The development of a 97-lot residential subdivision will continue as planned, after Renton’s hearing examiner this week rejected the appeal from the citizens’ group Tiffany Park Woods Advocacy Group (TPWAG), that tried to save the 21.7-acre undeveloped property.
Hearing Examiner Phil Olbrechts noted that Tiffany Park’s woods may have had recreational and aesthetic value in the past, but the woods are not subject to Washington State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) review.
“As detailed in this decision, the fact that the applicant has allowed neighbors to use its property in the past (or worse, the fact that neighbors may have trespassed in the past) does not justify the imposition of any SEPA requirements because the neighbors will lose that privilege as a result of the development,” wrote Olbrechts in his decision.
The hearing examiner went on to say that just because the neighbors of the park enjoyed an “appealing arboreal view,” that same view does not have to be retained by Henley USA, the new developer of the property.
Henley USA is planning to build 97 single-family residential lots on the undeveloped property and retain 30 percent of the trees. TPWAG, the citizen’s group, sought an appeal to have further environmental review and mitigation to address the aesthetic impacts of the woods.
Community members spoke out at Renton School Board meetings – the district owns the property in question – and at public hearings. The property has trails, tree forts and other recreational structures that neighbors don’t want to part with any time soon.
“We’re disappointed and sad and haven’t decided what to do next,” said Renate Beedon in an email response to the hearing examiner’s decision.
She is a member of the group TPWAG.
The group also alleged that there could be some hazardous waste on the property left by previous owners, the US Department of Defense. The hearing examiner said that a mitigated determination of non-significance condition of review will require Henley USA to submit its Phase I review to city staff prior to development to verify that there is no hazardous waste issue with the site.
Olbrechts approved the preliminary plat with some conditions.
Henley USA is to proceed with the mitigation measures issued as part of the Determination of Non-Significance Mitigated from Sept. 22, 2014, except for a couple of modified issues. There were some revisions to the earthwork requirements, landscaping and retaining walls specifications and curb bulb-outs, used to extend the sidewalk slightly into the intersection.
Henley USA was also to comply with submitting a revised plat and landscaping plan depicting curb bulb-outs where on-street parking is located.
The only contested issue between Henley USA and the City of Renton was the requirement of a 15-foot landscaping buffer around the entire perimeter of the development. Olbrechts decided that only a ten-foot buffer was necessary, limited to areas adjoining proposed retaining walls to conceal the walls from neighboring views.
TPWAG, or any other interested parties, now have within 14 calendar days from January 8 to appeal to the Renton City Council if they choose. A request for reconsideration may also be filed within this 14-day appeal period.
