14-104201CITY OF
Fbderal My
Mr. Laurence Mahar
29604 2nd Avenue SW
Federal Way, WA 98023
llke: , File #14-104201-00-AD; REQUEST DENIED
Mahar — Tree Removal; 29604 2nd Avenue SW, Federal Way
Dear Mr. Mahar:
CITY HALL
33325 8th Avenue South
Federal Way, WA 98003-6325
(253) 835-7000
www.cityoffederalway.com
FILE
The City of Federal Way's Department of Community Development has received your request to remove a tree
from your property located at 29604 2nd Avenue SW, Federal Way. The proposed scope of workmicludes the
removal of a Colorado blue spruce that is approximately 65 feet tall. The tree in question is located within an
erosion hazard area and the buffer of a major stream. Because the tree is located within critical area buffers, any
modification is subject to review by the Community Development Department. The department has issued an
Interpretation #10-01 that provides clarification of the proper procedure and decision criteria for vegetation
removal within identified critical areas. The basic premise, upon which the interpretation is based, is that vegetation
should not be removed from a stream buffer unless it is determined to be hazardous or nuisance vegetation.
DECISION
Ms. Jo Laskowski, an ISA Certified Atborist, submitted an August 14, 2014, report in which the applicability
of a replacement tree was discussed pursuant to the requirements of Federal Ulay Revised Code (FWRC) 19.120,
"Clearing, Grading, and Tree and Vegetation Removal." Although valid, the above mentioned report does
not sufficiently address the criteria of Interpretation #10-01, which applies to vegetation removal cases that
are within identified critical areas pursuant to FWRC 19.145.
Enclosed is Interpretation #10-01. While criterions (1)-(5) and (7)-(8), have been delineated in Ms. Laskcwski's
report, criterion (6) is not met. There is no indication that the tree is hazardous or considered to meet the
definition of 'nuisance' vegetation. For this reason, the city cannot authorize the outright removal of the
above mentioned tree. Pursuant to the report submitted by Ms. Laskowski, in conjunction with an analysis of
Interpretation #10-01, the city hereby denies the removal of the above mentioned tree. The tree may be
trimmed under the direction of Ms. Laskowski to the extent such trimming -.,Vill not be detrimental to its
health.
CLOSING
This adint'nistrative decision shall not waive compliance with future City of Federal Way codes, policies, and
standards relating to this site. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Planning Intern
Kalon Thomas at (253) 835-2622, or Kalon.Thomas@cltyoffederal�v,,iy.com.
Sincerely,
Isaac Conlen
Planning Division %Maliager
I
[-'nc: Interpretation # 10-01
c: KalonThomas, Planning Intern
D—, 1.1), 66632
AUG 19, 2014
CITY OF WAY
14 Auust 2014 FEDERAL
gCDS
MAHAR Residence
29604 2n' Ave SW
Federal Way, WA 98023-3505
2,5-3 - 9- 3 T/ 7
Dear Larry,
I met with you at your property on Tuesday, August 12, 2014. You wanted to remove a tree on your
property. The tree is within 100 feet of a stream that drains into Puget Sound. The city of Federal Way
Code requires a report to determine if a replacement tree would be required after the removal.
The tree is a Colorado blue spruce, Piceapungens glauca, approximately 65 feet tall, with a DBH
f lit 21 hree leaders, and is p1j2roxi11atelv 75 feet from the stream.
(see attached image). Because the retaining wall defines the bed your spruce is in, it's unlikely that
removal of this tree would im i pact runoff to the stmm, i. The Mar Cheri community P601 is next to Your lot
on the west. The asphalt surfice of 2n' Ave S*termmates at the,eastern edge of this property, which
becomes a gravel parking lot. The pervious gravel surflic6belps to
surfaces, like the street. The stream is just south of this parking lot.
Enclosed is the completed form that Federal Way requires to determine replacement of removed trees.
you can see, you're required to have 6 "tree units" on your property. Without removal of the spruce youl
currently have 36. Replacement is therefore not required, but is optional. I recommend submission of
this form to their Department of Community Development; contact information is found on the form. I
Thank you for contacting Form & Foliage. It was a pleasure to If you, and please feel free to contact
me if you have any fiirther questions or concerns.
Cordially,
W -7
o Laskowski
S41 Certified Arborist, PNW 2764
Enclosures:
I . Tree Unit Calculation
2. Tree Count
3. Recommended Tree Species (Federal Way,
4. Recommended Street Trees (Seattle, WA)
5. image of Retaining Wall
6. Copy of current Certified Arborist certification
7. Invoice I
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OPMENT SERVICES
33325 8th Avenue South
CITY OF Federal Way, WA 98003-6325
253-835-2607;Fax 253-835-2609
Federal Way�v citvoftederah ay.co�
CALCULATING TREE UNITS (IN RS ZONES)
(Chapter 19.120 Federal Way Revised Code)
To determine the minimum tree units required for your site:
l O , 49 01D 43,560 (sf/acre) 0. 3 x 25 (units/acre) (Q . ®°®
(lot size in square feet) (lot size in acres) (minimum tree units)
Example:
Lot Size = 9,723 square feet 9,723143,560 = .22 acres .22 x 25 = 5.5 = tree units
00- To determine number of existing or replacement tree units:
Existing Trees
Includes all trees except invasive species and hazard trees
Tree Size (diameter at breast height t4.57 # of Trees Tree Units Total Units
1" to 6" dbh 10 x 1.0
> 6" to 12" dbh x 1.5
> 12" to 18" dbh x 2.0
> 18" to 24": dbh 1 x 2.5 = y*
> 24 dbh x 3.0 =
Total Existing Tree Units 3 (� ,
Replacement Trees
Evergreen Trees —minimum 6' in height at planting
Deciduous Trees — minimum 2" caliper at planting
Species Tree Units
Small Canopy (mature canopy area <450 square feet) 0.5
Examples: Japanese Maple, Black Hawthorne, Western Crabapple
Medium Canopy (mature canopy area 450 — 1,250 square feet) 1.0
Examples: Western White Pine, Choke Cherry, Honey Locust
Large Canopy (mature canopy area > 1,250 square feet) 1.5
Examples: Douglas Fir, ,Tulip Tree, Western Red Cedar
For a"complete list of recommended replacement trees, see Bulletin #068
Bulletin #073 —January 1, 2011 Page I of I k_\Handouts\Calculating Tree Units
NL4HAR Residence
tree count 08/12/2014
Tree
Tree
common name
botanical name
DBH in inches
spruce
Picea pungens glauca
10-2/10
cherry
Prunus sp.
3-7/10
hawthorne
Cralaegus sp.
2-7/10
cherry
Prunus sp.
4-3/10
birch
Belulapendula
10-5110
dogwood
Cornusflorida cv.
2
Douglas fir
Pseudotsuga menziesh
8-3/10
birch
Betulapendula
*2 - stem: 10
birch
Belulapenduld
8-5/10
birch
Betulapendula
9
maple
Acer macrophyllum
14-2/10
spruce
Picea Pungens glauca
11-4/10
maple
Acer sp.
*2 stem: 6
maple
Acer sp.
*3 stem: 12 - 3/10
hibiscus
Hibiscus syriacus cv.
1-6/10
hibiscus
Hibiscus syriacus cv.
1-5/10
birch
Befulapendula
*2 stem: 15
dogwood
Cornusflorida cv.
1- 3/1
Portugal laurel
Prunus lusitanica
13-3/10
birch
Betulapendula
14
maple
Acer sp.
5-2/10
cherry
Prunus sp.
*2 stem: 5 - 5110
maple
Acer sp.
6-5/10
maple
Acer sp.
5
maple
Acer macrophyllum
19-7/10
DBH is the acronym
for diameter at breast height.
This is an international standard, the height at which the
diameter of a trunk is
measured.
DBH for multi -stemmed trees determined by taking the square
root of the sum of all squared stem DBHs:
(V (V