 SW 302nd Place,Federal Way,WA 98023 File#12-102271-00-AD Doc.ID.61281 Janet Shull From: Janet Shull Sent: Monday,June 04, 2012 3:12 PM To: 'BrianE@Evergreentic.com' Subject: Sayles Hazardous Trees Inquiry Dear Mr. Erickson, I am reviewing your request for tree removal at the Sayles property in Federal Way (file number 12-102271- AD). Could you please provide the following additional information to assist in our review: 1. Please provide more information as to what is meant by "habitat stub" (narrative description and representative photo/drawing). 2. Provide detail as to the height each tree will be after reduction, and the plan for ongoing management/maintenance of the trees for grow back over time. 3. Please provide detail as to the means of tree reduction. For example, in sensitive areas such as a stream setback area, we only allow hand tools, no heavy equipment in the area. 4. Please indicate whether or not any replanting of vegetation is proposed. You may respond to this email or in writing to me at City of Federal Way, 33325 8th Avenue South, Federal Way, WA 980003. Sincerely, Janet Shull, AICP, CSBA, LEED Green Associate Senior Planner City of Federal Way Community and Economic Development 253-835-2644 1 Janet Shull From: Brian Erickson <briane@evergreentic.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 11:19 AM • To: Janet Shull Cc: Brian Erickson Subject: RE: Sayles Hazardous Trees Inquiry Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged Thank you Janet, I will correlate my responses with the numbers below: .4,-' i y ' . gal:�-, ''Q y p ', yb. a^a^ z ,:r- , 0,,,, `„.•,-*r: 'ft,,,, , „:‘"-f,,,t ,5",:—.14,?' k;:'' 'N,.. ' '-'1 ii '",.-Sn, '- : . :r: , ,14**X,,,,,;f...,',Z...--.', ,..„ ,,,.,., 41,' .., 4.„et,i:,1%,•:,,...-4 '',4z le-4,4A. 44 r. .. 1iyw yew! y' 3 4,,^44i; - .'-',''' ..4. ':'' '' I 4i , ''', 4 ilk ' ' 'Vitt ' i " ''',Art' '..`'''4.X'..:,'''kW' '4 4'2; ' ''''*'it'''VF '' i't, . 'fi 1C i, & ' '; s 4 Off °` �'.nk M a x' v. -„ ,-,, , - ,w, ,,, 4,-,,t1 - - :'-'",,,r '` Fp,' ' ' 1.70't-'4::.'"e"w%•0 �g ,gyp y� y r '•,..,, y # ti '. a tt 46 :',„ • ,,, .,„..,„‘"--z: „„!,,,,,,„-- -„5"p,,,r--,- •:-, .#,,f;' ,'"Z Niiit 411.'''i" .7; ','/44 '' ' 1;sV tel 4k4 4t, A. ,,: ';'k,,-; ,, '�� f: ++r "'' + s , 'y�a', '. x. . sue- °�'`= '444,`.. ,,', '$" ��n ' l .sue` ``^ " as F'`T+ A Is f 's 1. Habitat Stub/Stump =; *` �'. ;: .. , _ These are usually 20 30 ft to mitigate hazard. 1 2. I would recommend different heights for aesthetics.(20-30ft) I also recommend 5 to 10 year maintenance program for new growth depending on volume and height of co-dominant growth. 3. All reductions will be done by climbers and hand chainsaws. Debris will be lowered and removed from area using no heavy equipment in sensitive area. 4. Customer has already planted trees in and near sensitive area all are 8-10 ft native cherry and western red cedars. Propose no new plantings as this should be sufficient for habitat protection. Thank you again, H. Brian Erickson ISA Certified Arborist#PN-6223A ISA Certified Tree Risk Assessor CTRA 1706 206-713-1576 BrianePEvergreentic.com From: Janet Shull jmailto:Janet.Shull cityoffederalway.coml Sent: Monday, June 04, 2012 3:12 PM To: Brian Erickson Subject: Sayles Hazardous Trees Inquiry Dear Mr. Erickson, I am reviewing your request for tree removal at the Sayles property in Federal Way(file number 12-102271- AD). Could you please provide the following additional information to assist in our review: 1. Please provide more information as to what is meant by"habitat stub" (narrative description and representative photo/drawing). 2. Provide detail as to the height each tree will be after reduction, and the plan for ongoing management/maintenance of the trees for grow back over time. 3. Please provide detail as to the means of tree reduction. For example, in sensitive areas such as a stream setback area, we only allow hand tools, no heavy equipment in the area. 4. Please indicate whether or not any replanting of vegetation is proposed. You may respond to this email or in writing to me at City of Federal Way, 33325 8th Avenue South, Federal Way, WA 980003. Sincerely, Janet Shull, AICP, CSBA, LEED Green Associate Senior Planner City of Federal Way Community and Economic Development 253-835-2644 Confidentiality Notice:This e-mail message.including any attachments,is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s)and may contain confidential and privileged information.Any€nauthorized review,use,disclosure or distribution is prohibited.If you are not the intended recipient,please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy at copies of the original message. 2 ti /A1) I2 - 10227( - DQ EVER GAT 3020 Issaquah Pine Lake Rd PMB#503 Sammamish, WA 98075 (800)684-8733 Customer and Location: Joan Sayles 2842 SW 302nd place Federal Way,WA 98023 Species: Oregon Broad Leaf Maple (Acer Macrophyllum) 32" dbh The Maple is mature and leaning toward and over neighbors home. That being said, with any tree in an environmentally protected area, I would recommend reducing the size to mitigate the hazard. Bitter wild Cherry (Prunus emarginata) 22"dbh The Cherry is mature and showing signs of decline with large open split in bark layer -- (phloem) exposing heart wood at 20ft from base. This leaves 25ft+ of the tree above the weak area. This cherry should be reduced to alleviate the hazard and property damage. Red Alders (alnus rubra) 20" dbh This is a three stem Alder that is co-dominant and leaning over homes to the east. Alders are a great northwest native tree, but are fast growing and their susceptible to crown breaking. They have a very weak branch attachment genetically. Alders are known for not being able to contain decay (CODIT). Arborist Recommendation: I recommend mitigating the height of these trees to a habitat stub and allowing for a safe environment. Thank you, H. Brian Erickson Evergreen Tree Care BrianE@Evergreentic.com (206)713-1576 RECEIVED ISA Certified Arborist PN-6223A MAY 2 2 2012 CITY OF FEDERAL WAY CDS • 4 • . 's , • * 0• f I.,., •44 N. et , D / • ti ' • a • • • it**,- -110. 40° • ...,.. . 41116 4• . o PaillP i ' • A I � art •4, A , ir •4111 lir 11 a 4.1 :44; be i • . ur ' '. s 44, " w • sI L K.. O - * .� le • ry. a r 00 • /8' 't o • 1 Ike le 4,Ik v ' b V ` .n • RRo(d 7T'( U )..1-F.... 04 7e... a€..7 (iNif o5 -al e kerylieo N E iMAP ire' i "4 a r T gggggI TiYrt t'eSt+.� x a =,..,;,,t01:4, .,. . ..... . k 4360,01p '''',',„ .'' .4,—,10 4.444. L :- , L- • , ' , j,,, . .tr. .: - °x'it ffi .y,.. -a ,y, a 40 1 s- , 0411:1;41 �- ' # çr4 A 4 .., i 41b.' feral " ,. \ ;1 ,,, ,.,.d • 14 a I I itt: 1 . . .. . _ Ili "r (C12038 King County Id111 Dl 12Bft riY The information included on this map has been compiled by King County staff from a variety of sources and is subject to change without notice.King County makes no representations or warranties,express or implied,as to accuracy,completeness,timeliness,or rights to the use of such information. This document is not intended for use as a survey product.King County shall not be liable for any general,special,indirect,incidental,or consequential a damages including,but not limited to,lost revenues or lost profits resulting from the use or misuse of the information contained on this map.Any sale of King County this map or information on this map is prohibited except by written permission of King County. Date:5/21/2012 Source:King County iMAP-Property Information(http://www.metrokc.gov/GIShMAP)