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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2017-06-22 Item 4 - Foster High School Expansion and Birth to Kindergarten - Attachment D: SEPA Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance by Tukwila School District (5/9/2017)SCHOOL C71 s T R I c T 1 4040 S. "144th St. Tukwila, WA 98168 ( (206) 901 -8000 1 tukwi Ia. wednet.edu SEPA MITIGATED DETERMINATION OF NONSIGNIFICANCE Foster High School Modernization and Additions (FHS), Showalter Middle School Modernization and Additions (SMS), New Birth -to- Kindergarten Center (132K) DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL: The project entails three primary projects: Foster High School Modernization and Additions; Showalter Middle School Modernization and Additions; and construction of the new Birth -to- Kindergarten Center. All projects will have separate and independent access and circulation. Foster High School Modernization and Additions - The District will renovate, modernize and expand the existing school to accommodate smaller class sizes and a STEAM focus. The building will add up to 15 teaching stations /classrooms; expand and enclose the student commons; add an auxiliary gymnasium and expand the weight room; reconfigure the ball fields to accommodate baseball, softball and tennis courts; reconfigure and reduce parking; and make other modernization and safety improvements. The project entails demolition of the existing District technology building located onsite and removal of four double classroom portables. The total expansion area is 61,164 square feet for a new total building size of 174,264 square feet. Capacity will increase from 878 to 1,100 students; however actual enrollment is not anticipated to increase over the next 10 to 15 years. No changes are proposed to the existing access from S. 144th Street. Showalter Middle School Modernization and Additions -The District plans to modernize the facility to include interior improvements, add additional classrooms in a second story addition to the main classroom building, and expand the commons and gymnasium. The project entails the removal of two 1,800 square foot portables for a net building increase of 12,000 square feet and a total building size of 100,000 square feet. Improvements for emergency access include the addition of a gated emergency access connection to the north via S 142nd Street. The existing access /driveways from S. 144th Street and parking remain unchanged. The expansion is to accommodate classroom size reduction, however capacity will not increase. New Birth -to- Kindergarten Center - The District is adding a new 53,000 square foot, two -story Birth to Kindergarten Center located to the northeast of the Foster High School Stadium on what is presently District ballfields. The first phase of the project will be to house all kindergarten and pre - school from around the district. Subsequent phases will add infant and toddler programs. The total facility capacity will be 440 students and 28 classrooms, of which 290 students and 17 classrooms will be full day kindergarten; 90 preschoolers plus infant and toddler programs of 30 -40 children (in split half -day and full - day programs). Each age group will have separate areas within the building and outdoor play areas. Access to the property will be via S. 142nd Street where two travel lanes and sidewalks will be provided. Approximately 80 parking spaces will be added. An emergency vehicle and delivery vehicle access road will be provided via a gated connection with Showalter Middle School. LOCATION OF PROPOSAL: Foster High School: 4242 South 144th Street, Tukwila, WA 98168, Parcel No. 1523049108. Showalter Middle School: 4628 South 144th Street, Tukwila, WA 98168. Parcel No. 1523049108. Birth -to- Kindergarten Center: Vacant Property (undetermined situs), South 144th Street. Parcel No. 1523049164. All project sites are located in Section 15, Township 23, Range 4. ATTACHMENT D 103 PROPONENT AND LEAD AGENCY: Tukwila School District RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: Dr. Judith Berry, Deputy Superintendent & SEPA Official Tukwila School District 4640 South 144th Street Tukwila, WA 98168 berryj(7a,tukwila.wed net. edu The Responsible Official for the Tukwila School District hereby makes the following findings and conclusions based on a review of the environmental checklist and attachments (SEPA Checklist); other information on file with the District and City of Tukwila; and the policies designated by the Tukwila School District as a basis for the exercise of substantive authority under the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) pursuant to RCW 43.21C.060. Copies of the documents pertaining to this SEPA MDNS are available for review at the District website at https: // tukwilaschools .org /wp- content/uploads /2017 /01 /SEPANOTICE2017.pdf, or during regular business hours at the Tukwila School District at the address listed above. FINDINGS OF FACT General 1. The SEPA Checklist was made available for public review and comment from January 19, 2017, through February 20, 2017. A Notice of SEPA Consultation was published in the Daily Journal of Commerce, posted on the site, and mailed to interested agencies, property owners, and residents within 500 feet of the property on January 19, 2017. Comments were received from the City Planning, Public Works, and Fire Departments. 2. The Foster High School and Showalter Middle School sites are currently operating as schools and the use will not change as a result of this proposal. The Birth -to- Kindergarten Site is currently District ballfields. Construction of the Foster High School Additions and New Birth -to- Kindergarten Center will begin in winter of 2018. Construction of Showalter Middle School Additions will begin in Spring of 2019. 3. The existing District technology building located on the Foster High School site will be demolished. Four portables (8 classrooms) on the Foster High School site and two portables on the Showalter Middle School site will also be removed. Earth 4. The Foster High School /Showalter Middle School parcel is relatively flat in grade and fully developed, and includes basic landscaping. The Birth -to- Kindergarten Center consists of a flat area with two ballfields and a heavily wooded /sloped area at the far east edge of the parcel. All sites have a thin layer of topsoil with a reworked layer of glacial till underneath that has likely been placed as fill from previous grading. The fill is loose to medium dense, silty sand, with gravel. Intact, dense glacial till was found underlying the fill. Site instability as a result of soils is not expected. 5. According to the City of Tukwila Sensitive Areas Map, small pockets of Type 2 slopes (between 15 and 40 percent) and Type 3 slopes (between 15 and 40 percent composed of relatively impermeable soils, or lopes over 40 percent). No development is proposed within these sensitive areas. 6. For the Foster High School Site there will be approximately 8,760 cubic yards of cut and 6,150 cubic yards of fill. For the Showalter Middle School site, the estimated cut and fill is less than 2,500 cubic yards of fill. For the New Birth -to- Kindergarten Center, there will be an estimated 12,000 cubic yards of cut and 2,000 cubic yards of fill. 7. Foster High School currently has an impervious surface coverage of 64 %, which will be slightly reduced to 63% upon completion. Showalter Middle School is currently 75% impervious and will not change. Birth -to- Kindergarten site is will be approximately 40% impervious upon completion. 104 Air 8. Construction activities could cause temporary increases in dust and emissions pollution. Post - construction emissions will be entirely related to vehicular and bus trips. The only new trips to the site are those associated with the Birth -to- Kindergarten Center. Water 9. There is no surface water body on or in the immediate vicinity of the property and it is not located within a floodplain. There will be no discharges to surface waters. 10. Stormwater management systems are designed in accordance with the 2016 King County Surface Water Design Manual. The source of stormwater runoff for Foster High School and Showalter Middle School will be from roofs, athletic fields /tennis courts /playgrounds, sidewalks and asphalt drive aisles /parking area. All stormwater will be managed onsite through collection, treatment and discharge to the City stormwater system. Some limited infiltration will occur. 11. For the Birth -to- Kindergarten site, the source of water runoff will be primarily just from the surface area of the proposed project. The surface runoff will be collected in a system of catch basins, and conveyed with pipes to an underground detention vault prior to being discharged through an existing surface mounted pipe on the east side of the site. Plants 12. Some trees will be removed along the Foster High School north boundary to grade the area for the tennis courts and ballfieds. Also trees will be removed for the planned improvements to S. 142nd Street and the eastern portion of the Birth to Kindergarten site. Trees to remain that are adjacent to the construction areas will be protected with a chain link fence surrounding the drip line. 13. No landscaping is proposed at the Showalter Middle School site. New landscaping at the Foster High School and Birth -to- Kindergarten sites will include native plants and /or drought resistant ornamentals. Landscaping will be provided within the new parking lot areas and portions of property perimeters. Animals 14. According to the Wash Dept. of Fish and Wildlife mapping services, there are no threatened or endangered animal species on or in the vicinity of the project site. Energy and Natural Resources 15. Energy conservation features include an energy management system (EMS) for monitoring energy use for lighting, HVAC and hot water. LED lighting with motion sensors will be used in classrooms and parking lots. The projects will meet requirements for Superior Energy Performance — Energy Star. The Birth -to- Kindergarten Center will be designed to maximize the use of natural daylight — thus reducing the electrical lighting needs. The Birth -to- Kindergarten Center is intended to be designed equivalent to LEED Silver. Environmental Health 16. No contaminated soils were found during testing. Hazardous Building Materials Survey (Hazmat) Reports were prepared. For Foster High School it concluded that there were no known contaminants or health hazards on the site. The technology building study founds some asbestos - containing materials and lead -based paint that is below EPA levels. Noise 17. On a short-term basis, some noise may be created by construction activity due to operation of equipment. Noise levels will not exceed the maximum permissible sound levels allowed per Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) Chapter 8.22. 18. Long term noise will be typical of that associated with an elementary school, including vehicular and school bus noise, which is most prevalent at school start and stop times. Truck deliveries will be minimal. The noise of children at play in the outdoor areas will occur during various times throughout the school day. Noise associated with the fire alarm will occur from time to time. 105 Land and Shoreline Use 19. The properties are located in a neighborhood made up primarily of single family residential, with a mix of some high- density residential and institutional uses. To the west of the sites there are two apartment complexes and Foster Library. To the south, land uses are primarily single - family residential. To the east, land uses are primarily single - family residential and the Tukwila School District Administration Building. To the north of the sites, uses are primarily single- family residential and a large church property. 20. The sites are zoned as low density residential (LDR). A Public Recreation Overlay (PRO) covers a portion of the Foster High School and Showalter Middle School sites, and encompasses the Birth -to- Kindergarten site. 21. The Comprehensive Plan's Capital Facilities Chapter requires adequate public facilities to service development in the City, which would include facilities for public schools. The Tukwila Comprehensive Plan calls for growth, and new school facilities are needed to accommodate that growth. Capacity at the Foster High School site could grow (but is not forecasted for several years), and the proposed Birth -to- Kindergarten Center would provide service for up to 440 students. 22. Current employment at Foster High School and Showalter Middle School is 83 and 73, respectively, and will remain unchanged. The Birth -to- Kindergarten Center is expected to employ a staff of 46. Eighteen employees currently work at the onsite technology building, which will be demolished and relocated across the street at 4060 South 144th Street. As a result of this project, the overall school campus will have a net gain of 28 employees. Housing 23. There is no housing component to the projects. Aesthetics 24. Aesthetic enhancements include contextually sensitive building materials and increased interior and perimeter landscaping on all sites. The City of Tukwila's Board of Architectural Review will evaluate the architectural and site design attributes prior to approving the Conditional Use Permits. The projects will be required to adhere to the City's Design Standards. 25. Portions of Foster High School additions will be up to 35 feet; 5 feet above the maximum height allowed in the underlying Low Density Residential zone. Portions of the existing building are up to 65 feet in height. The applicant has applied for a zoning variance as part of the Conditional Use Permit. Light and Glare 26. Some light and glare are produced by lighting of the parking lot, pedestrian walkways, and sports fields after dark. Light fixtures will be shielded and cast downward. Lighting fixtures will be shielded and lighting will be cast downward to reduce light and glare impacts to adjacent properties. 27. Exterior lighting control system will utilize an astronomic timeclock based lighting control panel. To meet the Washington State energy code exterior lighting requirements, all exterior lights will be programmed to turn on at 100% light output from Dusk and will be automatically reduced to 50% light output during preselected time period or after midnight. 28. A photometric analysis was prepared which demonstrates that no more than 1 (one) footcandle of light will spill onto adjacent residential properties. Recreation 29. No recreational uses will be displaced. The existing baseball fields located on what will be the Birth - to- Kindergarten Center will be relocated to the Foster High School campus and will accommodate both baseball and softball uses. The existing tennis courts on the Foster High School campus will be repositioned onsite. Historic and cultural preservation 30. Foster High School was originally constructed in 1992 and has not had a significant renovation since. Showalter Middle School was originally built in 1936, with several additions and renovations since. 106 None of the buildings on the site were identified on the State of Washington Historic Property Inventory list or are eligible for listing in a preservation register due to the extent of modifications. Transportation 31. King County Metro Transit Route 128 provides bus service directly to the project site. 32. Parking at Foster High School is proposed to be reduced from 251 spaces to 174 spaces. Parking at Showalter Middle School will remain unchanged at 122 spaces. 80 spaces are proposed at the new Birth -to- Kindergarten Center. There are an additional 28 spaces on the school campus that may be available for special events. The applicant has applied for a parking variance as part of the Conditional Use Permit. 33. South 142nd Street from 43rd to 44th Streets will be extended to access the Birth -to- Kindergarten Center and will include two paved travel lanes and a sidewalk. A portion of the roadway from 44th Street to the Birth -to- Kindergarten Center will be located within a private easement. At the new Birth - to- Kindergarten Center, one of three emergency vehicle accesses and a delivery vehicle access road will be provided via a gated connection with Showalter Middle School. 34. The number of vehicular trips associated with Foster High School and Showalter Middle School will not change with the proposed project, including driveway locations. 35. Based on a Traffic Impact Analysis for the Birth -to- Kindergarten Center, The combination of new full - day kindergarten and birth to pre- kindergarten children are expected to generate as many as 1,000 to 1,154 average daily trips (depending on assumptions used), with 247 AM peak trips and 197 school PM peak -hour trips. Approximately 75 percent of the students are expected to be bused. Public Services 36. Public safety will be enhanced at Foster High School with the enclosure of the campus by new buildings, added fencing and controlled entrances. New security cameras and two personnel are being provided. A First Responder Antenna System will be implemented. Utilities 37. Utility providers are: a. Water: King County Water District #125 b. Sewer: Valley View Sewer c. Electricity: Seattle City Light d. Natural Gas: Puget Sound Energy e. Cable, Internet, and Telephone Service: Comcast CONCLUSION OF THE RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL Tukwila School District has determined that the proposal, with the mitigation measures listed below, does not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment, and an Environmental Impact Statement is not required under RCW 43.21c.030(2). The mitigation measures described below are recommended as conditions of project approval. This decision was made after review of a completed environmental checklist, other information on file with the Tukwila School District, and existing regulations. The responsible official finds this information reasonably sufficient to evaluate the environmental impacts of this proposal. MITIGATION MEASURES Earth 1. A Department of Ecology General Permit to Discharge Stormwater associated with construction activity will be obtained. 107 Air 2. A Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (TESC) and a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan ( SWPPP) to meet the 12 required elements per the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and the 2016 King County Surface Water Design Manual is required to be submitted with the Site Development Permits. Specific measures to reduce or control erosion include various Best Management Practices (BMPs), such as plastic sheeting, hydroseeding /straw, check dams, catch basin inserts, and silt fencing. The contractor will implement a system to meet turbidity discharge and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements. 3. The contractor will implement, inspect, and maintain all Best Management Practices (BMPs) on a regular basis. Inspection and maintenance records will be kept onsite. 4. Design and construction will be implemented consistent with the recommendations of the Geotechnical Engineering Reports for both the Foster High School and Birth -to- Kindergarten sites, prepared by Shannon & Wilson, Inc., dated September 6, 2016. Shannon & Wilson, Inc. shall review plans prior to final design completion to ensure earthwork and foundation recommendations are properly interpreted and implemented. 5. Showalter Middle School shall prepare a geotechnical engineering report prepared by a qualified geotechnical engineer prior to obtaining site development or building permits. The proposed improvements will be completed consistent with the geotechnical engineer's recommendations. 6. Dust control BMPs are to be implemented to minimize dust during construction. They include using water sprays or other non -toxic dust control methods on unpaved roadways, minimizing vehicle speed while traveling on unpaved surfaces, preventing the tracking out of mud onto public streets, covering soil piles when practical, and minimizing work during periods of high winds. 7. To minimize air quality and odor issues caused by tailpipe emissions, required BMPs include maintaining engines of construction equipment and minimizing the idling of construction equipment. After construction, during school bus loading and unloading times, buses are to be turned off to limit emissions caused by idling. 8. Materials stored on site (e.g., soil, fertilizer, and pesticides) will be enclosed and /or covered when not in use. The applicant will employ BMPs in the use and storage of these materials consistent with all applicable regulations. 9. Demolition activities will comply with the requirements of the demolition permit for dust control. Water 10. As noted above, the proposed improvements will utilize storm drainage systems designed in accordance with the 2016 King County Surface Water Design Manual. During construction, a SWPPP and associated BMPs will be implemented to manage stormwater properly. I Plants 11. Clearing limits will be marked with protective fencing prior to clearing and grading activities. 12. A 6 -foot high temporary chain link fence must be placed outside the dripline of the trees to be retained prior to the commencement of demolition and earthwork. 13. An Arborist Report will be provided early May 2017 detailing the health of the trees located along the perimeter of the Birth to Kindergarten Center. Any unhealthy or unsafe trees will be removed based upon a recommendation by the arborist and approval from the City. Environmental Health 14. The hazardous building materials in the technology building will need to be abated prior to demolition and must follow City and State regulations. 15. If destructive demolition identifies hidden or previously unknown asbestos, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) requires that the asbestos - containing material be removed by trained and licensed contractors using certified asbestos abatement workers and supervisors. A 10 -day notification is also required before abatement can begin. Noise 16. Noise impacts associated with the construction of the project will be limited in duration, consistent with City of Tukwila Chapter 8.22 of the Tukwila Municipal Code (Noise). Construction hours will be limited to 7 AM -8 PM Monday through Friday and 8 AM — 6 PM Saturday, Sunday and State - recognized holidays. Temporary noise impacts outside of the daytime hours will require approval of a variance, per TMC 8.22.120. 17. To mitigate noise impacts during the construction phases, measures such as locating stationary equipment away from receiving properties, erecting portable noise barriers around loud stationary equipment, turning off idling construction equipment, requiring contractors to maintain all equipment, and training construction crews to avoid unnecessarily loud actions near noise - sensitive areas shall be employed. 18. Once the school is under operation, school buses shall be turned off during the load /unload periods to limit idling. 19. Outdoor sporting activities will conclude by 10:00 p.m. Aesthetics 20. A zoning variance shall be secured to allow additions to Foster High School to exceed the zoning code maximum of 30 feet by 2 feet, and to allow the relocation of the flagpole in the stadium to a maximum of 50 feet. 21. The project will require a Conditional Use Permit and Design Review approval by the City Board of Architectural Review. That process will evaluate the architectural details and compliance with City design standards. Light and Glare 22. Use full cut -off light fixtures and aim fixtures to direct light downward to minimize light trespass. Historic and Cultural Preservation 23. If cultural or archeological objects are found during site preparation work, the City and Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation will be notified, and appropriate measures will be taken. I Transportation 24. The Schools and District will coordinate the scheduling of special events so that they do not overlap. 25. Bell schedules for the Birth to Kindergarten Center and Showalter Middle School will be staggered to ensure emergency vehicle access is not compromised by simultaneous queuing. 26. A haul route control plan will be prepared and approved by the City of Tukwila prior to the start of construction. 27. To ensure parking is adequate at Foster High School, a zoning variance shall be secure to allow for a reduction to 174 spaces onsite, pursuant to a Type III procedure. 28. A Transportation Impact Fee applies to the future Birth -to- Kindergarten Center Building permit. (PW Bulletin A3). Transportation Impact Fee will be based on 440 students in Zone 3 at $119.31 per student = $52,496.40. The final amount to be confirmed by the City Engineer at a future date. This Mitigated Determination of Non - significance (MDNS) is issued under the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 197 -11- 340(2); the lead agency will not act on this proposal for 14 days from the date of issuance. Only written comments will be accepted and must be submitted by 5:00 pm on May 23, 2017 to the District contact. There is no agency appeal of this MDNS. Appeals are governed by RCW 43.21C.075. SEPA Responsible Official Signature: Issue Date: May 9, 2017 Last Day to Comment: May 23, 2017 110 Dr. Judith Berry, D uty Srintendent Tukwila School trict 4640 South 144th Street Tukwila, WA 98168 berryiC@tukwila.wednet.edu '17