14-101786-,
1
Isaac Conlen
To: jochoi7@gmail.com
Subject: FW: Tree Cutting in Wetland
Hello Mr. Choi,
Sorry for the delay getting back to you.
The cost of hiring a wetland biologist would likely be between $150 - $350 range for a job like this I expect. I understand
that that is a significant amount of money.
Maybe the best thing to do at this point is for me to come out and do a site visit and take a look at the trees. It's possible
we can work out a solution that would involve re -planting of some replacement trees.
Get back to me and let me know how you'd like to proceed.
Best,
Isaac
253 835 2643
From: Isaac Conlen
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 6:20 PM
To: 'John Choi'
Subject: RE: Tree Cutting in Wetland
Hi Mr. Choi,
I will get back to you — but it will be next week if that's OK. By the way you can call me Isaac.
Best
From: John Choi [mailto:jo hoi7 mail.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 4:55 PM
To: Isaac Conlen
Subject: Re: Tree Cutting in Wetland
Dear Mr. Conlen
appreciate of your prompt reply our concern regarding to cutting trees in wetland.
we are fully understand of your official stand to solve the problem because of environment protection issue.
however, I am the retired worker (71 years old) and live solely on social security.
do not know how much would be it's cost to evaluate by hired biologist or other expenses which I could not
afford to pay.
there are three concerns as I wrote to as
t
1) health hazard
2) nuisance
3) potential property damage
please, reply me for the above situation and show me the way we can go.
Sincerely,
John Choi
On Thu, May 1, 2014 at 3:52 PM, Isaac Conlen <Isaac.Conlen 6 offederalwa .comp wrote:
Hello Mr. Choi,
I received your written request to remove some cottonwood trees and another dead tree from the
wetland/wetland buffer area adjacent to your property.
As I believe you are aware, I had responded to a request from the property owner of the lot where the trees are
situated to remove those same trees.
In my initial response I indicated that the trees could be removed if an arborist finds them to be hazardous (this
is still the case if you choose to take that approach).
It sounds like in this case they are a nuisance more so than hazardous, although you do indicate concern over
them falling on the house.
Please review the attached code interpretation. It describes the process to request tree removal from critical
areas, such as wetlands. If you feel you can meet the criteria of the interpretation, submit a written request that
responds to the criteria identified in the document (page 3). Because the trees are located in a wetland area you
will need to submit a report (including a site plan) from a wetland biologist that evaluates the criteria and
establishes that the tree removal will not be harmful to the wetland. The biologist may recommend re -planting
with a more suitable species to mitigate the impact of tree removal. The City has an on -call wetland biologists
that you may utilize for this purpose (at your expense). Please let me know if you would like to do so and I can
arrange that.
Let me know if you have any questions. I can also come out and do a site visit if we schedule it far enough in
advance to clear my schedule.
Isaac Conlen
From: Isaac Conlen
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 3:53 PM
To: 'jochoi7@gmail.com'
Subject: Tree Cutting in Wetland
Attachments: Tree Cutting Interpretation - Critical Areas.docx
Hello Mr. Choi,
I received your written request to remove some cottonwood trees and another dead tree from the wetland/wetland
buffer area adjacent to your property.
As I believe you are aware, I had responded to a request from the property owner of the lot where the trees are situated
to remove those same trees.
In my initial response I indicated that the trees could be removed if an arborist finds them to be hazardous (this is still
the case if you choose to take that approach).
It sounds like in this case they are a nuisance more so than hazardous, although you do indicate concern over them
falling on the house.
Please review the attached code interpretation. It describes the process to request tree removal from critical areas,
such as wetlands. If you feel you can meet the criteria of the interpretation, submit a written request that responds to
the criteria identified in the document (page 3). Because the trees are located in a wetland area you will need to submit
a report (including a site plan) from a wetland biologist that evaluates the criteria and establishes that the tree removal
will not be harmful to the wetland. The biologist may recommend re -planting with a more suitable species to mitigate
the impact of tree removal. The City has an on -call wetland biologists that you may utilize for this purpose (at your
expense). Please let me know if you would like to do so and I can arrange that.
Let me know if you have any questions. I can also come out and do a site visit if we schedule it far enough in advance to
clear my schedule.
Best,
Isaac
253 835 2643
412212 rs4 Gmail - RE:trees
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4 messages
John Choi <jochoi7@gmail.com> Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 5:52 PM
To: lssac.Conlen@cityoffederalway.com
Dear, Mr Issac Conlen
my name is John Choi who is the owner of the house at 827 SW 355th Court
Federal Way, WA 98023 since Dec. 1, 1997.
We had difficult time every year on summer through fall since 2007, when the
cottonwood spread seeds to air,
then,those massive cotton like seeds covered entire backyard and deck area
and those white cotton seeds also caused breathing difficulty and allergy.
We try to avoid going out to backyard and deck, but but decide to do something.
We conclude that only solution to solve the problems are cutting those cottonwood trees, and other dead tree.
Also, those cottonwood trees are potential threat to damage house itself because those trees are tall enough to
hit the house if the trees fall down due to strong wind.
And, we are willing to replant other kind of trees to compensate, if needed by city.
Please, reconsider your stand regarding to cut trees.
let us know of your answer, before cottonwood seeding season.
Sincerely Yours,
My phone 253-640-5133
Fax 253-517-8462
E-mail: jochoi7@gmail.com
3 attachments
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Isaac Conlen
From:
Isaac Conlen
Sent:
Monday, April 21, 2014 5:00 PM
To:
'CenturyLink Customer'
Subject:
RE: trees
Hello Lyle,
Good speaking with you on the phone last week. This email follows up on that conversation.
Based on your description of where the trees are located, our wetland mapping and your personal knowledge of the
area, it appears the trees are located within a wetland and/or wetland buffer.
Generally speaking, trees are not allowed to be removed from wetland/buffers as they are considered beneficial to such
areas. An exception is made in a case where the trees are considered hazardous to a residential structure. If you feel
the trees in question are hazardous or diseased, please provide me a report from a certified arborist explaining why the
trees are hazardous/diseased. Upon acceptance of such a report (assuming we find it to be credible) we will authorize
the tree removal in writing. Depending on the circumstances (such as density of remaining vegetation) we may require
re -planting to supplement wetland vegetation.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know if you have any questions,
Best,
Isaac
253 835 2643
From: CenturyLink Customer [mailto:lykit fedwyAg.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2014 10:00 AM
To: Isaac Conlen
Subject: trees
AT) 2F!;Fo1uSp: ��A IL -
Isaac Conlen
From:
Isaac Conlen
Sent:
Tuesday, April 15, 2014 12:50 PM
To:
'CenturyLink Customer'
Subject:
RE: trees
Hello Mr. Kenny,
I was out of the office last two weeks, but I just had a chance to look at your email.
Generally speaking trees within wetlands and buffers are not allowed to be removed - unless they are determined to be
dangerous, by an arborist.
Before getting to that point, however, I'm curious if the trees are in fact within the buffer. Our wetland maps show a
wetland two parcels north of your property. That wetland would have a 100-foot buffer, which would not extend onto
your property. Our mapping, of course, is approximate and could be off by a considerable margin (meaning even though
we do not show the buffer encroaching onto your property, it may in fact do so).
So what I'm asking is do you have some reason to believe that the buffer does encroach onto your property? Was there
a wetland survey or report prepared for some reason? Let me know.
Best,
Isaac
253 835 2643
From: CenturyLink Customer fmailto:ivkit fedwyft.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2014 10:00 AM
To: Isaac Conlen
Subject: trees
"A ril 9 2014
p
j r�if�- C LJMH� AD
ATTENTION: Isaac Conlen
8'2-S c,•1 3 C77
I have been asked by one of my neighbors for permission to cut down two fairly large cottonwood trees on my
property behind his house.
The address of his house is: 827 SW 355th Court
Federal Way, WA. 98023
My property (Tax Account No. 302104-9007-09) is behind my home at: 922 SW 356th Street
Federal Way, WA. 98023
I am willing to have the trees and several saplings in the area cut down, but understand this property is
considered to be wetland and I need city approval , which I hereby request.
I am attaching pictures of the trees (marked by yellow ribbons) and a graphic showing the two properties in
questions.
Lyle Kenny
APR 18 2014
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
CDS
4