HomeMy WebLinkAbout3405 Mt Angeles Rd - BuildingMr Jeff Pnest
133 Mariah Winds Way
Port Angeles WA 98362
Dear Mr Priest:
WESTECH ECH COME ANY
Environmental Consulting Site Permitting
March 27, 2006
MAR 2 8 2006
CITY OF PORT ANGELES
Dept. of Community Development
We have conducted a preliminary investigation of your client's property at 3405 Mount
Angeles Road (the western portion of Parcel 063014- 540815) at the southwest corner
of Mount Angeles and East Eckard Avenue (Figure 1) The property is still occupied by
an older house which is unoccupied We understand that the County has red tagged
that house due to water entering the home from a drainage problem East Eckard has
apparently been raised in elevation and the home lot has been filled to a depth of 1 -3
feet in some places It is somewhat difficult to determine the previous elevation and
conditions due to the presence of fill material
We examined various portions of the property for the presence of wetlands We noted a
few areas of darkened soils in the northwest corner and on the east side of the house
The east side of the house appeared to have had mainly upland plants prior to grading
and- filling based on- remnant plant -life There appears. to have been ..a small wetland.
area in the northwestern corner of the property Fill material has been placed over this
area The City of Port Angeles requested an independent analysis of the size and
relative importance of that wetland as documented by this letter
It was difficult to determine the original condition of the wetland due to the presence and
depth of fill It appears that the wetland s origins are seeps on the hillside located on
the south side of the parcel Recent re- construction of Eckard Avenue to provide
access to the Eckard Heights subdivision has raised the road level and resulted in the
impoundment of water at 3405 Mount Angeles Road Based on observable site
conditions and on -site measurements and several soil test pits checked by Westech on
March 24 2006 the wetland appears to have been less than 2 000 square feet in size
The actual size cannot be determined without removal of the fill material
The Port Angeles City Code pertaining to Environmentally Sensitive Areas specifically
wetlands indicates that regulated wetlands do not include Category II or III wetlands
less than 2,500 square feet in size or Category IV wetlands less than 10 000 square
feet in size While it was not possible to establish the category for the on -site wetland, it
was most likely a Category IV wetland based on its small size and the intensity of
development surrounding it. It therefore appears that the wetland was not a wetland
subject to regulation by the City of Port Angeles
P 0 Box 2876 Port Angeles, Washington 98362 Telephone. (360) 565 -1333 Fax: (360) 452 -6708
email bshea @tenforward.com
1
7
Mr Jeff Priest
March 27, 2006
Page Two
Since the Wetland appears to have been non regulatory, the only other issue is control
of the extra .water on the Site This is best handled by your engineer (Zenovic and
Associates) On -Site drainage intercepting the water from the hillside and leading it to a
ditch or curtain drain which runs off eastward along Eckard Avenue would probably be
the simplest solution The presence of wetland soils may also lead to requirements for
deeper foundations or removal of these compressible soils near the foundation.
Mr Scott Johns of the City of Port Angeles has indicated that a letter stating whether
the wetlands are regulatory or not regulatory under the City Code is necessary This
letter constitutes our professional opinion on that issue If you have furtherquestions
please give me a call. Thank you
Sincerely
G Bradfor• Shea Ph D REA
Principal Scientist
GB.Sims
Enclosure
1
Westech Company 2006
Project Site Location (2000 Aerial Map) base 2006
Figure 1 1 Online Map Data
Source Clallam County