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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLog067 JEFFERSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS P.O. Box 2070 1322 Washington Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360) 385-9160 Frank Gifford, Public Works Director Monte Reinders, P.E., County Engineer TO: Stacie Hoskins Community Development Department James W. Pearson, Project Manag~ December 2, 2005 RECEIVED DEe 0 5 2005 jtffE~snN CUU~1't' Den MEMORANDUM FROM: DATE: RE: SUB05-00022 Discovery Bay Golf Course Planned Rural Residential Development STATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT REVIEW After review of the environmental checklist for the referenced proposal and supplemental information submitted by the applicant, the Public Works Department has the following comments: Environmental Checklist Section 1 Earth. The proposal would include significant clearing, grading, and excavation and create a total of 12-16 acres of impervious surface to construct roads, driveways, home sites, golf course improvements, and drainage facilities. The Jefferson County Unified Development Code, Section 6.7 Stormwater Management Standards adopts the standards and minimum requirements of the Washington Department of Ecology Stormwater Management Manual for W estern Washington. The Stormwater Manual requires proponents of developments that meet these criteria to develop a Stormwater Site Plan that complies with Minimum Requirements # 1-# 10. The applicant has submitted a preliminary Stormwater Site (SWS) Plan prepared by Washington Engineering dated September 16, 2005. The SWS Plan proposes that the Stormwater Manual Minimum Requirements will be addressed in detailed plans that will be submitted with engineered construction plans for the proposal. This includes Minimum Requirement #2 Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention that addresses temporary erosion and sediment control. LOG ITEM # <..07 Pag'3---1_otL 1 00% Recycled Paper The Department has reviewed the preliminary SWS Plan. The Department will conduct a detailed review of the SWS Plan and provide appropriate comments to the proponent. Prior to conducting land disturbing activity on the site, the proponent will need to receive approval for the SWS Plan from the Public Works Department. Public Works Department Recommendation Based on the requirement to implement an approved Stormwater Site Plan, the Department recommends finding that the proposal is not likely to result in significant adverse impacts related to erosion. Environmental Checklist Section 3 Water The proposal would create 12-16 acres of impervious surface to construct roads, driveways, home sites, and golf course improvements. The Jefferson County Unified Development Code, Section 6.7 Stormwater Management Standards adopts the standards and minimum requirements of the Washington Department of Ecology Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington. The Stormwater Manual requires proponents of developments that meet these criteria to develop a Stormwater Site Plan that complies with Minimum Requirements #1-#10. The applicant has submitted a preliminary Stormwater Site (SWS) Plan prepared by Washington Engineering dated September 16,2005. The SWSPlan includes a delineation of drainage basins and calculation of pre-development and post development runoff from each basin. It proposes that the Stormwater Manual Minimum Requirements, including conveyance, treatment, and detention facilities will be addressed in detailed plans that will be submitted with engineered construction plans for the proposal. The preliminary SWS Plan proposes to implement low impact development The Department has reviewed the preliminary SWS Plan. The Department will conduct a detailed review of the SWS Plan and provide appropriate comments to the proponent. Prior to conducting land disturbing activity on the site, the proponent will need to receive approval for the SWS Plan from the Public Works Department. Golf Course Chemical Use The environmental checklist discusses chemical use on the golf course, including fertilizer and herbicides. A golf course management plan (GCMP) that establishes protocols for chemical use was developed in 1997 for previous revisions to the golf course. The checklist proposes to revise the GCMP to reflect course modifications and updated practices. The proposal site has a stream and wetlands and is a critical aquifer recharge area. Appropriate chemical use is an important surface water and groundwater quality issue. It is within the area addressed by Minimum Requirement #3 Source Control of Pollutants. Considering the level of expertise required to review the golf course management plan, the Department will recommend a condition under Stormwater Management below requiring a third party review the GCMP. 2 # Pag'3 LOG ITEM fo'1 2--_ ~otf- Public Works Department Recommendation Based on the requirement to implement an approved Stormwater Site Plan, the Department recommends finding that the proposal is not likely to result in significant adverse impacts related to stormwater runoff. Environmental Checklist Section 14 Transportation The site is accessed from S. Discovery and Cape George Roads. Both are rural collector roads with 40 MPH speed limits. S. Discovery Road was a territorial road. It was established in 1878 prior to statehood. Jefferson County claims a 60 feet wide right-of-way that is 30 feet on each side of the centerline that existed when the road was conveyed to the State of Washington when statehood was granted. While the Department is not aware of any subsequent changes to the alignment, minor changes may have occurred since that time that could have resulted in minor differences between the territorial right-of-way and the area within 30 feet of the existing centerline. Jefferson County acquired a 60 feet wide right-of-way for the segment of Cape George Road adjacent to Discovery Bay Golf Course in 1947 through quit claim deeds. Jefferson County Public Works Department traffic counts show that: . S. Discovery Road adjacent to the proposal site has an average daily traffic (ADT) of 1,333, . S. Discovery Road east of the Cape George Road intersection has an ADT of2,669, and . Cape George Road has an ADT of 1,530. These traffic counts differ somewhat from those shown in the traffic impact assessment prepared for the proposal that reflect typical volumes for larger segments of these roads. In order to meet Jefferson County's adopted standards for a rural collector road, S. Discovery Road east of Cape George Road should have a 24 feet wide traveled way with 8 feet wide shoulders, S. Discovery Road north of Cape George Road should have a 22 feet wide traveled way with 5 feet side shoulders, and Cape George Road should have a 22 feet wide traveled way with 6 feet side shoulders. These segments of S. Discovery and Cape George Road typically.have a 20 feet wide traveled way and 2 feet wide shoulders. There is not a significant accident history on the segments of Discovery Road and Cape George Road that would carry most of the traffic generated by the proposal. A new private road (Lawrence Road) would provide access to 32 lots on the western portion of the site. It would share an access to Cape George Road with the golf course entrance. A new private road (Bonnie Lane) would provide access from S. Discovery Road to a six-lot cluster on the northeastern portion of the site. An existing private access road approximately 1,500 feet south of the northeast comer of the site would be improved to provide access to 10 lots (Hutson Road) from S. Discovery Road. A road would be 3 # Pagt3 LOG ITEM ~~ 3, ott- constructed connecting Lawrence and Hutson Roads to provide a secondary access for emergency vehicles. An easement for the Larry Scott Trail, a multi-purpose trail that will extend from Port Townsend to Four Corners on SR 20, connects to the proposal site on its northern boundary. It extends east along the northern boundary to S. Discovery Road and then south approximately 1,070 feet along the west side of S. Discovery Road to a point approximately 241 feet north of the trail easement on the east side of S. Discovery Road. When completed, the Larry Scott Trail will provide an alternative route for pedestrians and bicyclists to using S. Discovery Road. Jefferson County has received a grant to purchase the remaining easements needed to extend the trail to Four Corners. Jefferson County does not currently have funds for trail construction in the vicinity of the proposal site. The proposal includes the development of an onsite trail system that would extend from the Larry Scott Trail to Cape George Road. The trail system is depicted on Trail Exhibit 1 B, dated 08/26/2005 that was submitted with the application. Residences on Lawrence and Hutson Roads would have direct access to the onsite trail system. Residences on Bonnie Lane would have access to the onsite trail system by way of the Larry Scott Trail. Trails are proposed to be 6-8 feet wide with a gravel surface. Portions of the trail would be constructed on a trail easement within the internal access road easements. Based on the proposed typical road sections, thQse segments would be 7 feet wide within a 20 feet wide easement. The proposal states that the trail system would be for public use, but it does not specify how continuing public use of the trail system would be ensured. Traffic Impact Assessment A traffic impact assessment was prepared for the proposal by Geralyn Reinart, PE dated April 2005. The assessment addresses existing conditions, trip generation and distribution, existing and projected intersection level of service, accident history, and roadway capacity. The Department commented on the assessment in a memo dated June 15,2005. Ms. Reinart responded to the Department's comments in a memo dated August 4,2005. The assessment projects that the proposal will generate approximately 460 average daily trips (ADT). The following trip distribution is anticipated: . S. Discovery Road east toward SR 20: 230 ADT (55%) . S. Discovery Road north toward Port Townsend: 206 ADT (45%) . Cape George Road between S. Discovery Road and the golf course entrance: 299 ADT (65%) . North on Cape George Road: 23 ADT (5%). Based on an analysis of peak hour traffic and intersection turning movements, the assessment concludes that the proposal would not result in significant impacts to intersection level of service. 4 LOG ITEM # ~ro? Pag'3 ~ i _of~ The assessment acknowledges that South Discovery and Cape George Roads do not meet current design standards for their existing traffic volumes. It states that the traffic volumes generated by the proposal would require a 22 feet wide traveled way with 6 feet wide shoulders on both roads. The assessment notes that Jefferson County's projected traffic growth on S. Discovery and Cape George Roads without the proposal will be similar in scale to the traffic generated by the proposal. The assessment asserts that the traffic generated by the proposal would not be a significant increase and would not require improvements that are not already necessary to meet existing deficiencies or to accommodate projected traffic growth in the very near future. It concludes that due to the limited off-site impacts associated with the project, no mitigation measures should be required. Public Works Department Assessment The Department concurs with the traffic impact assessment that the project would not have a significant impact on intersection level of service. The proposal would generate the following traffic increases: . S. Discovery Road adjacent to the proposal site: 15%, . S. Discovery Road east of the Cape George Road intersection: 9% . Cape George Road: 20%. The Department does not concur with the traffic assessment that off-site impacts related to deficiencies in the width of traveled way and shoulders would be minimal and that no mitigation measures should be required. S. Discovery and Cape George Roads both have existing deficiencies in width of traveled way and shoulders. The proposal would generate additional traffic to these already deficient roadway segments. This traffic would not change the design standard for traveled way on either road or for shoulders on Cape George Road and the segment of S. Discovery Road east of the Cape George Road intersection. It would change the design standard for shoulders on S. Discovery Road north of Cape George Road from 5 feet to 6 feet. Improvements to both S. Discovery and Cape George Roads would be required to provide adequate roadways to serve the proposal. Roadway shoulders perform several important safety-related functions that include providing a vehicle recovery area, an area for disabled vehicles, and a safe area for use by pedestrians and bicyclists. The proposed onsite trail system provides an opportunity to avoid impacts related to pedestrian and bicycle use by providing alternative routes that would enable them to avoid deficient segments of S. Discovery and Cape George Roads. This would, however, also require connections from the onsite trail system to the Larry Scott Trail and to S. Discovery and Cape George Roads. The Department proposes mitigation conditions below that specify this. Improvements to S. Discovery and Cape George Roads are included in the Jefferson County Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program. They include constructing a 22 feet wide traveled way with 6 feet wide shoulders, 4:1 ditch foreslopes, and 2:1 ditch backslopes. Funding to construct these improvements has not been secured. Obtaining 5 LOG ITEM # "" Pagl3._ ~. otL adequate right-of-way and slope easements can be a significant cost of constructing roadway improvements. As noted above Jefferson County has 60 feet of right-of-way for both of these roads. While this would be adequate to construct the required roadway improvements on some segments of these roads, there are areas where the roads are in 3- 5 feet deep cut sections that would require slope easements outside of the rights-of-way in order to construct ditch backslopes. In order to ensure that Jefferson County can construct the improvements necessary to serve the proposal, there should be a mitigation condition requiring the proponent to grant slope easements to Jefferson County outside of the S. Discovery and Cape George Road rights-of-ways. The Department proposes mitigation conditions below that specify this. The Department notes that there is no significant documented equestrian use of S. Discovery and Cape George Roads in the vicinity of the proposal site. Equestrian use would not be impacted by the proposal. The Department therefore does not recommend that the proponent should provide for equestrian use of the onsite trails. The Department concludes that the proposal would have significant impac~s on roadway capacity and pedestrian and bicycle use. The Department recommends that significant impacts from the proposal can be avoided by requiring the proponent to: . Construct an onsite trail system with guarantees for continuing public use, . Connect the onsite trail system to the Larry Scott Trail and to S. Discovery and Cape George Roads, . Convey to Jefferson County any interest within 30 feet of the centerline ofS. Discovery Road, and . Provide slope easements on segments of S. Discovery and Cape George Roads. The Department concludes that these mitigations are roughly proportional to the proposal's impacts. The Department has reviewed the comments by Jefferson County Transit recommending construction of bus pullouts. The Department has discussed this issue with Transit and the Department of Community Development. Based on this discussion, the Department concurs that there should be a bus pullout adjacent to the golf course access at proposed Lawrence Road. The Department recommends that the location of the bus pullout should be determined by the Department in consultation with Transit and the proponent at the time final engineering documents for the proposal are prepared. Public Works Department Recommended Mitigation Conditions In order to avoid the impacts identified above, The Department recommends that the proponent should implement the following mitigation conditions prior to final plat approval: . The proponent shall construct a trail system for public use extending from S. Discovery Road to Cape George Road in substantial conformance with the trail system depicted on the proponent'~ Trail Exhibit 1B dated 08/26/2005. . Trail system design shall conform to commonly accepted standards for width, structural section, grade, drainage, surfacing, and signage. In order to ensure an appropriate design, the proponent shall submit a detailed trail plan and specifications 6 # Pag'3 LOG ITEM ~ otL to the Jefferson County Public Works Department for review and approval prior to construction. . In order to provide access to the onsite trail system, the proponent shall connect the trail system to Cape George Road in the vicinity of the golf course entrance and to the Larry Scott Trail easement on the northern boundary of the site. . In order to provide a connection to S. Discovery Road and to the planned extension of the Larry Scott Trail to Four Comers, the proponent shall construct the Larry Scott Trail east along the northern site boundary to S. Discovery Road and south along S. Discovery Road approximately 1,300 feet to connect with the Larry Scott Trail on the east side of S. Discovery Road. The design for the Larry Scott Trail shall conform to Jefferson County's adopted design standards for the Larry Scott Trail. . In order to provide a connection between the Larry Scott Trail easements on the western and eastern sides of S. Discovery Road, the proponent shall dedicate to Jefferson County a 30 feet wide trail easement that extends the existing easement on the west side of S. Discovery Road south approximately 240 feet. . In order to ensure continuing public use of the onsite trail system, the proponent shall provide an appropriate easement or agreement for continuing public use of the trail system. The easement or agreement shall be established by a dedication on the face of the plat or through another instrument acceptable to Jefferson County. The easement or agreement may include reasonable limits on the public's use of the trail including prohibiting motorized and equestrian use. The easement or agreement shall be submitted to Jefferson County for review and approval. . In order to ensure on-going public use of the trail system, the proponent shall make appropriate provision for maintenance and repair of the onsite trail system by the golf course owner, the PRRD homeowners association, or a third party acceptable to Jefferson County. The proponent shall not be responsible for trail maintenance on the Larry Scott Trail easement. . The proponent shall convey to Jefferson County by quit claim deed any interest in the area lying within 30 feet of the existing centerline of S. Discovery Road. . The proponent shall grant slope easements to Jefferson County not exceeding 10 feet in width adjoining the S. Discovery Road and Cape George Road rights-of-way as necessary to construct a roadway with a 22 feet wide traveled way, 6 feet wide shoulders, 4: 1 ditch foreslopes, and 2: 1 ditch backslopes. Applicable State and County Policy The proposed mitigation is based on the following State and County policies and regulations: RCW 58.17 Subdivisions RCW 58.17.010 Purpose states: The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the subdivision of land and to promote the public health, safety and general welfare.. .to lessen congestion in the streets and highways. . . to promote safe and convenient travel by the public on streets and highways. . .. 7 LOG ITEM # CoI Page...-l ot.i- RCW 58.17.110 Approval or disapproval of subdivisions and dedications states: (1) The county legislative body shall inquire into the public use and interest proposed to be served by the subdivision. It shall determine: (a) If appropriate provisions are made for...the public health, safety, and general welfare...streets or roads...and (b) whether the public interest will be served by the subdivision. Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan Land Use Goal LNG 17: Ensure that transportation is safe, efficient, multi-modal, and based on levels of service that correspond to the land use densities in the Comprehensive Plan. Transportation Element Policy TRP 4.8: Ensure that unacceptable safety hazards will be mitigated. The definition of unacceptable will be based on analysis of the existing facility(s) and the current standards for that facility(s) contained in commonly used and adopted transportation publications. Jefferson County Unified Development Code Section 1 Purpose states: 1.10 Findine:s: Promotion of public health, safety, and general welfare requires the division of land to proceed in accordance with standards. . . to lessen congestion on streets and highways; to provide ingress and egress. . .. 1.20 Purposes: The purposes of this ordinance are: 1. To promote public health, safety, and general welfare; 2. To provide for the proper applicatjon ofRCW 58.17, as amended; 3. To further the purposes and objectives of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan; 4. To provide the public with the assurance that certain necessary facilities will be provided in new.. .long subdivisions...in an amount and size appropriate for their proposed use; 6. To ensure that the general taxpaying public is not in the future required to incur development costs which are the responsibility of the original developer; 7. To minimize the adverse environmental impacts of new subdivision development, thereby protecting the quality of life of the citizens of Jefferson County. Section 6.2 General Development Standards states: Section 6.2.5 that requires that: All land use activities shall be served by appropriate transportation facilities. Transportation facilities shall be adequate both to serve the proposed land use and to avoid adverse effects to the existing transportation system. If transportation facilities are inadequate, the applicant shall be required to make provision of necessary improvements. Transportation facilities shall be deemed adequate if necessary improvements are planned and designated funding is secured in the Jefferson County Six Year Transportation Improvement Program. 8 # Pagl3 LOG ITEM Ca"-l ~otL