ESA Memo Woodlands at Redondo Mitigation Plan ReviewFrom: Jessica Redman <JRedman@esassoc.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2020 9:50 AM
To: Becky Chapin
Subject: Woodlands at Redondo Mitigation Plan Review
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Hi Becky,
Please see below for ESA’s findings and recommendation on The Woodlands at Redondo Critical Areas
Mitigation Plan:
At the request of the City of Federal Way (City), ESA reviewed the Critical Areas Mitigation Plan –
“Woodlands at Redondo” prepared by Sewell Wetland Consulting Inc. (dated April 1, 2020) for the
property located off of Pacific Highway South and South 304th Street (Tax Parcels 042049012 &
042049221). The applicant proposes to construct a 68 lot residential subdivision with associated
infrastructure, including a stormwater detention pond. To accommodate the proposed development,
the applicant proposes to reduce the onsite wetland buffer by 18,674 square feet (SF). An additional
19,188 SF of buffer will be added to the northern side of the wetland buffer further downstream,
resulting in a net increase of 514 SF of wetland buffer. ESA has reviewed this property twice before:
First, in August 2019 when a site visit was conducted on August 28, 2019 to review the wetland
boundary and the rating form submitted in a previous version of the critical areas report. The second
review, a review of a revised version of the critical areas report, occurred in February, 2020. Findings of
these reviews were presented to the City on memos dated September 6, 2019 and February 7, 2020,
respectively.
The mitigation plan under this current review is in response to the recommendations made by ESA in
the February 7, 2020 review memo, where ESA recommended: 1) Buffer enhancement be proposed in
the buffer addition area, and 2) A mitigation plan be developed for the buffer impacts along South 304th
Street. In response to these recommendations, the applicant is currently proposing 2,589 SF of buffer
enhancement along South 304th Street; 5,924 SF of buffer restoration in existing buffer (in the south end
of the proposed project); and 2,788 SF of buffer restoration in the buffer addition area immediately
adjacent to the detention pond. Enhancement and restoration activities include the removal of trash,
controlling noxious weeds, and installation of native plants.
ESA agrees with the buffer enhancement/restoration in the existing wetland buffer and along South
304th Street. However, it is unclear why only 2,788 SF of the 19,188 SF buffer addition area is being
enhanced. The Mitigation Plan does not describe the current condition of the buffer addition area,
inside or outside of where buffer enhancement is proposed. In order to ensure that the buffer averaging
proposed will not result in an loss of ecological buffer function, ESA recommends that the applicant
describe the current conditions of this area; describe the rationale of selecting the 2,788 SF restoration
area and not enhancing the rest of the 19,188 SF area; and provide photos if possible.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Jessica Redman, PWS
Associate Scientist
ESA | Environmental Science Associates
Celebrating 50 Years of Work that Matters!
5309 Shilshole Avenue NW, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98107
206.789.9658 main
jredman@esassoc.com | esassoc.com