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12-105656 dsae CITY OF CITY HALL 1 F33325eder 8th Avenue South Federal VVay Federal Way,WA 98003-6325 (253)835-7000 www.cityoffederalway.com December 31,2012 Steve Ikerd City of Federal Way—Parks Department 33325 8th Avenue South Federal Way,WA 98003 RE: File#12-105656-00-AD; APPROVAL TO REMOVE DANGEROUS TREES Hylebos Park,411 South 348th Street,Federal Way Dear Mr.Ikerd: The Community and Economic Development Department has received your request to remove hazardous trees along the Hylebos Park boardwalk at the above-referenced address. According to the city's critical areas inventory,the trees are located within the West Hylebos Wetlands Park,a Category I Wetland with associated 200-foot 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 Proposed tree work utilizing hand tools and/or hand powered tools is hereby approved per the findings and conclusions provided below. CONDITIONS 1. All tree trimming will be done by using climbing equipment, hand tools/hand powered tools, and ropes. 2. Debris will be lowered and removed from the area using no heavy equipment within the sensitive area. BACKGROUND On December 20,2012,the city received a request from Steve Ikerd to do work on several trees along the boardwalk of the West Hylebos Wetlands Park. Submitted with the request was an I.S.A.Certified Arborist assessment by Bryce Landrud with Thundering Oak Enterprises dated December 20, 2012. Detailed in the letter provided by Mr. Landrud,the subject trees pose potential hazard to the boardwalk/bridge trail and its users.Mr. Landrud proposes work on one dead hemlock tree where the top has broken off and is suspended over the trail, one large failing Douglas Fir that is leaning in the same direction of the boardwalk, a group of Alders partially uprooted and overhanging/leaning toward the boardwalk bridge,and one large alder leaning in the same direction as the boardwalk. Mr.Ikerd December 31,2012 Page 2 DECISIONAL CRITERIA Planning Division staff reviewed the 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. • The scope of work is limited to only the trees mentioned in the arborist report that pose risk to public property.Tree roots will not be disturbed;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 parcels are not designated a Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Area.No trees will be removed and adequate habitat will remain. 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 work 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 work will reduce the likelihood of city property damage and the result of tree work will not contribute to the 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 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 Bryce Landrud has determined the trees are leaning toward a public boardwalk and bridge and/or are damaged and have the potential for future property damage. His recommendation is to remove damaged/dead portions before they fail and 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 this activity is exempt from SEPA review. 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 and preservation of over 150 acres of existing vegetation in the wetland is consistent with the purpose statement and regulations of Chapter 19.120. 12-105656 Doc.ID.62817 r Mr.Ikerd December 31,2012 Page 3 CLOSING This administrative decision shall not waive compliance with future City of Federal Way codes,policies, and standards relating to this site. Please contact Planning Intern Kennith George at 253-835-2634,or kennith.george@cityoffederalway.com,should you have any questions regarding this decision. Sincerely, Isaac Conlen,Planning Manager for Patrick Doherty,Director c: Kennith George,Planning Intern 12-105656 Doc.I.D.62817 DRAFT X--SgaC ) INSERT DATE! City Of Federal Way—Parks Department Steve Ikerd 33325 8th Ave S Federal Way, WA 98003 RE: Permit#12-105656-00-AD; APPROVAL TO REMOVE DANGEROUS TREES Hylebos Park,411 S 348th ST,Federal Way,WA Dear Mr. Ikerd: The Community and Economic Development Department has received your request to remove hazardous trees along the Hyebos Park boardwalk at the above referenced address. According to the city's critical areas inventory,the trees are located within the West Hylebos Wetlands Park;a Category I Wetland with associated 200-foot 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 Proposed tree work utilizing hand tools and/or hand powered tools is hereby approved per the findings and conclusions provided below. C N NS No trees shall be removed. The scope of work is to remove overhanding branches, broken tops and the careful fall of one failing Douglas-Fir. 2. All tree trimming will be done by using climbing equipment,hand tools/hand powered tools, and ropes. 3. Debris will be lowered and removed from the area using no heavy equipment within the sensitive area. BACKGROUND On December 2Q,2012,the city received a requested from Steve Ikerd to do work several trees along the .boardwalk of the West Hylebos Wetlands Park. Submitted with the request is an I.S.A.Certified Arborist assessment by Bryce Landrud with Thundering Oak Enterprises dated December 2!,2012. Detailed in the letter provided by Mr. Landrud,the subject trees pose potential hazard to the ..ardwalk/bridge trail and its users. Mr. Landrud proposes work on one dead hemlock tree where th= top has broken off and is suspended over the trail,one large failing Douglas-Fir that is leaning in the :me direction of the boardwalk,a group of Alders partially uprooted and mean toward he boardwalk bridge and one large alder leaning in the same direction as the boardwalk. OY- - i" lI j1c4 A 01(7 Doc.I.D. 11" ``I DECISIONAL CRITERIA R u Planning Division staff review:d i r r quest and provided a bulleted response to each of the director's decisional criteria below. 1. The proposed activity will not adversely affect water quality. • The scope of work is limited to only the trees mentioned in the arborist report which pose risk to public property.Tree roots will not be disturbed,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 parcels are not designated a Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Area.No trees will be removed and adequate habitat will remain. 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 work 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 work will reduce the likelihood of city property damage and the result of tree work will not contribute to the 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 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 uisance vegetation.(Emphasis added.) • Certified Arborist Bryce Landrud has determined the trees are leaning to and a public boardwalk and bridge and/or are damaged and have the potential for i. ure property damage.His recommendation is to remove damaged/dead portions,•efore they fail and reduce the trees to habitat stumps to eliminate the property dam. risk. 7. The proposed activity does not require review under the State , vironmental Policy Act. • The departments nc s azardous tree removal with' critical areas is a maintenance activity and cat rI exempt from : environm- .1 threshold determination pursuant to RC 14.15. 'l-c•S ' ova t s M S F_PA. (J Rs.Ytew . 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 and preservation of over 150 acres existing vegetation in the wetland is consistent with the purpose statement and regulations of Chapter 19.120. Doc.I.D. CLOSING This administrative decision shall not waive compliance with future City of Federal Way codes,policies, and standards relating to this site. Please contact Planning Intern Kennith George at 253-835-2634,or kennith.george@cityoffederalway.com,should you have any questions regarding this decision. Sincerely, Isaac Conlen,Planning Manager for Patrick Doherty,Director c: Kennith George,Planning Intern Doc.I.D. AD Z Isaac Conlen From: Steve Ikerd Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 8:02 AM To: Isaac Conlen Subject: FW: West Hylebos Attachments: FWParks(hylebostrail)1212.docx; FWParks(Hylebos)fir snag.jpg; FWParks(Hylebos) aldersnags.jpg These trees are either dead or leaning from storms and have high potential of doing costly property damage to the I lylebos boardwalk. Do I need permission to handle these particular trees and if so do you want a formal letter from me? From: Bryce Landrud jmailto:brvice@thunderingoak.coml Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 7:11 AM To: Steve Ikerd Subject: West Hylebos Hi Steve, Here's a write-up on the trees we looked at along the boardwalk trail. Thanks, Bryce Landrud Thundering Oak Enterprises, Inc. I.S.A. Certified Arborist#PN0232 253.288.8733 Join our newsletter list at www.thunderinqoak.com! P.O. Box 1847 AUBURN,WA 9807 1-1 847 OFFICE 253-288-TREE(8733) FAX: 253.939.5126 WWW.THUNDERINGOAK.COM Thundering Oak I \ 11.It I'I<I}I.., December 20. 2012 Steve Ikerd Federal Way Parks Re: West Hylebos Park Trail/hazard trees Hi Steve, I walked the boardwalk/bridge trail the other day with one of your employees (Tony?) to look at several trees of concern. I sent you a couple of photos of two of these already. The first is a very small (8")dead hemlock. The top has broken off and is suspended in another tree so that the broken part is over the trail. Your crew may be able to pull this out with a rope. If not, we can. $50.00 The second tree is the very large (approximate 44" in diameter) Douglas-fir snag adjacent to the boardwalk. A 20 foot piece recently fell from the top, narrowly missing the walkway(landed on the opposite side). This snag, while a great wildlife snag and reminder of the mature size of these trees. happens to be leaning in the same direction that the boardwalk runs. When the log falls it will be almost certain to land on the boardwalk. The size of the piece that falls will determine how many sections of the boardwalk will be demolished. Its removal, safely, involves shooting a line into the branched area, securing it to another tree 30 or 40 degrees to the east of the fall line, adding tension with a cable puller, then carefully executing several felling cuts. Expected cost - $900.00. The third is a group of alders(photo sent) that basically has 3 dead alder poles that are partially uprooted supporting 2 live trees and another dead one, all of which are also partially uprooted. It's difficult to tell what is holding up what, and its hard to tell what will happen when one of them gives. At least 4 of the stems are either over or leaning toward the boardwalk bridge. Make safe - $290.00 The last alder tree I was shown is another snag that, similarly to the big fir, has a lean in the same direction as the boardwalk. It should he simple to pull it over to the side - $150.00 We also looked at several partially uprooted spruce trees, one of which seems to be slowly heaving the boardwalk upwards. All of these have been slowly moving for years, and the one that seems to be the worst would be very difficult to remove without causing significant damage anyway. Since the movement seems to be pretty slow, and site visits oaten, hopefully we can address these if necessary when each reaches a point of no return. Respectfully submitted, Bruce Landrud E.S.A. Certified Arborist #PN0232 Isaac Conlen From: Isaac Conlen Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 8:56 AM To: Steve Ikerd Subject: RE. West Hylebos OK, based on my evaluation of the letter and photos, consider this email an approval to remove the requested trees. We'll follow up with formal approval in the form of a letter shortly. Isaac From: Steve Ikerd Sent:Thursday, December 20, 2012 8:31 AM To: Isaac Conlen Subject: RE: West Hylebos Just depends on when the next storm hits that will change the tipping point. Not imminent today, I hope. From: Isaac Conlen Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 8:14 AM To: Steve Ikerd Subject: RE: West Hylebos You do need permission because they are in a critical area. I'll consider this email to be your request. Is there an imminent danger on this or can we get you a response in a few days? From: Steve Ikerd Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 8:02 AM To: Isaac Conlen Subject: FW: West Hylebos These trees are either dead or leaning from storms and have high potential of doing costly property damage to the Hylebos boardwalk. Do I need permission to handle these particular trees and if so do you want a formal letter from me? From: Bryce Landau fmailto:bryce@thunderingoak.coml Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 7:11 AM To: Steve Ikerd Subject: West Hylebos Hi Steve, Here's a write-up on the trees we looked at along the boardwalk trail. Thanks, Bryce Landrud Thundering Oak Enterprises, Inc. I.S.A. Certified Arborist#PN0232 253.288.8733 Join our newsletter list at www thunderingoak.com! 1