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20-100714C TY HALL CITY OF 3?,325 ;sth, AVc?I'i.i2 Soutl'1 253; 335-7000 Tederal WayCentered on Opportounity j011 Ferrel;, .Mayor Mr. Izzy Nosan February 28, 2020 A Plus Tree, Inc. FILE 3490 Buskirk Avenue Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 ; r i t Siff; cant Re; File #20-100714-00-AD; TREE REMOVAL REQUEST —CONDITIONAL APPROVAL Crestview West Tree Removal, 27900 Pacific Highway South, Federal Way, WA 98003 Dear Mr. Nosan; On February 19, 2020, the City of ['ederal Way's DeparttTient of Community Development received an inquiry regarding removal of seven trees on the site of the Crestviexv West Apartment C:otnples (parcel #720480- 0210). Your proposed scope of work includes removing seven trees throughouI the 9.49-acre property, zoned ivlultifatrtily Residential (RM1$00 tk R1vI 2400), all within close proximity to pedt:strian pathways, recreation facilities, buildings, community roads, and parking lots. DECISION The requested removal of seven identified trees at 27900 Pacific High-,vay South, Federal Way, WA 98003 (parcel #720480-0210), is hereby conditionally approved CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL The site appears to be nonconforming as it appears to have less than the required 285 tree units on -site (no official tree unit calculation was provided to ensure this finding); making this a legal nonconforming lot developed in 1969. The seven identified trees are allowed to be removed throughout the site with the condition that seven new trees must be planted to ensure the site is no more nonconforming after the tree removal, as it is presently, per I`edeml lljrty Rer)sfed Code (FV,-RC) 19.30.180. VEGETATION MAINTENANCE PROPOSAL The following proposal was submitted by the applicant, certified arborist Izzy Nosan. Photos confirm the trees are dead or declining in health and a threat to pedestrians, buildings, roadways, parking lots, and/or. vehicles, Tree #1 — Fir (13" d.b.h ), dead/falling risk. llazard and .recommended to be removed. Tree 42 — Douglas fir (12" d.b,h.), dead/falling risk. Hazard and recotnrnended to be removed. Tree #3 — Western hemlock (9" d.b.h.), dead/falling risk. Hazard and recommended to be removed. Tree #4 — Red maple (4" d.b.h.), dead/falling risk. Hazard and recommended to be removed. 'free #5 — Spruce (19" d.b.h.), dead/falling risk. Hazard and recommended to be removed. 'free #G — Douglas fir (17" d.b.h.), dying/falling risk. Hazard and recommended to be removed. Tree #7 — Fir (19" d.b.h.), dying/falling risk. Hazard and recommended to be removed. IMi. Izzy Nosan Page 2of2 Febnury 28, 2020 TREE REMOVAL REQUEST ANALYSIS Following review (if the tree and -,:egetntion reWntiolt policy, staff finds your proposal is ex—enipt 1rorn prrniittirif; re•quiren1ents and ytxt bitty' prareCd w.iill your vegrit Lion maintetxatice play as proposed. The rcniainclir uf't1iis letter provijc, atlaly=sis ofapliticable portions of the 1?WRC. l j�filir-rr�?i1r1} — 1 W`RC [9.120.020 states that no person sliall re:niove any trees on a site without first obutioing approval o a tree retentions plats ]7y the Clit'ect,or of conitnunity development; except for tllose activities thitt are exetxipt as clescribed in BVItC 19.120,030. Rerwoval of Bead, Dying or Diseased Trees — FWRC 19.120.030(12) exempts the removal of overhanging vegetation ;rocs fire hazards, or removal of invasive species, hazard trees, nuisance vegetation, or dead, c ingerous, or diseased trees whets authorized by the director or his/her designee. Pursuant to F ` rRC Table 19.120.130(1): Minimum Tree Density Requirements for Vacant or Redeveloping Sites Laud Use Designation RJM 1 800,RN112400, R.M 3600 ANALYSIS/FINDINGS Required Tree Unit Density 30 tree iuuts/acre s The applicant proposes removing seven trees. With the removal of these seven trees, the site may contaita less than the retluired tree units. To mitigate the potential for further noncon forma lice, rephinting at a .rate of one tree replanted for every one tree removed urill be required to ensure code compliance'Svith FWRC 19,30.180. * Trees approved to be removed are not located within any critical areas or associated buffers. CLOSING Be advised that this ekempdon is applicable to the m,untenaitce proposed ill the February 19, 7020, submittal to the city, ;dies any e panded scope of work should be verified fo.r co, le compliance. This adininistrative decision shall not waive ceistlpliance witli furure (:ity csFCCeral Wsty codes, policies, and standards relating; 10 this site. Please feel. free to contact Planning Manager Robert "Doc;' 1-Jansen at lric.han�rsen ciivo1, — lc n wa !.c:cam, or (253) 835-2643, if you have any questions regarding this letter, or the city's tree retention policy. Sincerely. William Golding Planning Intern Cominunin, Development Department I iin Lh.a111"d A*PLUS GROW YOUR FOREST IN THE CLOUD ARBORIST REPORT for Crestview West Indigo Real Estate Services Inc. 27912 Pacific Hwy S, Federal Way, WA 98003 By Izzy Nosan I ISA Certified Arborist WE-i 1653A I izzy0aplustree.com 3490 Buskirk Ave., Pleasant Hill, CA 945231 (206) 550-6679 Background A Plus Tree, Inc. was contacted by Crestview West apartment homes in Federal Information Way, WA requesting a tree risk assessment of all trees on site. The site was walked by A Plus Tree and an 'immediate priorities' plan was developed to address imminent safety and potential property damage concerns. Following a visual tree risk assessment, the trees included on this report were of concern to A Plus Tree and viewed as requiring mitigation action. The 7 trees on this report were viewed as being completely dead, close to death, or dangerous (having a moderate to high risk given nearby targets and occupancy rates), and have been recommended for removal. The recommended removals are interspersed around the 9.5 acre property, all within close proximity to critical targets such as apartment homes, sidewalks, and community roadways. This property contains a green area in the middle of the property. If the proposed removal of the trees on this report should be approved by the City of Federal Way, the property will retain more than enough Existing Trees based on the City of Federal Way requirements for Tree Units. This report was created to translate tree risk and to facilitate priority tree work. Assignment (and A Plus was requested to perform a risk assessment of the trees at Crestview any limiting factors) West with a focus on high -priority items and imminently dangerous trees, and provide a report regarding recommendation for safety concerns. This arborist report was completed in order to be in compliance with the City of Federal Way's tree removal regulations. The report discusses 7 high -risk trees and recommendations to best mitigate safety concerns. The Crestview West management intends to reduce the risk of tree failures on site by acquiring arborist services for removal of the most hazardous trees. If replants are required by the City of Federal Way, Crestview West intends to replant on -site with a native species following risk mitigation operations. No limiting factors were encountered with this assessment. Observations Upon inspection of the site, 7 trees were deemed as dead, dying, or likely to fail and impact nearby targets, posing significant consequences. These trees were categorized as Moderate to High Risk trees. 1) 1 - 13" dead fir tree located several feet away from an apartment building, and within approximately 20 feet of power lines. The tree is located in an area residents use for dog -walking. If retained, future whole tree failure or failure of individual tree -parts is expected to occur under normal conditions or heavy loading events. If failure occurs, contact with the aforementioned targets would be expected. 2) 1 - 12" dead Douglas -fir located next to an apartment building, and above a road and parking area. If retained, future whole tree failure or failure of individual tree parts is expected to occur under normal conditions or heavy loading events. If failure occurs, contact with the aforementioned targets would be expected. 3) 1 - 9" dead Western hemlock, located near a sidewalk, community road, and parking area. If retained, future whole tree failure or failure of individual tree -parts is expected to occur under normal conditions or heavy loading events. If failure occurs, contact with the aforementioned targets would be expected. 4) 1 - 4" dead red maple located in a parking strip next to the community road and a parking space. If retained, future whole tree failure or failure of individual tree -parts is expected to occur under normal conditions or heavy loading events. If failure occurs, contact with the aforementioned targets would be expected. 5) 1 - 19" dead spruce tree located in an outdoors recreational area, near a community cabana, sidewalks, gazebo, and play area. If retained, future whole tree failure or failure of individual tree -parts is expected to occur under normal conditions or heavy loading events. If failure occurs, contact with the aforementioned targets would be expected. 6) 1 -17" mostly dead Douglas -fir located by several apartment buildings, sidewalks, and recreational area. If retained, future whole tree failure or failure of individual tree -parts is expected to occur under normal conditions or heavy loading events. If failure occurs, contact with the aforementioned targets would be expected. 7) 1 - 19" fir tree. This tree is codominant, possesses a significant amount of included bark, and has signs of root decay and interior/basal decay. The tree is located next to an apartment building and sidewalk. If retained this tree is expected to have exacerbated levels of interior and root decay, and likely suffer a splitting failure along the inclusion between the 2 codominant leaders. These trees are in an area where failure could consequently impact pedestrians, motorists, buildings, and parked vehicles. Testing and I No soil assessment or advanced testing procedures were conducted. Analysis Discussion Given the associated targets, occupancy rates, and significant/severe consequences upon failure, the trees presented on this report were ranked as being high -risk and dangerous to the community. Given the mortality of the trees, they have exhausted their usefulness as landscape trees and have become liabilities; expected to fail towards critical target areas with occasional to constant occupancy. Future failures are expected to occur in a heavy - loading event, or under normal conditions, if these trees are retained as -is. Given that the associated targets are either within the dripline of the trees or within 1.5X the dripline, they are expected to cause future property or personal damage if retained. Recommendation Following the site visit and tree risk assessment at Crestview West, the following mitigation action is recommended: • The 7 trees on this report should be removed to the ground. Alternative mitigation options were considered, but removal was deemed the preferred recommendation out of practicality and to minimize residual risk. As previously mentioned, if required by the City of Federal Way, Crestview West will replant with the required number of native tree on site. 111 • • ir�� a �f .• r *r •'ry •'� s •Yi+ r1 w �• - r'►` - i 11111111�111111�IJf�1i��[«It+�'� - '� �: • • '_ 11flf�f�f�1111Jl1��"�. A41, t,f,1 r� It '0-4 .. 1 Photo 7a: f ArborPlus inventory : data: # Tree ID: 1000365443 Codominant fir tree , with significant included bark, signs ryv' of interior and root -� } ► decay, and near building/sidewalk. ; n 40 r � r f. ;y IF •yi �� iV:. - ... >,� �� I t �z"Y •� •tip y � �,,. ,�,:1:. k A +*`� i. Photo 7d: -� ArborPlus inventory data: r Tree ID: 1000365443 Codominant fir tree with significant included bark, signs interior - of and root decay, and near building/sidewalk.' i iL K� •�, � Jrwr RECEIVED REQUEST FOR ADMIlVISTRATIVE DECISION Co1VIlVImuy DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CITY OF Way 33325 8'� Avenue South Federal Y FEB 19 2020 Federal Way, WA 98003 253-835-2607;Fax 253-835-2609 CITY OF FEDERAL WAY .v �1 vd. c i tvo fi cal cra ��a�. c o m COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FILE NUMBER � - ---1— _L Date iQ — ! 9 R 4 0 Applicant NAM � -zvz� NUs r+) PRIMARY PHONE R�&55 —aqq BUSINESS/ORIiANIZATION P pis —\cn-, � ALTERNATE PHONE "20('- TqJ, -13-11 3�I ADDRESS ��l-izY eMy PI- AIAA)VLL STATE ZIP C A 9k5 A-)/V%'f FAX Property Addrem/Locatioin e6f-STVltL') i„`CST Prc W(C KW q S if,A-k- rJtl l G•J l`tid�� Description of Request List/Describe Attachments For Staff Use ❑ Code Interpretation/Clarification ❑ Critical Areas Letter/Analysis/Peer Review ❑ Request for Extension (Land Use/Plat Approval) ❑ Revisions to Approved Permit Tree Removal ❑ Zoning Compliance Letter Bulletin #i079 — December 11, 2018 Page 1 of 1 k:\Handouts\Request for Administrative Decision