HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/16/2021 09. Closed record hearing to consider an appeal of the Hearing Examiner's decision regarding a modification to an existing site plan for the West Valley School District-Apple Valley Elementary 1
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 9.
For Meeting of: November 16, 2021
ITEM TITLE: Closed record hearing to consider an appeal of the Hearing
Examiner's decision regarding a modification to an existing site plan
for the West Valley School District-Apple Valley Elementary
SUBMITTED BY: Joan Davenport,AI CP, Community Development Director
Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager(509) 575-6042
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Enclosed please find a confidential memorandum from the Legal Department regarding quasi-
judicial proceedings.As a reminder, as the City Council hearing this appeal, you sit as "judges" in
this matter.As such, you must remain impartial and unbiased. Further, you may not have any ex
parte communications with appellants or respondents regarding the matters in this appeal. Finally,
you may not hear this matter if you have a conflict of interest. Conflicts of interest arise if you have
an interest in the property or the application, or own property within 300 feet of the property
subject to the action or if you stand to gain or lose any financial benefit as a result of the outcome
of the appeal. You will be asked to affirmatively answer questions on the record regarding these
matters. More information can be found in the confidential memorandum included with this packet.
Only the appellant, WVSD, the City, and people who timely and properly filed complete written
appeal statements can speak at the hearing. Comments are limited to the facts in the record and
the matter on appeal.
This appeal is asking the City Council to evaluate the grading contours at the Apple Valley
Elementary School property. This is the only issue on appeal in front of the City Council. No
other portions of the Administrative Official's modification decision were appealed, and no other
portions of the decision may be discussed during argument. Similarly, you will find that there are
instances in the record where other aspects of the modification application, decision, site, and
situation are discussed. You are strongly cautioned that you not consider any information in the
record that does not directly apply to the matter appealed the grading contours of the Apple
Valley Elementary School site. Any decision based on the evaluation of evidence not relevant to
the appeal could be the basis to overturn the decision in a future appeal.
Please refer to the hearing packet which was distributed in the Council packet on November 1,
2021 and can be found online at: www.yakimawa.gov/council/agendas-and-minutes/. Additional
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documents submitted during the rebuttal period which ended November 2, 2021 are included in
the record and attached to this agenda statement as Chapter CC.
ITEM BUDGETED: NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Neighborhood and Community Building
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
This is an appeal. The Council sits as the appellate decision makers with the following four
options:
1. Affirm and adopt the Hearing Examiner's Decision;
2. Remand the matter back to the Hearing Examiner with appropriate instructions;
3. Modify the Hearing Examiner's Decision with written findings and conclusions; or
4. Reverse the Hearing Examiner's Decision with written findings and conclusions.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
❑ Chapter CC-Appeal Responses&Appellant Rebuttal 11/4/2021 Co%er Memo
3
WEST VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT / APPLE VALLEY
ELEMENTARY
APP#008-21
(MOD#021-21, APP#001-21)
EXHIBIT LIST
CHAPTER CC
Appeal Responses & Appellant Rebuttal
DOC DOCUMENT DATE
INDEX#
CC-1 Response to Appeal—John and Candace Manfredi 10/13/2021
CC-2 Appellant's Memorandum—West Valley School District 10/15/2021
CC-3 City of Yakima's Memorandum of Points and Authorities in 11/01/2021
Response to Appellant's Appeal
CC-4 Julia Meson's Rebuttal to Appellant's Memorandum of 11/02/2021
Points and Authorities in Support of Appeal
CC-5 Appellant's Rebuttal 11/02/2021
D YAKIMA
ODE
NOV 02 2021
❑REC'VD FAXED❑
OPAID FYID
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12 BEFORE THE CITY OF YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
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14 In the matter of the Appeal of:
15 APP#001-21, MOD#021-21
16 WEST VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
17 NO. 208, a political subdivision of the APPELLANT'S REBUTTAL
18 State of Washington,
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20 Appellant,
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22 v.
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24 CITY OF YAKIMA, a political
25 subdivision of the State of Washington,
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27 Respondent.
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33 West Valley School District No. 208 (the "School District") submits the following
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35 Rebuttal in support of its above-captioned Administrative Appeal to the Yakima City
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37 Council ("City Council"). The Hearing Examiner erred in allowing the City to deny the
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39 School District's as-built elevations by applying a modification standard pertaining to gross
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41 floor area to an elevation change. Neither the Hearing Examiner nor the Administrative
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43 Official in this case considered elevation changes to be an increase in structure height. Nor
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45 does the record support the contention that the school buildings impermissibly exceed height
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47 limits—the City's staff report found the opposite. Finally, the City Council does not have
APPELLANT'S REBUTTAL— 1 Perkins Coie LLP
DOC. 1201 Third Avenue
INDEX Seattle,WA 98101-3099
JV 5 Phone: 206.359.8000
154447447.1 Fax: 206.359.9000
REQ,EIVED
NOV - 2 2021
CITY OF YAKIMA
PLANNING DIV.
1 the authority to require the School District to pay money to John and Candace Manfredi.
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3 The School District requests that the City Council reverse the Hearing Examiner's Decision
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5 with respect to grading.
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7 I. ADDITIONAL FACTUAL BACKGROUND
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9 As Matt Whitish, the lead architect on the Apple Valley Elementary School project,
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11 testified before the Hearing Examiner, grades at Apple Valley Elementary were originally
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13 designed in the permit drawings with the anticipation that all soil would be retained onsite.
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15 Quantifying the amount of material that will need to be moved on a large site is difficult to
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17 predict at the beginning of a project as multiple factors can affect the actual amount of
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19 material generated on a project. While CAD programming can provide close
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21 approximations of generated material, it is not uncommon for more or less material to be
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23 generated than expected. At Apple Valley, unsuitable soils for foundations were
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25 encountered when excavating for the school building. While unsuitable for structural
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27 reasons, these soils were acceptable for use in the playfields and resulted in an increased
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29 amount of material generated on the site. With the understanding that determining the exact
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31 quantity of material onsite is difficult to predict during design, it is common to have a
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33 contingency plan available to deal with unexpected material overruns or shortages.
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35 Typically, the most flexible space on a site to accommodate material discrepancies is in the
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37 playfields where grades can easily be adjusted without having negative impacts to the use of
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39 the fields by the students.
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41 Revising grades during construction to keep excess soil onsite is common practice in
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43 the construction industry and accepted by many jurisdictions. This is because moving soil is
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45 costly. Whether moving soil around a site, exporting soil offsite, or importing soil to the
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47 site, significant costs are incurred to the project. It is always the goal of the design team to
APPELLANT'S REBUTTAL—2 Perkins Coie LLP
DOC. 1201 Third Avenue
INDEX Seattle,WA 98101-3099
G
1.I 5 Phone: 206.359.8000
154447447.1 Fax: 206.359.9000
RECEIVED
NOV = 2 2021
t;ITY OF YAKIMA
PLANNING DIV
1 balance a site to avoid unnecessary importing or exporting of soil. When working on large
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3 sites of 10 acres or more, tens of thousands of cubic yards of material are often moved. At a
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5 typical cost of around $12 per cubic yard to export soil, removing 10,000 cubic yards from a
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7 site comes with a $120,000 price tag.
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9 The unique contaminated soil conditions at Apple Valley further enforced the need
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11 to avoid exporting material. Exporting contaminated soil is more costly than exporting
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13 clean soil, and at this site, the Washington State Department of Ecology determined that
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15 keeping contaminated soil on-site with a clean cap is the solution that is most protective of
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17 human health and the environment. As earthwork progressed at Apple Valley, it was
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19 discovered that more material was generated than anticipated. With the goal being to
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21 maximize usable space for soccer and baseball playfields for the students while also being
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23 responsible with taxpayer's dollars, the design team and District recommended a cost-
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25 effective solution to the contractor that allowed much of the excess material to be utilized
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27 onsite by raising the south playfield. Approximately 6,000 cubic yards of excess material
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29 present after grades were revised were still exported offsite for a cost of approximately
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31 $74,000.
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33 II. ARGUMENT
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35 A. Grading Increases During the Course of Construction Do Not Fall
36 Within the Definition of a Structure for the Purposes of YMC
37 15.17.020.D.
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39 The Hearing Examiner's decision did not find that a change in elevation is equivalent
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41 to an increase in structure height that would require the City to deny the School District's
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43 Modification Application. Instead, the City partially denied the School District's
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45 modification request on the basis that it was a more than 50% increase over the elevations
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47 shown on the approved site plan. City's Decision at 5; Hearing Examiner's Decision at 6-7.
APPELLANT'S REBUTTAL—3 Perkins Coie LLP
DOC. 1201 Third Avenue
INDEX Seattle,WA 98101-3099
Phone: 206.359.8000
154447447.1 # r Fax: 206.359.9000
RECE7IVED
NOV - 2 2021
CITY OF YAKIMA
PLANNING DIV.
1 As fully discussed in our Appellant's Memorandum of Points and Authorities In Support of
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3 Appeal, the uncontroverted evidence in the record demonstrates that the average increase in
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5 grade is only 32% across the entire site from the permit set to the as-built conditions. In
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7 their opposition to the School District's appeal, the Manfredis, who have not filed an appeal
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9 of either the Administrative Official's decision or the Hearing Examiner's decision in this
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11 matter, argue that the Hearing Examiner should have found that"grade raises are within the
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13 definition of structures"within the City's code and that because the grade raises increased
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15 the height of a structure per YMC 15.17.020.D, the City was correct in denying the
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17 modification application. Neither of these arguments are supported by the City Code or the
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19 record.
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21 The City Code does not define grade to include a structure. Instead, YMC 15.02.020
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23 defines "grade" as "the lowest point of elevation of the finished surface of the ground,
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25 paving, or sidewalk within the area between the building and the property line or, when the
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27 property line is more than five feet from the building, between the building and a line five
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29 feet from the building." Although from this definition an increase in grade could result in an
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31 increase in a structure's height,the Administrative Official's Decision indicated that the
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33 school building did not exceed the height approved by the variance. Id. at 6. Furthermore,
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35 the Administrative Official's Decision was based on a finding that the grading represented a
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37 more than 50% increase of the gross floor area per YMC 15.17.020.C. Neither the City nor
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39 the Hearing Examiner equated grading increases with structure height in partially denying
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41 the School District's modification application. As discussed fully in Appellant's
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43 Memorandum of Points and Authorities In Support of Appeal, the Hearing Examiner's
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45 Decision to partially deny the School District's modification application is clearly
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APPELLANT'S REBUTTAL—4 Perkins®��, Coie LLP
■ 1201 Third Avenue
INDEX Seattle,WA 98101-3099
G 1 Phone: 206.359.8000
154447447.1 Fax: 206.359.9000
RECEIVED
8
NOV - 2 2021
CITY OF YAKIMA
PLANNING OIV.
1 erroneous, inconsistent with applicable law, not supported by substantial evidence, and
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3 exceeded the Hearing Examiner's authority.
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5 B. City Council's Authority to Rule on This Appeal
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7 The City Council reviews appeals of a Hearing Examiner's decision as a closed
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9 record appeal based upon the material in the record before the Hearing Examiner; no new
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11 evidence is presented. YMC 16.08.030.D. The City Council may"affirm the decision of
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13 the examiner, remand the matter back to the hearing examiner with appropriate directions, or
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15 may reverse or modify the hearing examiner's decision." YMC 16.08.030.F. The City
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17 Council does not have the authority to award monetary payments to the adjacent neighbors
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19 in this appeal, as John and Candice Manfredi suggest. The Manfredis have not filed an
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21 appeal in this case. They are not a named party in this appeal. Therefore, the City Council
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23 has no authority to require the School District to pay money to the Manfredis to resolve this
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25 appeal. Even if the Manfredis had appealed, per YMC 16.08.030.D, City Council may only
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27 affirm, remand, or reverse the Hearing Examiner's decision.
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29 III. CONCLUSION
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31 The City Council should reverse the Hearing Examiner's Decision with respect to
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33 grading and approve the as-built site elevations for Apple Valley Elementary School.
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APPELLANT'S REBUTTAL—5 Perkins Coie LLP
DOC. 1201 Third Avenue
INDEX Seattle,WA 98101-3099
Phone: 206.359.8000
154447447.1 Fax: 206.359.9000
RECEIVED
NOV - 2 2021
CITY OF YAKIMA
PLANNING.FIN.
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4 DATED: November 2, 2021 1110
5 Kristin: ' Wilson, WS :A ' •. 33152
6 Julie A. Ison-McNern, , BA No. 46585
7 Perkins lie LLP
8 1201 Thi d Avenue
9 Seattle, WA 98101-3099
10 Phone: 206.359.8000
11 Fax: 206.359.9000
12 JWilsonMcNerney@perkinscoie.com
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14 Attorneys for Appellants West Valley School
15 District No. 208
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APPELLANT'S REBUTTAL—6 Perkins Coie LLP
DOC. 1201 Third Avenue
Seattle,WA 98101-3099
INDEX
X Phone: 206.359.8000
154447447.1 GG Fax: 206.359.9000
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RECEIVE9
NOV - 2 202
CITY OF YAKIM
1 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE PLANNING DIV.
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3 I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that on
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5 the date indicated below, I caused a true and correct copy of the foregoing APPELLANT'S
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7 REBUTTAL to be served on the following persons via the methods indicated below:
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9 Joan Davenport, AICP, Community 0 Via U.S. Mail, 1st class,postage prepaid
to Development Director 0 Via Legal Messenger
11 City of Yakima, Department of Community 0 Via Facsimile
12 Development 0 Via Overnight Mail
13 129 N. 2nd Street 0 Via email
14 Yakima, WA 98901
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17 DATED this 2nd day of November, 2021 at Seattle, Washington.
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21 I Cheryl Rob rtson, Legal Practice
22 Assistant
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APPELLANT'S REBUTTAL—7 Perkins Coie LLP
DOC. 1201 Third Avenue
IN Seattle,WA 98101-3099
ff rDEX Phone: 206.359.8000
154447447.1 y G(/ c Fax: 206.359.9000
11
RECEIVED
Date: November 2, 2021 NOV - 2 2021
To: Yakima City Council CITY OF YAKIMA
do Joan Davenport,AICP, Community Development Director PLANNING DIV.
From: Julia Ericson, whose property abuts Apple Valley Elementary School property
Subject: Rebuttal to Appellant's Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Appeal
APP#008-21 to the Hearing Examiner's Decision on Appeal APP#001-21 to Modification
Decision MOD#021-21.
Dear City Council Members,
Per Yakima Municipal Code Title 16.08.025, as a party named in the appeal of the hearing
examiner's decision, I submit this rebuttal. I am one of the "handful of neighbors" the appellant
refers to and am named in the hearing examiner's decision.
YMC 16.08.025: "Upon completion of the thirty-day submittal period for submission of any
written argument and memorandum, the parties named in the appeal of the hearing examiner's
decision, at their expense, may obtain copies of any such submissions, and shall be provided a
fifteen-day rebuttal period which starts on the thirty-first day from the date of mailing of the
notice of the filed appeal."
Like the two appeal documents, this Memorandum has the same theme. They falsely claim that
it's just a "handful of neighbors" who are affected, that the only effect is to visual and
aesthetic impacts and the SEPA and Land Use application justify their actions. They also fail
to be clear that the walking path, not just the ground elevations, was already built when they
submitted their modification application. In addition, the request to add view obscuring material
and increase fence height would have no beneficial impact on the East side, as homeowners
already have 6 foot fencing in place.
Before the project started, Spring of 2019, WVSD stated this in a Q&A:
Q: Will there be changes in the landscaping elevation at the Apple Valley and Summitview site?
A: The project team is working hard not to make any adjustments to the landscaping elevations.
The berm at Summitview will remain. Some areas of grass may be replaced with bark and plant
materials. Updates will be made as the plans are further developed.
•
•
Will there be changes in the landscaping elevations at the Apple Valley and Summitview site? E
The project team is working hard not to make any adjustments to the landscaping elevations.The berm at Summitview will remain.Some areas of grass may be
replaced with bark and plant materials.Updates will be made as the plans are further developed.
DOC.
INDEX
cc,-it
RECEIVED
12
NOV - 22021
CITY OF YAKIMA
PLANNING DIV.
These significant landscape changes were developed Fall of 2020 and were not communicated
to neighbors and were not properly vetted.
SEPA and Land Use application
The reason the record shows that grading would not have adverse effects based on the City's
environmental review is because it was based on flat land. There is more to consider than
slope stability or erosion concerns when looking at adverse effects. The 6 foot sight obscuring
fence requirement is there to mitigate those adverse effects. They were granted relief from
sight-screening (based on flat land) and then abused this granted adjustment by acting as if
they had the right to make any changes they wanted, ignoring the law and without regard to
those it would affect the most. They are violating YMC.15.07.010
Here is what they presented to obtain the adjustment (with the "retained grass" mentioned
multiple times in other co-occurring documents).
PART lY.WRITTEN NARRATIVE:(Pieaae:tabmlt a written treepor ee to the following wide-0
1,llow would the strict enforcement of the current standard affect your project?
Existing fencing is installed around the entire property at all R-1 parcels, Each fence belongs to the residential homeowner
and each fence varies in type from chain link to wood construction.Replacing all fences would be a difficult challenge as
each home owner would have to agree to have their fence removed and open for a period of time while new fencing is
constructed. Removing existing fencing around the entire site and Installing 6-ft site obscuring fencing would have a
significant cost impact to the project.
Visual and aesthetic concerns
The WVSD's continual only focus of neighbors "visual and aesthetic concerns" just brings
more attention to the fact they refuse to realize or address the many other and more pressing
concerns that neighbors have brought to their attention on multiple occasions over the past five
months. Even after the hearing examiner found there to be "substantial evidence" to support
these adverse effects to "adjacent residents' privacy, security, personal safety, property damage
and/or property values" they continue their refusal to acknowledge them.
The handful of neighbors
This reference to the "handful of neighbors" highlights the exact reason the Yakima Municipal
Code (YMC 15.07.010), concerning uses of different intensities, exists- so those with more
money and more power can not develop their land in a way that adversely affects the individual
property owner. It has been really upsetting that we have been left to fend for ourselves,
spending time and energy fighting for a protection that is already built into the law.
Community Problem
In recent weeks, there have been many realizations that shows this landscape design has the
potential to adversely affect those other than just the neighbors that abut/adjoin the AV property.
The combination of the walking path location, raised terrain and new fencing create unsafe
space for the kids and adults attending school and the immediate neighbors and surrounding
community.
DOC.
INDEX
9 CEIVED
NOV - 22021
CITY OF YAKIMA
Recently, I discovered Yakima's "murder map" and found that there were two drug related PLANNING DIV.
murders at West Valley Park in 2018. I have not smelled Marijuana once since Apple Valley
closed two years ago, but did often before that, especially in the summer months. When I
moved into this neighborhood, my then 15 year old daughter told me not to let my then 12 year
old son walk the dog or go over to the school during the last hour of daylight because of"what
goes on over there with the teenagers." and she said "I don't even feel safe at that time."
personally witnessed, many times, teens in their cars meeting each other in the parking lot while
I was walking in the evening hours and it was uncomfortable. I saw and heard them on school
grounds. One of the murders at West Valley Community Park was a 16 year old boy who
was there to buy pot. Our neighborhood is not immune.
Once the WVSD laid a "community walking path" they essentially built a park on Apple Valley
grounds. It does not matter that"technically" it is not a park, it will be treated that way and that
was the intent in creating the space. Because the West Valley area does not have any decent
walking paths, people will come from all over to use it. It is the WVSD's duty and responsibility
to create it in the SAFEST WAY POSSIBLE!
Having a walking path is not a bad idea (the location of it is), but combining it with such high
elevations takes away clear sightlines and creates hiding places. This is frowned upon by
the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and The National
Recreation and Park Association. Also, there is a National Organization called Crime Protection
Through Environmental Design (CPTED) which specifically deals with SAFE LANDSCAPING in
public places and many of these nationwide groups partner with schools to create safe
outdoor spaces.
Every year the Bond Levy was put to a vote, school safety was cited as a BIG reason new
construction was needed, especially the design at Apple Valley. When it comes to public
schools, safety should be considered in every possible way, not just the building. They
have built this safe school for the kids then created hiding spaces while elevating them 4
to 6 FEET!
I have generally felt safe in this neighborhood despite what I mentioned above and I now realize
that is because of neighbors looking out for each other and them keeping an eye on the
school grounds and that law enforcement had a clear line of sight from the West parking
lot to the East properties and from the North to the South properties.
For twenty years the southside neighbors have had a clear site to the grounds and would call
the police when people were over there banging trash cans, up on the roof or whatever else
seemed suspicious or unsafe. Neighbors were instrumental in keeping the school grounds
safe which also kept our neighborhood safe!! This is encouraged by law enforcement-
neighbors working together for safety - and they are creating an environment which is
the exact opposite. Apple Valley school is not immune to crime. This doesn't just affect
those directly next to the school, it affects the whole Apple Valley neighborhood.
OC.
INDEX
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RECEIVED
NOV
School School districts should be held to a high standard because of the special relationshi ITY OF YAKIIIIIA
they have with their community. School districts and residents have a partnership thgt-ANNING DIV.
extends in many directions.
Neighbors are not happy at the thought of the money spent to fix this mistake-we are property
tax payers too. We are not happy that anyone would be inconvenienced. We are not happy at
the thought of having to endure contaminated dust again, after the multitude of times it was
unnecessarily moved during the project. We also don't feel safe and secure in our homes
anymore and worry about the future safety of our community.
WVSD has not given a viable reason why the grounds should stay as is. Whereas, neighbors
have brought up many valid concerns and pointed to the violation of the YMC.
Respectfully I ask, at a minimum, you uphold the HE's decision of APP#001-21 on
MOD#021-21. I also ask that you consider holding the WVSD accountable to what they
submitted to public review in the original documents. I believe had they submitted their
modification plans for public review there would have been much neighborhood opposition. I
believe had they submitted their plan as a modification request for current elevations and a
walking path at our property lines, PRIOR to performing the work, The City would have denied
both. I also ask that you have the WVSD have a law enforcement and CPTED assess the
landscape for safety and security.
Thank you for reading this and my prior testimonies and considering what is just and equitable.
Sincerely,
Julia Ericson
DOC.
INDEX
15
RECEIVED
NOV 01 2021
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2 CITY OF YAKIMA
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
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BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
9 OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA
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11 In the matter of the Appeal of:
APP#001-21,MOD#021-21
12 WEST VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
13 NO. 208, a political subdivision of the State CITY OF YAKIMA'S
of Washington, MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND
14 AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO
15 Appellant, APPELLANT'S APPEAL
16
vs.
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18 CITY OF YAKIMA, a Washington state
municipal corporation,
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20 Respondent.
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I. INTRODUCTION AND RELIEF REQUESTED
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24 This appeal arises because the West Valley School District (hereinafter referred to as
25 "WVSD") chose to disregard the grading plan it submitted for the site of Apple Valley
26 Elementary School (hereinafter "Apple Valley"). The City of Yakima (hereinafter "City")
27 investigated a complaint regarding site conditions and found that WVSD did not grade the site
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as outlined in the grading plan. WVSD then requested a minor modification under Yakima
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30 Municipal Code (hereinafter "YMC") 15.17, which was reviewed by the Administrative
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32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS CITY OF YAKIMA LEGAL DEPARTMENT
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CIVIL DIVISION
200 South Third Street 2nd Fl'Yakima WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL- 1 P:509.575.6030 I F:509.575.6160
DOC.
INDEX
# G G- 3
RECEIVED
16
NOV 01 20 1
CITY OF YAKIMA
COMMUNITY DEVELO' ENT
1 Official. The Administrative Official determined that the request to approve the change in
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finished grade was not consistent with the standards and requirements for a Minor Modification
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4 under YMC 15.17, and denied the application for modified site grading proposed by
5 WVSD.1 The Hearing Examiner upheld the decision of the Administrative Official. The City
6 now asks the Council to uphold the Hearing Examiner's decision that the request for a grading
7 change under the minor modification procedures of YMC 15.17 should be denied.
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II. STATEMENT OF FACTS
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10 On October 23, 2019, WVSD submitted a Class 3 review application to the City to
11 build a new Apple Valley Elementary School off of North 88t1i Avenue in Yakima. The Class
12 3 review application included various requests for adjustments to the development code,which
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were approved by the Hearing Examiner. Once the use was approved by the Hearing
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15 Examiner, WVSD applied for its building permit to start construction. With that building
16 permit, WVSD included a plan regarding grading for the school site.
17 WVSD constructed the school and made improvements to the playfields. WVSD
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admits that"certain portions of the southern playfield were graded at an elevation 1 to 3 feet
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20 higher than approved by the City in 2020." Appellant's Memorandum of Points and
21 Authorities in Support ofAppeal, page 5, lines 7-8.
22 Due to complaints regarding other improvements made by WVSD but are not at issue
23 in this appeal, the City investigated the site and found that it was not in compliance with the
24
grading plan it submitted. Declaration of Joan Davenport, ¶2. WVSD filed a Modification
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26 Application in May of 2021 under YMC 15.17,the procedure for minor modifications.
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1 The Administrative Official approved WVSD's requested minor modification with regards to the
30 walking path,playground area,and ballfield layout. Those matters are not at issue in this appeal.
31
32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CITY OF YAHI L IVAL DEPARTMENT
CIVIL DIVISION
200 South Third Street2nd FI'Yakima WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL-2 P:509.575.6030 I F:509.575.6160
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1 After WVSD filed the modification application, the City and WVSD met via zoom
2
regarding the application. Declaration of Joan Davenport, ¶ 5. At that meeting the City
3
4 recommended that WVSD meet with concerned neighbors, but did not require such meeting
5 for processing the modification of the application or determining the application was complete
6 for processing. Declaration of Joan Davenport, ¶5. The initial modification application was
7
deemed incomplete because it only addressed one aspect of the changes made to the plans,not
8
all of them. Declaration of Joan Davenport, ¶ 6. WVSD chose to hold a neighborhood
9
10 meeting on June 14,2021,where neighbors expressed, in part, concerns regarding the grading
11 of the playfields. Declaration of Joan Davenport, ¶7.
12 On the same day as the neighborhood meeting,Randy Meloy,a surface water engineer
13
for the City, went to the site. Mr. Meloy was sent to evaluate the site by Ms. Davenport who
14
15 asked him to evaluate whether the asphalt pathway subject to the modification application
16 created drainage problems. In response to her specific request, Mr. Meloy wrote an email to
17 Ms. Davenport that stated, in full, as follows:
18
19 Per your request I went out to Apple Valley Elementary and walked around the entirety
of the path to assess the possibility of drainage impacts. The asphalt path is about five
20 feet wide and is located close to the school's fence along the perimeter of their parcel.
21 The cross slope of the path is generally flat,with some areas gently sloped towards the
grass and other areas gently sloped towards the fence. It is my opinion that there would
22 be no drainage impact on the surrounding parcels due to this paved path being close to
23 the fence. The only possible scenario where I could see there being any kind of
24 drainage issue would be on the south side if the school overwatered with the sprinklers,
and because the main grassy area is elevated, you could get runoff from the sloped
25 grassy areas making its way towards the perimeter. If that happened there is still a ten
26 foot separation between the school's fence and the neighbor's fences. Much of the
runoff would infiltrate into the ground in this area. This is assuming there would be
27 some problem with the school irrigation and that is unlikely. Along the east side of the
28 school there is a small gravel berm between the path and the fence which would help
29 to contain any runoff that might get there. Again, I would not anticipate any issues
there.
30
31
32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS
LEGAL
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CITY OF YAIQ�DIVISION DEPARTMENT
200 South Third Street 2nd Fl Yakima WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL-3 P:509.575.6030 I F:509,575.6160
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1 Last night and this morning there was a decent amount of rainfall at the school, and
while walking the path I looked for signs of erosion and did not find any. This path is
2 only five feet wide and it is my opinion that it will not cause any drainage problems.
3 Email from Randy Meloy to Joan Davenport, dated June 14, 2021.
4
Mr. Meloy's email provides his opinion on drainage associated with the asphalt
5
6 pathway. Although mentioned in the email as "a possible scenario," Mr. Meloy did not
7 evaluate the drainage specific to the increased grade height of the property, and made no
8 conclusions or opinions about how the grading might affect drainage at the site.
9
WVSD amended its minor modification application on June 21,2021 which addressed
10
11 all of the discrepancies between the building plans and the as built status of the site.
12 Declaration of Joan Davenport, ¶ 6. The Administrative Official, Joan Davenport, reviewed
13 the completed minor modification application, took into account the neighborhood concerns
14 she heard at the neighborhood meetings(which she attended)and through emails and telephone
15
calls from adjacent property owners, and denied the requested minor modification to allow the
16
17 as built grading to remain, concluding: "The proposed site grading is not consistent with the
18 standards and requirements for a Modification under YMC Ch. 15.17." Findings of Fact,
19 Conclusions and Decision for Request for Modification File Number MOD#021-21, page 7.
20
The Administrative Official's decision was timely appealed to the Hearing Examiner.
21
22 After a hearing, the Hearing Examiner upheld the City's decision to deny the minor
23 modification for the as built grading changes.
24 III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
25
WVSD asks the City Council to overturn the Hearing Examiner's decision. Pursuant •
26
27 to YMC 16.08.014,to be successful, WVSD has to demonstrate at least one of the following:
28 1. The decision-maker exceeded their jurisdiction or authority;
29 2. The decision-maker failed to follow applicable procedures in reaching the decision;
30
31
32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS
IMA LEGAL
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CITY OF YAKCIVIL DIVISION DEPARTMENT
200 South Third Street 2nd FIIYakima WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL-4 P:509.5575.60300 I F:509.575.6160
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1 3. The decision-maker committed an error of law;and/or
2
4. The findings, conclusions or decision prepared by the decision-maker are not
3
4 supported by substantial evidence.
5 YMC 16.08.014.
6 WVSD argues that:
1. The hearing examiner committed an error of law in affirming the denial of the
8
modification application;
9
10 2. The hearing examiner's findings of fact were not supported by substantial evidence;
11 and
12 3. The hearing examiner exceeded his authority when he determined that the WVSD
13
may be required to regrade the site.
14
15 See Appellant's Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Appeal.
16 WVSD has the burden of proof to provide evidence and argument that the hearing
17 examiner's decision should be overturned. An error of law is generally determined if there is
18
an erroneous interpretation of the law. See generally RCW 36.70C.130. To prevail in arguing
19
20 that there is not substantial evidence to support the hearing examiner's decision, WVSD has
21 the burden to prove that there was not enough evidence in the record to persuade a reasonable
22 person that the findings made by the hearing examiner were not true. See Phoenix
23 Development, Inc. v. City of Woodinville, 171 Wn.2d 820, 831,256 P.3d 1150 (2011).
24
IV. LEGAL ARGUMENT
25
26 A. The minor modification procedure under the Yakima Municipal Code allows
27 developers to request a modification in limited circumstances.
28 Chapter 15.17 of the Yakima Municipal Code"establishes provisions for the review of
29
proposed modifications to existing or approved uses." YMC 15.17.010. YMC 15.17.020
30
31
32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS
LEGAL
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CITY OF YAIQ�DIVISION DEPARTMENT
200 South Third Street 2nd Fl IYaidma WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL- 5 P:509.575.6030 I F:509.575.6160
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outlines when modifications to permitted development and uses may qualify for the procedure
2
under YMC 15.17:
3
4 Minor changes to existing or approved Class (1), (2) or (3) uses or development may
5 qualify for abbreviated review under the provisions of this chapter if they meet the
criteria listed below. ... Modifications not meeting the criteria below must apply
6 directly for review as a Class (1), (2), or(3)use or development.
7
a. The modification will not increase residential density that would require an
8 additional level of review;
9 b. The modification will not increase the amount of parking by more than ten
percent or twenty spaces(whichever is least),except that the amount of parking
10 for controlled atmosphere and cold storage warehouses may be increased by up
11 to twenty spaces. This limit shall be calculated cumulatively for all previous
12 modifications since the last normal review;
c. Any expansion of use area or structure will not exceed fifty percent of the gross
13 floor area. The expansion of an existing single-family home may exceed the
14 fifty percent limit when all applicable setback and lot coverage standards are
met. This limit shall be calculated cumulatively for all previous modifications
15 since the last normal review;
16 d. The modification will not increase the height of any structure;
17 e. This limit shall be calculated cumulatively for all previous modifications since
the last normal review;
18 f. The modification will not add a drive-thru facility; and
19 g. The modification does not include hazardous materials.
20 YMC 15.17.030. YMC 15.17.040 provides that applications for minor modifications are
21 reviewed under Type(1)review,which is a review by the Administrative Official. This review
22 does not require notice to nearby property owners, or other enhanced review requirements
23 found in Type(2) and Type(3)reviews.2
24
25
26 2 Under Type (1) reviews, the administrative official reviews the submission and makes a
determination. YMC 15.13.040. Under Type (2) review, the administrative official makes a
27 determination after notification to all property owners within 300 feet of the proposal and the
administrative official then makes a decision after property owners have an opportunity to provide
28 comments. YMC 15.14.040. Type (3) review requires notice as well as a public hearing for the
29 application. YMC 15.15.040. As can be seen,Type (1)review is reserved for administrative matters.
Higher levels of review are utilized when the proposal may have higher impacts, and gives property
30 owners an opportunity to learn of the application and submit comments,or,in the case of a Type(3)
31
32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS
LEGAL
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CITY OF YAKI CIVIL
DIVISION DEPARTMENT
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL-6 200 South TP 09 575.6030 I FI 509.575 6 608901
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1 When the administrative official reviews an application for a minor modification under
2 YMC 15.17, it is reviewed as a Type(1)review where the proposal complies with the zoning
3 code, building code, and other established standards. YMC 15.13.050. In addition to
4 evaluating whether request complies with laws and standards,to approve a minor modification
5 under YMC 15.17,the administrative official also has to evaluate whether the proposal meets
6 the following criteria:
7 1. The proposed change in the site design or arrangement will not change or modify
8 any special condition previously imposed under a Class (1), (2), or(3)review;
9 2. The proposed change in the site design or arrangement will not adversely reduce
10 the amount of existing landscaping or the amount or location of required
11
sitescreening; and
12
3. The proposed change in the site design or arrangement, in the determination of the
13
planning division, will not create or materially increase any adverse impacts or
14
undesirable effects of the project.
15
16 YMC 15.17.040(B)(1) (emphasis added). Only if the administrative official finds that the
17 application for a minor modification meets the requirements of the code,and that the proposed
18 change will not create or materially increase any adverse impacts of the project may a minor
19 modification under YMC 15.17 be approved. If a project does not meet these requirements,
20 then it can apply for a modification under the more stringent Type (2) or Type (3) review
21 procedures outlined in the zoning code.
22
B. The Administrative Official's decision did not violate the minor modification
23
24 provisions, was based on evidence, and was properly upheld by the Hearing
25 Examiner.
26 WVSD puts forth three specific issues with regards to the Administrative Official's
27 determination to deny the minor modification: that the grading was not more than a 50%
28
29
review,attend a public hearing and submit testimony,before a decision is made. Type(3)reviews are
30 heard by the Hearing Examiner. YMC 15.15.040.
31
CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS 32 CITY OF YAKIMA LEGAL DEPARTMENT
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CIVIL DIVISION
200 South Third Street 2nd FI Yakima WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL- 7 P:509.575.6030 I F:509.575.6160
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1 increase in the gross floor area; that the grading did not cause an adverse impact under the
2
requirements of the building code; and that evaluating and citing the impacts to the neighbors
3
4 of the change in grading from the approved site plan to the grading actually completed on site
5 was not appropriate.
6
7 1. The Hearing Examiner did not commit an error of law when he found that
8 the Administrative Official's analogous application of the 50%gross floor
area application found in YMC 15.17.020(C)was at most harmless error.
9
10 YMC 15.17.020(C) allows the administrative official to approve a minor modification
11 if the"expansion or use area or structure will not exceed fifty percent of the gross floor area."
12 Here, there was no application specifically related to gross floor area of the school. Instead,
13 the issue was with the expansion upward of grading on the play fields. The Administrative
14 Official used the 50%concept analogously when evaluating the application.
15 Grading is included in the definition of"Use" and is therefore subject to review under
16 the Modification criteria. On-site grading has changed significantly from the grading
contours submitted with the Building Permit(B200126). The new contour lines shown
17 on the revised Modification Site Plan and narrative submitted with this application are
18 in excess of a 50% increase in elevation from what was shown with the B200126
submittal in several locations,not meeting the standard for a modification.
19
20 Findings of Fact, Conclusions and Decision for Request for Modification File Number
21 MOD#021-21, page 5.
22 The Administrative Official looked at the areas of the play fields wherein the grading
23 was higher than the contours listed in the provided grading plan, using the provided grading
24 plan as the base contours as the grading plan was part of the building permit plan packet. She
25 did not average the entire site, which is what would be done in the event the City were
26 evaluating a minor modification for an increase in gross floor area per the ordinance (in that
27
case the City would look at the entire building floor area). See YMC 15.17.020(C). However,
28
grading is not specifically mentioned in the ordinance, and therefore, arguably, isn't listed as
29
a minor modification that can be approved under the YMC 15.17 procedure. The
30
31
32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS
ANDCITY OF YAKIMA LEGAL DEPARTMENT
AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO
CIVIL DIVISION
200 South Third Street 2nd F1'Yakima WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL- 8 P:509.575.6030 I F:509.575.6160
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1 Administrative Official only evaluated the areas where grading increased because that is what
2 makes the most logical sense when analogizing the two situations. If WVSD's argument is
3 correct—that the City should have evaluated the grading of the site as a whole--it leads to
4 situations where grading could be manipulated to result in net zero change (for example an
5 increase in grading of 10 feet on one end of a parcel and decreases in 10 feet on the other would
6 be a net zero grade increase but could likely adversely affect property owners adjacent to the
7 10 foot increase). The Apple Valley site is over 10 acres. Evaluating grading across the site
8 as a whole would not provide appropriate results,as what occurs with grading in one area may
9 not be relevant to the impacts to an increase in grading in another.
10 However, as the Hearing Examiner correctly pointed out, there is no reference to
11 changes in grading in the minor modification section of the code, YMC 15.17. Hearing
12
Examiner's Decision,page 7. Although that criteria was considered, it was done analogously
13
because the code itself does not contemplate allowing grading changes to be done under the
14
minor modification provisions. The Administrative Official's conclusion was not based solely
15
16 on the analogy. The Administrative Official also found that the increase in site grading
17 elevation created "an adverse impact of the project" because it was "significantly higher in
18 elevation than what was previously shown" on the submitted grading plan. Findings of Fact,
19 Conclusions and Decision for Request for Modification File Number MOD#021-21, page 6.
20 In making that finding,the Administrative Official cites to complaints from adjacent property
21 owners regarding the negative impacts the site grading. Id.
22 To approve a minor modification under YMC 15.17,the Administrative Official must
23 utilize the criteria in YMC 15.17.020,but must also ensure that there is no creation or material
24 increase in adverse effects of the project under YMC 15.17.040. Since there was a finding that
25 there were adverse effects as a result of the modification to the grading plan, even if the
26 Administrative Official improperly analogized to YMC 15.17.030, it is harmless error. The
27 Hearing Examiner did not commit an error of law.
28
29 •
30
31
32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CITY OF YAKI LEGAL DEPARTMENT
CIVIL DIVISION
200 South Third Street 2nd FllYaldma WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL-9 P:509.575.6030 I F:509.575.6160
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1
2 2. There was substantial evidence supporting the Hearing Examiner's findings
offact regarding both the use of the 50%gross floor space analogy and the
3 finding that the increase in grading elevation caused an adverse effect.
4 WVSD argues that there was not substantial evidence to support the Hearing
5
Examiner's findings that the as-built grade would be more than a 50% increase in elevation
6
7 and that the as-built grading would cause an adverse effect.
8 a. There was substantial evidence to for the 50% gross floor space
9 analogy.
10
As stated above, the Apple Valley site is over 10 acres in size. WVSD admitted that
11
12 there was an increase of one to three feet in grading in portions of the southern playfield. The
13 submitted grading plan outlines the grading contours for the entire site,but at issue is only the
14 portion adjacent to neighboring single-family residential homes—the playfield where contours
15
were elevated. The Administrative Official looked only at the relevant contour lines on the
16
17 grading plan that were exceeded by more than 50%of the grading plan submitted to the City.
18 When doing so, there are contours and grading that exceed the 50% limit near the adjacent
19 single-family neighborhood. There is an acknowledged increase in one particular area of the
20 site, so the entire 10-acre parcel is not at issue. And again,this was done by analogy,meaning
21
that the situations are similarly comparable, but are not necessarily exactly the same.
22
23 The Hearing Examiner correctly pointed out that it is difficult to apply YMC
24 15.17.020(C) by analogy in this case due, in part, to the size of the entire parcel, and the fact
25 that an increase in gross floor area is significantly different than an increase in height of grade.
26
See Hearing Examiner's Decision,page 8. The evidence in the record regarding the grading
27
28 plan,the as-built drawings of the grading contours, WVSD's admission that"certain portions
29 of the southern playfield were graded at an elevation 1 to 3 feet higher than approved by the
30
31
32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS
LEGAL
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CITY OF YAKIMACIVIL DIVISION DEPARTMENT
200 South Third Street 2nd FI'Yakima WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL- 10 P:509.575.6030 I F:509.575.6160
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1 City in 2020"3, and the comments from the neighbors provided substantial evidence for the
2
Hearing Examiner to make his decision.
3
4 b. There was substantial evidence of adverse effects due to the increase
5 in height of the grading.
6 WVSD also contends that there was not substantial evidence to support the finding that
7 the increase in grade would cause an adverse effect. YMC 15.17.040(B)(1)(c) requires that
8
adverse effects be evaluated by the Administrative Official when determining if a minor
9
10 modification under YMC 15.17 is appropriate. Specifically,the code states: "Applications for
11 modifications may be administratively and summarily reviewed using the Type (1) review
12 process. In addition to the following criteria: ... In the determination of the planning division,
13
it will not create or materially increase any adverse impacts or undesirable effects of the
14
15 project." YMC 15.17.040(B)(1)(c).
16 WVSD argues that had it simply provided a correct grading plan at the beginning that
17 it would have been approved regardless of any adverse aesthetic and visual effects experienced
18
by the neighbors. Appellant's Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Appeal,
19
20 page 13. Post-permitting, minor modifications to uses of property, which includes by
21 definition grading under YMC 15.02.020, require the Administrative Official to evaluate
22 adverse effects. The language in YMC 15.17.040 does not limit the evaluation of adverse
23 effects to what may have been considered an adverse effect at the time the building permit was
24
issued.
25
26 WVSD also references the City's SEPA approvals as support for its claim that there is
27 not substantial evidence to support the determination that the increase in grade height created
28
29
3 Appellant's Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Appeal, page 5, lines 7-8 (emphasis
30 added).
31
32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS CITY OF YAKIMA LEGAL DEPARTMENT
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CIVIL DIVISION
200 South Third Street 2nd Fl Yakima WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL- 11 P:509.575.6030 I F:509.575.6160
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1 an adverse impact. The SEPA documents, however, did not include the actual grading plan.
2
SEPA documents referenced that the"site is anticipated to be a net balance and no significant
3
4 amounts of imported or exported soils are expected." See Environmental Checklist, Apple
5 Valley Elementary School Project, page 6. The SEPA also stated: "The proposed project
6 would not obstruct any existing views in the site vicinity." Id. at page 20. The grading plan
7 was not submitted as part of the SEPA review and WVSD acknowledged that grading
8
information would need to be submitted at a later time. Id. at page 2.
9
10 3. The Hearing Examiner did not commit errors of law.
11 a. The Hearing Examiner did not commit an error of law by evaluating
12 adverse effects of the grade change other than those that would have
13
been applied to the initial grading permit review.
14
15 To utilize the benefits of the minor modification procedure in YMC 15.17, a developer
16 must meet all of the requirements of that section, including that the modification does not
17 create or materially increase any adverse impacts. YMC 15.17.040(B)(1)(c). Developers are
18
not required to go through the minor modification process, and,instead,can choose to modify
19
20 their projects through a review at the same level and type as the original project. YMC
21 15.17.040(B)(1)(c) requires that the Administrative Official review a minor modification
22 proposal to evaluate whether it creates or materially increases adverse impacts or undesirable
23 effects. As such, the Hearing Examiner did not commit an error of law in affirming the
24
Administrative Official's evaluation of adverse impacts to the neighboring property owners.
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS
IMA LEGAL
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CITY OF YAKCIVIL DIVISION DEPARTMENT
200 South Third Street 2nd Fl'Yakima WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL- 12 P:509.575.6030 I F:509.575.6160
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1 b. The Hearing Examiner did not commit an error in law when he held
2
that WVSD must obtain a modification through the standard
3
4 modification procedures or successfully appeal his decision to keep
5 the grading as built.
6 WVSD also argues that the Hearing Examiner committed an error of law and exceeded
7 his authority when he found that to maintain the as-built grading contours, WVSD would need
8
to go through a standard modification procedure,which requires in this case a Type(3)review,
9
10 or successfully appeal his denial. To support this WVSD opines that it shouldn't need to go
11 through a Type(3)review for an increase in site elevation because approval of grading permits
12 is done through the building codes department and is a ministerial act that should simply be
13
approved if it complies with the zoning code. Appellant's Memorandum of Points and
14
15 Authorities in Support ofAppeal, page 15. This project did not require a grading permit,so no
16 evaluation was done to originally permit the grading. See Appendix J (Grading) to the
17 Washington State Building Code, J103.2. Modifications to uses, as defined in the code, are
18
made through the procedures outlined in Title 15.
19
20 c. The Hearing Examiner did not commit an error of law when he
21 determined that WVSD may have to return the grade to the approved
22 plan heights.
23 WVSD argues that it should not have to regrade the site consistent with the approved
24
grading plan because it would be too expensive. Appellant's Memorandum of Points and
25
26 Authorities in Support of Appeal, page 17. This argument is rooted in laws regarding takings
27 and extraction—wherein the City when issuing development permits can only impose
28 requirements on that permit which are related to the permit and proportionate to the impacts
29
caused by the development. See generally, Citizens'Alliance for Property Rights v. Sims, 145
30
31
32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS CITY OF YAKIMA LEGAL DEPARTMENT
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CIVIL DIVISION
200 South Third Street 2nd FI'Yakima WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL- 13 P:509.575.6030 I F:509.575.6160
N
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1 Wn.App. 649, 187 P.3d 786 (2008). "Conditions of development [must] be necessary to
2
mitigate a specific adverse impact of the proposal . . . [and] the extent of required mitigation
3
4 measures to those that are roughly proportional to the impact they are designed to mitigate."
5 Douglass Properties II, LLC v. City of Olympia, 16 Wn.App.2d 158, 169, 479 P.3d 1200
6 (2021). The City is not conditioning a permit in the present case,rather,the City is denying a
request for a minor modification of the grading at the site.
8
Although there may be a cost to WVSD associated with the denial of their minor
9
10 modification application4, that cost is solely due to the fact that WVSD moved forward and
11 graded the site contrary to the submitted grading plan without first seeking a modification.
12 Had they sought a modification before they graded the property outside of the scope of the
13
grading plan, they could have avoided costs of returning the property to the approved grading
14
15 contours. Contrary to the assertion by WVSD, the denial of WVSD's application for a mnor
16 modification to its grading plan is not a demand from the City to regrade the site. The City is
17 denying a request under the minor modification procedure for the grading at Apple Valley that
18
differs from the grading plan. WVSD still has the option to go through a normal modification
19
20 process under Type(3)review.
21 WVSD's actions are solely responsible for grading the site not to the contours it
22 provided to the City. The purpose of the takings clause "is not to bar government from
23 requiring a developer to deal with problems of the developer's own making, but which is to
24
bar Government from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which,in all fairness
25
26 and justice, should be borne by the public as a whole." Id. at 669, quoting Burton v. Clark
27 County, 91 Wn.App. 505, 521-22, 958 P.2d 343 (1998)(internal quotations omitted). The City
28
29
4 WVSD could still go through the regular modification procedure and a Type (3) review to seek
30 permission to regrade the site. It is unknown what the result of that process might be.
31
32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS CITY OF YAKIMA LEGAL DEPARTMENT
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CIVIL DIVISION
200 South Third Street2nd FIIYakima WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL- 14 P:509.575.6030 I F:509.575.6160
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1 is not asking WVSD to do anything extra in this case. To the contrary,the City is requesting
2
that the property be graded according to the grading plan WVSD submitted to the City,which
3
4 WVSD admits was not followed.
5 V. CONCLUSION
6 The Hearing Examiner's decision upholding the Administrative Official's denial of
7 WVSD's request to modify its grading plan under the minor modification process found in
8
YMC 15.17 should be affirmed by the City Council.
9
10 DATED this 1st day of November,2021.
11 SARA WATKINS
12 City Attorney
13
14 By.
15 Sara Watkins, WSBA No. 33656
16 City Attorney, City of Yakima
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32 CITY OF YAKIMA'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS
AND AUTHORITIES IN RESPONSE TO CITY OF YAKI LEGAL DEPARTMENT
CIVV IL DIVISION
200 South Third Street 2nd F1'Yakima WA 98901
33 APPELLANT'S APPEAL- 15 P:509.575,6030 I F:509.575.6160
DOC.
INDEX
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RECEIVED
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2
3 CITY OF YAKIMA
4 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12 BEFORE THE CITY OF YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
13
14 In the matter of the Appeal of:
15 APP#001-21, MOD#021-21
16 WEST VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
17 NO.208,a political subdivision of the APPELLANT'S MEMORANDUM OF
18 State of Washington, POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN
19 SUPPORT OF APPEAL
20 Appellant,
21
22 v.
23
24 CITY OF YAKIMA,a political
25 subdivision of the State of Washington,
26
27 Respondent.
28
29
30
31
32
33 West Valley School District No.208 (the"School District")submits the following
34
35 Memorandum of Points and Authorities in support of its above-captioned Administrative
36
37 Appeal to the Yakima City Council("City Council"). The School District challenges the
38
39 City of Yakima Hearing Examiner's Decision,APP#001-21 ("Hearing Examiner's
40
41 Decision"or"Decision")to uphold the Administrative Official's denial of the School
42
43 District's Application for Modification,MOD#21-021 ("City Decision"),which requested
44
45 approval of as-built elevations for the replacement of Apple Valley Elementary School that
46
47 are a 32% increase over the elevations the City of Yakima("City")approved as part of the
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1 School District's building permit. The Decision is clearly erroneous,inconsistent with
2
3 applicable law,not supported by substantial evidence, and exceeded the Hearing Examiner's
4
5 authority. The Hearing Examiner erred in upholding the City's application by analogy of a
6
7 modification standard pertaining to gross floor area to an elevation change to find that the
8
9 School District's request did not meet the criteria for a modification. Furthermore,the
10
11 Hearing Examiner's findings that the elevation changes constitute a more than 50%increase
12
13 over the previously approved plans and that the grading change would cause an adverse
14
15 effect to adjacent property owners are not supported by substantial evidence. The Hearing
16
17 Examiner also committed an error of law by affirming the City's misapplication of the law
18
19 by holding the modification request to a higher standard than the initial grading permit.
20
21 Finally,the Hearing Examiner committed an error of law and exceeded his authority in
22
23 holding that the School District must regrade the site unless the School District either
24
25 successfully appeals the Administrative Minor Modification Decision or successfully
26
27 obtains approval of the grading increase through a Type (3)review process. The School
28
29 District requests that the City Council reverse the Hearing Examiner's Decision with respect
30
31 to grading.
32
33 I. EVIDENCE RELIED UPON
34
35 In support of its appeal,the District relies upon all the documents filed with the City
36
37 of Yakima in the records for File Nos.APP#001-21 and MOD#021-21.
38
39 II. RELIEF REQUESTED
40
41 Consistent with YMC 16.08.014 and 16.08.030.F,the School District requests that
42
43 the Hearing Examiner's Decision with respect to grading be reversed because the Decision
44
45 is clearly erroneous, inconsistent with applicable law,not supported by substantial evidence,
46
47 and exceeded the Hearing Examiner's authority.
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1 III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
2
3 The City Council reviews appeals of a Hearing Examiner's decision as a closed
4 5 record appeal based upon the material in the record before the Hearing Examiner;no new
6 evidence is presented. YMC 16.08.030.D. The City Council may"affirm the decision of
7
8 9 the examiner,remand the matter back to the hearing examiner with appropriate directions,or
10 11 may reverse or modify the hearing examiner's decision." YMC 16.08.030.F. To meet its
12 13 burden of proof,the Appellant must demonstrate at least one of the following:
14
15 1. The decision-maker. . . exceeded his or her jurisdiction or
16 authority;
17
18 2. The decision-maker failed to follow applicable procedures
19 in reaching the decision;
20
21 3. The decision-maker committed an error of law;and/or
22
23 4. The findings,conclusions or decision prepared by the
24 decision-maker are not supported by substantial evidence.
25
26 YMC 16.08.014.
27
28
29 IV. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
30
31 A. The Project
32 In February 2019, voters in the School District's boundaries approved a$59 million
33
34 bond to replace Apple Valley and Summitview Elementary Schools to provide more
35
36 capacity to reduce overcrowding. Declaration of Dr. Peter Finch, filed on July 14,2021
37
38 (hereinafter"Finch Decl."),¶3. On October 23,2019,the School District submitted a Class
39
40 3 Review application(CL3#010-19, VAR#004-19,ADJ#027-19, and CAO#027-19)to the
42 City to completely replace the Apple Valley Elementary School on the same site.1 Id. at 8,
43
44
45 1 The permitting and SEPA process for the school replacement project was completed in two
46 phases. In 2019,the City conducted an environmental review under the State Environmental Policy
47 Act, Chapter 43.2I C RCW("SEPA")for the demolition of the existing school building and issued a
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1 Ex.A at 3. The School District proposed the construction of a new 60,000-square-foot
2
3 elementary school building in the R-1 zoning district with 147 parking spaces,a playground,
4
5 and two playfields. Id. The application included requests for a variance to exceed the
6
7 building height limitation in this zoning district;a critical areas review due to the site being
8
9 in a wellhead protection area;and an administrative adjustment to waive the site-screening
10
11 requirement that would impose a 6-foot view-obscuring fence, installation of a digital sign
12
13 and wall signs that are not otherwise allowed in residential zoning districts,and to adjust the
14
15 maximum height for signs set back more than 15 feet from the right-of-way. Id. at 3-4. The
16
17 City completed SEPA review for the school construction and issued a Determination of
18
19 Non-Significance on January 22,2020. Id. at 4. The SEPA checklist submitted for the
20
21 project did not identify any environmental impacts associated with site grading. Id. at¶ 10,
22
23 Ex.C at Attachment 1. The Hearing Examiner approved this application with conditions on
24
25 February 28,2020. Id. at¶8, Ex.A at 23-25.
26
27 B. The Permits and Permit Process
28
29 On April 7, 2020,the City approved Building Permit B200126 and the associated
30
31 plan set,which included an overall grading plan for the entire site. Finch Decl.,¶4. The
32
33 2020 approved grading plan included proposed elevations for the southeastern corner of the
34
35 site that ranged from 1266 feet above sea level(ASL)near the southern fenceline to 1276
36
37 feet ASL at the playfield at the northeastern corner of the site. Finch Decl.,¶ 11, Ex. D.
38
39 Throughout the course of the project,the School District worked with the Washington State
40
41 Department of Ecology on contamination issues at the site and to implement a clean cap
42
43
44 Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance, which included mitigation measures related to
45 removing contaminated building materials, conducting work under the Model Toxics Control Act to
46 address contamination on the site prior to development, and compliance with Yakima Regional
47 Clean Air Agency requirements. Finch Decl.,¶9, Ex. B at 6.
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1 over contaminated soil that would be protective of human health and the environment. City
2
3 Decision at 3-4. When construction at the site was completed,the finished elevations at the
4
5 site ranged from 1266 feet ASL near the southeastern fenceline to 1276 feet ASL at the
6
7 northeastern corner of the site,but certain portions of the southern playfield were graded at
8
9 an elevation 1 to 3 feet higher than approved by the City in 2020. Finch Decl.,¶¶ 11-12,
10
11 Exs. D-E. However,the finished elevation in other areas of the site is 1 foot lower than
12
13 shown in the approved plans.Id.
14
15 In late May 2021,the School District submitted a Modification Application to the
16
17 City in accordance with Chapter YMC 15.17 to add a 5-foot walking path around the
18
19 perimeter of the playfields,to change the backstop and goal locations,to reduce the amount
20
21 of asphalt in the playground,to approve the as-built increased site elevations that were a
22
23 32% increase in elevation from the plan sets approved as part of the building permit, and to
24
25 install site-screening in certain locations. City Decision at 1. The City would not deem the
26
27 School District's application complete until the School District held a public meeting to
28
29 obtain public comment on June 14,2021. Finch Decl.,¶6. At the public meeting,
30
31 neighbors expressed concerns about the height of the southern playfield and concerns that
32
33 people using the playfields would be able to see into their backyards. Finch Decl.,It 7. In
34
35 response to public comments,the School District included as part of its Modification
36
37 Application the installation of view-obscuring material to a portion of the fencing along the
38
39 east and southern property lines adjacent to the neighboring residences. City Decision at 6.
40
41 C. The City Decision
42
43 On June 30,2021,the City issued its decision on the School District's Request for
44
45 Modification. City Decision at 1. The City approved the walking path,revised backstop
46
47 and goalpost locations,the reduction of asphalt for the playground, and the installation of
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site screening. City Decision at 1. However,the City denied the School District's request to
2
3 approve the as-built grading on the basis that the final site grading shown in the modification
4
5 application is in"excess of a 50%increase in elevation from what was shown with the
6
7 B200126 submittal in several locations,not meeting the standard for a modification." City
8
9 Decision at 1. Additionally,the City found that the increase in site grading"does create an
10
11 adverse impact"because"the City received numerous phone calls and emails from adjacent
12
13 property owners"about"its negative impact on adjacent property owners." City Decision at
14
15 6.
16
17 The City's surface water engineer conducted a site visit at Apple Valley Elementary
18
19 School while the City reviewed the Modification Application,after the final grading was in
20
21 place,and following a period of rain. City Decision at 7. The surface water engineer noted
22
23 no signs of erosion. City Decision at 7. The City's engineer also concluded that there
24
25 would be no drainage impact on the surrounding properties from the paved path. Id.
26
27 Indeed,the engineer noted that the
28
29 only possible scenario I could see there being any kind of
30 drainage issue would be on the south side if the school
31 overwatered with the sprinklers,and because the main grassy
32 area is elevated,you could get runoff from the sloped grassy
33 areas making its way to the perimeter. If that happened there
34 is still a ten foot separation between the school's fence and the
35 neighbor's fences. Much of the runoff would infiltrate into the
36 ground in this area. This is assuming there would be some
37 problem with the school irrigation and that is unlikely. Along
38 the east side of the school there is a small gravel berm
39 between the path and the fence which would help to contain
40 any runoff that might get there. Again, I would not anticipate
41 any issues there.
42
43
44
45
46
47
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1 Id. Despite the engineer's analysis,the City denied the School District's grading request
2
3 and required the School District to"regrade the site consistent with grading contours as
4
5 shown in the building plan submittal(B200126)." City Decision at 7.
6
7 D. The Hearing Examiner's Decision
8
9 The School District appealed the City Decision to the Hearing Examiner. An open
10
11 record public hearing of the appeal was held on August 12,2021. Hearing Examiner's
12
13 Decision at 3. On August 26,2021,the Hearing Examiner issued his Decision,which
14
15 upheld the City Decision. Id. at 15. Specifically,the Hearing Examiner affirmed the
16
17 Administrative Official's determination"that the increase in site grading elevation shown on
18
19 the site plan for the modification application does not satisfy all of the criteria for approval
20
21 of a Minor Modification"because drawing an analogy between the minor modification
22
23 provisions in the code applicable to increases in gross floor area of an entire building to
24
25 elevation changes in one particular area of a site constituted at most harmless error. Id. at 7-
26
27 9, 15. The Hearing Examiner also upheld the Administrative Official's finding that the
28
29 increased grading at the playfields would result in adverse impacts to the neighbors because
30
31 people on the playfields could look down into the neighbors' yards and windows. Id. at 11.
32
33 The Hearing Examiner also affirmed the Administrative Official's determination that the
34
35 School District would be required to"regrade the site consistent with grading contours as
36
37 shown in the [original]building site plan" subject to the School District's right to apply for a
38
39 Type(3)Major Modification and/or to appeal the decision to the City Council. Id. at 15.
40
41 E. School District's Cost to Comply
42
43 As Matt Whitish testified at the hearing, re-grading the elevated portion of the site as
44
45 the City is now requiring will result in a significant amount of re-work and additional costs.
46
47 To re-grade the site, clean topsoil will have to be removed and stockpiled. New irrigation
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COMMUNITY DEVEtO'MENT
1 piping will have to be removed and replaced entirely. A layer of marker fabric is installed
2
3 under the clean topsoil to mark the separation between clean and contaminated soils. This
4
5 marker fabric will have to be removed and replaced entirely. Contaminated soil will then
6
7 need to be excavated and exported to a landfill. Completing this work with contaminated
8
9 soils cannot occur while children are occupying the school. Once the new subgrade is
10
11 established, new marker fabric and new irrigation will have to be installed. Finally,the
12
13 clean topsoil will need to be placed, as well as new sod. The School District's contractor
14
15 estimates that this work will cost the School District upwards of$1 million.
16
17 V. LEGAL ARGUMENT
18
19 A. The Hearing Examiner Committed an Error of Law in Affirming the
20 Administrative Official's Denial of the Modification Application
21
22 The Hearing Examiner committed an error of law by finding that the Administrative
23
24 Official correctly applied by analogy YMC 15.17.020.C's criteria to the School District's
25
26 request that the City approve the as-built site grading and that at most,the Administrative
27
28 Official's application of the law was harmless error. See Hearing Examiner's Decision at 7.
29
30 YMC 15.1 7.020.0 allows the City to approve as a Minor Modification any expansion of use
31
32 area or a structure not exceeding 50%of the gross floor area. YMC 15.17.020.0 does not
33
34 speak to changes in site elevation.
35
36 Under the City's process for modification applications,"minor changes to existing or
37
38 approved Class(1), (2)or(3)uses or development may qualify for abbreviated review"
39
40 under Chapter 15.17 YMC. YMC 15.17.020. A change may be approved through a
41
42 modification if,among other things,
43
44 C. Any expansion of use area or structure will not exceed
45 fifty percent of the gross floor area.The expansion of an
46 existing single-family home may exceed the fifty percent limit
47 when all applicable setback and lot coverage standards are
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1 met. This limit shall be calculated cumulatively for all
2 previous modifications since the last normal review[.]
3
4 YMC 15.17.020.C. YMC 15.02.020 defines"use"to include"the construction, erection,
5
6 placement, movement or demolition of any structure or site improvement and any physical
7
8 9 alteration to land itself, including any grading, leveling, paving or excavation." Although
10 grading is covered in the definition of a"use" under the code, YMC 15.17.020 focuses on
11
12 "an expansion of use area"and whether that expansion exceeds 50%of the gross floor area.
13
14 In finding that the Administrative Official correctly applied YMC 15.17.020.0 to
15
16 17 deny the grading modification,the Hearing Examiner committed two errors of law. First,
18 the Hearing Examiner concluded that YMC 15.17.020.0 applied by analogy to the School
19
20 21 District's "requested increase in the site grading elevation of the site." Hearing Examiner's
22 23 Decision at 7. However, this finding assumes that an increase in finished elevation is an
24
25 "expansion of use area." A minor change in grading elevation does not constitute an
26 27 expansion of the grading area. The area re-graded as part of the project did not change and
28 therefore was not expanded. And even if an increase in elevation were to fall within an
29
30 31 "expansion of use area," such an expansion is limited to no more than 50%ofthe gross floor
32 area. Per YMC 15.02.020 and 15.06.040.A,
33
34
35 "gross floor area"means the total square footage of all floors
36 in a structure as measured from the interior surface of each
37 exterior wall of the structure and including halls, lobbies,
38 enclosed porches and fully enclosed recreation areas and
39 balconies,but excluding stairways,elevator shafts, attic space,
40 mechanical rooms,restrooms, uncovered steps and fire
41 escapes,private garages, carports and off-street parking and
42 loading spaces. Storage areas are included in gross floor area.
43
44 Grading elevations do not fall within the definition of gross floor area. Yet, in upholding the
45
46 City's denial of the grading modification,the Hearing Examiner reasoned that the City
47
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1 correctly applied the 50%threshold in YMC 15.17.020.0 to an increase in grading
2
3 elevation,and as discussed in more detail below,correctly calculated the increase in grading
4
5 elevation by focusing only on specific areas of the site that were the subject of the
6
7 neighbors' complaints.
8
9 Second,the Hearing Examiner committed an error of law in upholding the
10
11 Administrative Official's application by analogy of YMC 15.17.020.0 to only those areas of
12
13 the site that pertained to the adverse impacts reported by neighbors. Hearing Examiner's
14
15 Decision at 9. The City reviewed individual elevation increases within new contour lines
16
17 submitted with the Modification Application rather than the average percentage increase in
18
19 grading over the entire site. Hearing Examiner's Decision at 7. Based on these individual
20
21 elevation increases within the contours,the City concluded that those new contours"are in
22
23 excess of a 50%increase in elevation from what was shown with the B200126 submittal in
24
25 several locations, not meeting the standard fora modification." City Decision at 5. The
26
27 Hearing Examiner held that the City's finding was justified because the neighbors' concerns
28
29 regarding the increased elevation only applied to the portion of the school adjacent to their
30
31 property, and in any event, even if the City had erred, such error was harmless. Id. at 7-9.
32
33 However, as Mr. Whitish testified at the hearing,the City's errors in this case are not
34
35 harmless—the School District will likely incur$1 million in costs to regrade the playfields.
36
37 Moreover,the City Code provides no support for the calculations the City completed here.
38
39 Even if the gross floor area criteria could be applied to an elevation change,the Code does
40
41 not allow the City to calculate a percentage increase by focusing on one area of the site. If
42
43 anything,the City should have followed the guidance of the gross floor area criteria and
44
45 looked at grading increases across the site as a whole, instead of impermissibly focusing on
46
47 one part of the site. If the City had completed the calculation correctly,the City would have
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1 found that the elevation changes across the entirety of the Apple Valley Elementary School
2
3 site only constitute a 32% increase over the elevations approved in the building permit—a
4
5 percentage well under the 50%threshold for denying a modification application. The
6
7 Hearing Examiner's Decision should be reversed and the modification granted.
8
9 B. The Findings of Fact Are Not Supported by Substantial Evidence
10
11 The Hearing Examiner's finding that the Administrative Official was justified in her
12
13 site-elevation-increase calculations and that site grading would have an adverse effect are
14
15 not supported by substantial evidence. The Hearing Examiner's Decision must be supported
16
17 by substantial evidence that the Administrative Official was justified in how she decided to
18
19 calculate the site elevation increase. "Substantial evidence"is evidence of a"sufficient
20
21 quantity to persuade a reasonable person that the declared premise is true." Isla Verde Intl
22
23 Holdings v. City of Camas, 146 Wn.2d 740, 751-52, 49 P.3d 867(2002). As demonstrated
24
25 below,the record does not support a finding that grading elevations are 50%higher than the
26
27 approved plans. Further,the City's record consistently demonstrates that the site grading
28
29 would not have an adverse effect and that the grading met code requirements.
30
31 1. The finding that the Administrative Official was justified in
32 calculating that as-built grading would be more than a 50%
33 increase in elevation is not supported by substantial evidence.
34
35 The Hearing Examiner's finding that the Administrative Official was justified in her
36
3.7 site elevation increase calculations—wherein the Administrative Official considered only
38
39 the increased elevations at the playfields rather than the average increase in elevation across
40
41 the site as a whole—is not supported by substantial evidence. Hearing Examiner's Decision
42
43 at 8-9. The Hearing Examiner specifically found that the uncontroverted evidence in the
44
45 record demonstrates that the average increase in grade is only 32%across the entire site
46
4.7 from the permit set to the as-built conditions. Id. at 8. And the Hearing Examiner concedes
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1 that were this application looking at an increase in gross floor area,the City would have
2
3 looked to an increase in the total square footage of a building as a whole and not particular
4
5 areas of a building. Id. However,the Hearing Examiner discounts this evidence, saying that
6
7 while"it is difficult to apply YMC § 15.17.020(c)by an analogy to site grading elevation,"
8
9 such an application by analogy was appropriate because looking at the site as a whole
10
11 "would result in consideration of areas away from the adjacent neighbors that would not be
12
13 relevant to their concerns." Id. The City's calculation and the Hearing Examiner's decision
14
15 impermissibly cherry pick the elevation increases that are the subject of the adjacent
16
17 neighbors' concerns. Calculating site elevation increases in this way is not allowed under
18
19 the City's Code, is not supported by substantial evidence,and does not constitute harmless
20
21 error. The School District will incur$1 million to re-grade the site because,as described
22
23 below,the City has chosen to hold the School District to a higher standard for approving
24
25 changes in elevation than if the District had applied for a grading permit in the first instance.
26
27 2. The Hearing Examiner's finding to uphold the Administrative
28 Official's determination that the as-built grading would cause an
29 adverse effect is not supported by substantial evidence.
30
31 The City's record consistently demonstrates that the site grading would not have an
32
33 adverse effect and that the grading met code requirements. For the City to approve a
34
35 modification request,the"proposed change in the site design or arrangement"must not"in
36
37 the determination of the planning division . . . create or materially increase any adverse
38
39 impacts or undesirable effects of the project." YMC 15.17.040.B.1.c. However,this
40
41 provision of the code imposes a greater burden on an applicant seeking an approval ofa
42
43 grading modification by incorporating more stringent standards than those required by the
44
45 City's grading code.
46
47
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1 The Yakima Code incorporates the 2018 Washington Building Code,which
2
3 addresses what constitutes an adverse impact to adjacent properties from grading. YMC
4
5 11.04.010, 11.04.J103.2. Sections J108.3 and J109.4 of the 2018 Washington Building
6
7 Code indicate that"adverse effects"to adjacent properties from the grading include only
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9 slope stability, drainage, and potential erosion problems. Yet,the City's only stated basis
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11 for denying the School District's modification request—and the Hearing Examiner's basis
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13 for affirming the Administrative Official's finding—was neighbors' concerns regarding the
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15 aesthetic and visual impacts of the higher playfield elevation on their adjacent properties.
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17 See Hearing Examiner's Decision at 10. But impacts to aesthetics and visual quality are an
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19 improper basis to support an"adverse effects"finding pursuant to the Washington State
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21 Building Code. By upholding the Administrative Official's finding on the basis of the
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23 neighbor's aesthetics and visual concerns,the Hearing Examiner improperly applied a
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25 higher standard to the School District's modification request than would have been applied
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27 to a grading permit for the same work.
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29 The record shows that grading would not have adverse effects based on the City's
30
31 environmental review. Rather,the City's own engineer determined that the as-built
32
33 conditions at the school would not cause site stability, erosion,or drainage problems. City
34
35 Decision at 6-7. And neither of the City's SEPA approvals for the Apple Valley Elementary
36
37 School project identify any impacts associated with grading. Neither does the SEPA
38
39 checklist for the school construction, which indicates that 15,000 cubic yards of grading and
40
41 excavation would occur and that"the site is anticipated to be a net balance and no
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43 significant amounts of imported or exported soils are expected." Finch Decl.¶8, Ex.A,
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45 Attach. 1 at 6. Because there are no slope stability or erosion concerns resulting from the
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47
MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND Perkins Coie LLP
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1 increased playfield elevation,the Hearing Examiner's determination that the grading would
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3 result in adverse effects is not supported by substantial evidence.
4
5 C. The Hearing Examiner Committed an Error of Law in Affirming the
6 Administrative Official's Application of a Higher Standard to the Denial
7 of the Grading Modification than Would Have Been Applied to the
8 Initial Grading Permit Review
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10 In the underlying City Decision,the Administrative Official exceeded her authority
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12 in applying a higher standard to the denial of the grading modification than would have been
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14 applied to the initial grading permit review. The Hearing Examiner committed an error of
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16 law and exceeded his authority in affirming this application of a higher standard. Reading
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18 YMC 15.17.040.B.1.c's provision allowing denial of a modification upon the finding of any
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20 new negative impact to aesthetics or visual quality,as the City and Hearing Examiner have
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22 done here, is too expansive of a reading of the City's authority. Because the site design or
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24 arrangement changes that are reviewed in the modification application process will by their
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26 nature involve visual changes, it cannot be the case that any visual changes disliked by the
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28 community is a sufficient reason to deny a modification application.
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30 A modification application for grading should not be held to a higher standard of
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32 review than the initial grading review. No significant adverse environmental effects were
33
34 identified in the SEPA review, and the 2018 Washington State Building Code does not
35
36 identify visual changes as an adverse impact to adjacent properties. Yet,the City denied the
37
38 School District's modification application on the basis that it would create a new visual
39
40 impact. This is not the standard under SEPA,nor the 2018 Washington State Building
41
42 Code. See RCW 43.21 C.060; Sections J108.3 and J109.4 of the 2018 Washington Building
43
44 Code.
45
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MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND Perkins Coie LLP
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INDEX
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OCT 15 2U2MEN
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1 The Hearing Examiner also committed an error of law and exceeded his authority in
2
3 holding that the School District must either successfully appeal the Administrative Minor
4
5 Modification decision, or successfully obtain approval of the grading increase through a
6
7 Type(3)review process. Hearing Examiner's Decision at 12. The School District went
8
9 through the Type(3)review process for the demolition and elementary school rebuilding
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11 project, as this proposed use triggers a Type(3)review process. See YMC 15.15.020. Mere
12
13 changes in site elevation should not require a whole new Type(3)review process and a
14
15 separate approval on the same scale as the entire school rebuilding project.
16
17 As the Hearing Examiner himself noted,the grading for Apple Valley Elementary
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19 School was approved via Building Permit No. B200126. "Actions on building permits have
20
21 been characterized by [the State Supreme Court] as ministerial determinations." Chelan Cty.
22
23 v.Nykreim, 146 Wn.2d 904, 929, 52 P.3d 1 (2002);Mission Springs,Inc. v. City ofSpokane,
24
25 134 Wn.2d 947, 960, 954 P.2d 250(1998)(quoting, among others,State ex rel. Craven v.
26
27 City of Tacoma, 63 Wn.2d 23,27, 385 P.2d 372(1963)("[T]he acts called upon by relators
28
29 to be done when they asked for a building permit under the city zoning regulations and
30
31 building code were not discretionary but ministerial ... Once [the proposed structure
32
33 complies with zoning regulations] and the appropriate fee tendered by the applicant,the
34
35 building department must issue the building permit.")). "In the eyes of the law the applicant
36
37 for a grading permit, like a building permit, is entitled to its immediate issuance [of the
38
39 grading permit] upon satisfaction of relevant ordinance criteria and the State Environmental
40
41 Policy Act of 1971." Mission Springs,Inc., 134 Wn.2d at 960.
42
43 Here,the School District submitted its building permit application,the application
44
45 was deemed complete,the SEPA review identified no adverse effects as a result of the
46
47 elevation changes at the site, and the building permit issued. The City had no discretion to
MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND Perkins Coie LLP
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CITY OF YAKIMq
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
OCT
1 deny the grading shown in the plan sets based on the concerns of neighbors. Denial of a
2
3 grading permit or building permit based on the neighbors' aesthetics and visual concerns
4
5 would not have been warranted through the City's building permit process. In other words,
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7 the City could not have denied the School District's building permit if the District had
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9 proposed the current elevations at the site at the time the building permit was issued. The
10
11 modification criteria as applied here turn a ministerial act by the City into a discretionary act
12
13 by taking into account aesthetic and visual concerns pertaining to the increased elevation at
14
15 the site. Similarly,the Hearing Examiner's Decision turns the ministerial act of approving a
16
17 building permit into a discretionary Type(3)approval that allows for public notice and
18
19 comment and a public hearing. See YMC 15.15.040. Public notice and comment are not
20
21 aspects of the building permit process. The City should not be allowed to hold a change in
22
23 elevation to a higher standard than would have applied to the original building permit. The
24
25 Hearing Examiner and Administrative Official exceeded their jurisdiction in denying the
26
27 modification permit and requiring the School District to apply for a Type(3)permit.
28
29 D. The Hearing Examiner Committed an Error of Law and Exceeded His
30 Authority in Affirming the Administrative Official's Determination That
31 the School District May Be Required to Regrade the Site
32
33 Requiring the School District to incur$1 million in expenses to regrade the site to
34
35 address the concerns ofa handful of neighbors is not proportionate to the aesthetic and
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37 visual impacts claimed by the neighbors. Yet,the Hearing Examiner rejected this argument.
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39 The Hearing Examiner held that the"nexus and proportionality test"does not apply here
40
41 because the Administrative Official's decision"leaves unaffected the grading contour
42
43 requirements of the approved 2020 building permit which was not appealed and which will
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45 remain as the grading contour requirements for the site." Hearing Examiner's Decision at
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47 13. However,the Hearing Examiner failed to consider the significant adverse effect on the
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OCT 15 2041
CITY OF YAKIMA
COMMUNITY DEVELOP ENT
1 School District,the taxpayers, and the elementary school students by requiring the School
2
3 District to regrade the site consistent with the approved 2020 building permit grading plans.
4
5 By so holding,the Hearing Examiner(and the Administrative Official)deemed that
6
7 aesthetic concerns of a handful of neighbors trump the exorbitant cost of regrading the site
8
that both the School District and the City taxpayers will incur. Accordingly,the imposition
10
11 of a requirement to regrade the site is contrary to the nexus and proportionality test,which
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13 requires that City may only impose requirements that are proportionate to the impacts of the
14
15 proposed action.
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17 To impose a requirement that the School District regrade the site,the City and
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19 Hearing Examiner must comply with state limitations on project regulations and exactions
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21 found under the Washington State Constitution. See Isla Verde Int'l Holdings, 146 Wn.2d at
22
23 759(mitigation for all land use regulatory exactions must be reasonably necessary as a
24
25 direct result of the proposed development);Honesty in Envtl.Analysis and Legislation
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27 (HEAL) v. Cent. Puget Sound Growth Mgmt. Hearings Bd., 96 Wn.App.522,534,979 P.2d
28
29 864 (1999)(rough proportionality requirements limit local governments to imposing
30
31 mitigation measures that are roughly proportionate to the impact they are trying to mitigate).
32
33 The City and Hearing Examiner have failed to so comply. The School District should not be
34
35 asked to regrade the site to an elevation that is 1 to 3 feet less in certain places to address
36
37 concerns from neighboring property owners over aesthetic and visual quality issues. Such a
38
39 requirement is not proportionate to the alleged impact created by the increased elevation.
40
41 The Hearing Examiner and Administrative Official lack authority to require the School
42
43 District to regrade the site.
44
45
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CITY M
VI. CONCLUSION COMMUNITYOF D VELOPYAKIA MEN
2 r
3 For the aforementioned reasons,the City Council should reverse the Hearing
5 Examiner's Decision with respect to grading and approve the as-built site elevations for
6 7 Apple Valley Elementary School.
8
9
10
11 DATED: October 15,2021
12 Kristin • Wilson, WS: t.33152
13 Julie A. !son-McNeill- SBA No.46585
14 Perkins ,ie LLP
15 1201 Th d Avenue
16 Seattle, WA 98101-3099
17 Phone: 206.359.8000
18 Fax: 206.359.9000
19 JWilsonMcNerney@perkinscoie.com
20
21 Attorneys for Appellants West Valley School
22 District No. 208
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MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND Perkins Coie LLP
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48
RECEIVED
OCT 15 2021
CITY OF YAKIMA
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
1 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
2
3 I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that on
4
5 the date indicated below, I caused a true and correct copy of the foregoing
6
7 MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT OF NOTICE OF
8
9 ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL to be served on the following persons via the methods
10
11 indicated below:
12
13 Joan Davenport,AICP,Community 0 Via U.S. Mail, 1st class,postage prepaic.
14 Development Director ❑x Via Legal Messenger
15 City of Yakima, Department of Community 0 Via Facsimile
16 Development 0 Via Overnight Mail
17 129 N. 2nd Street ❑ Via email
18 Yakima, WA 98901
19
20
21 DATED this 15th day of October, 2021 at Seattle, Washington.
22
24 24 F�- GC-�-
25 Cheryl Rob rtson, Legal Practice
26 Assistant
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MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND Perkins Coie LLP
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49
October 13, 2021
To: Yakima City Council
c/o Joan Davenport AICP, Community Development Director RECEIVED
City of Yakima, Department of Community Development
129 N. 2nd Street OCT I 2021
Yakima, WA 98901 CITY OF YAKIMA
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
From: John and Candace Manfredi
Subject: Testimony opposing APP#008-21, West Valley School District#208
Dear Council,
Who we are: We are a neighbor, living immediately south of the Apple Valley School south
playground. We built our home here in 2005. We have been adversely impacted by the 4'
playground grade raise. We are submitting testimony opposing this appeal, APP#008-21. We
would like the Council to know that we voted "yes", for three Apple Valley School replacement
bond issues. Our "yes" votes were consistent with our lifelong support of public schools. In
fact, we have voted "yes" for every school levee and every school bond for our 52 year voting
history, in Denver, Billings, Klamath Falls, and in Yakima since 1984.
West Valley School District illegal violations: In their 2020 and 2021 Apple Valley School
construction, the District intentionally built large grade raises on the south and east
playgrounds. These grade raises violated legal commitments of their own December 30, 2019
Public Review Document and the March 2, 2020 Hearing Examiner's Decision. The District also
violated their own building permit drawing B200126, approved April 7, 2020. Throughout the
playground construction, and since, the District has refused to admit their violations. City
Administrative Officer and Hearing Examiner have both recognized these grade raises are
violations, and decided against the District in MOD#021-21 and APP#001-21.
Adverse impacts from violations: We have been adversely impacted by the District's 4'
playground grade raise built immediately north of our residential property. Other neighbors
south and east of the playground have also been adversely impacted by the District's grade
raise. The adverse impacts include: lost view, lost privacy, personal safety, nuisance and
reduced property value. Throughout their work, and since, the District has refused to
recognize these adverse impacts. The City Administrative Officer and the Hearing Examiner
have both recognized the adverse impacts, and decided against the District in MOD#021-21
and APP#001-21.
DOC.
1 INDEX
50
Our proposed resolution: Considering all issues relevant to this current appeal, we believe the
City Council will decide against the District. However, we propose a better resolution. In our
previous testimony for APP#001-21, and in our additional testimony, below, we propose that
adverse impacts of the District's grade raises be mitigated. Please see our Summary statement
on page 5 below.
We thank the Council members for considering our testimony, and our proposed resolutiwbElvED
OCT 1 a 2021
Sincerely,
CITY OF YAKIMA
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
John and Candace Manfredi
Previous Testimony
For Council reference, below is a list of our previous testimony.The City told us they will forward our previous
testimony on MOD#021-21 and APP#001-21 to the Council.
Testimony supporting the school replacement project:
December 30, 2019 Notice of Application, Environmental Review, & Public Hearing
March 2, 2020 Notification of Hearing Examiner's Decision
Testimony opposing the illegal grade raise:
June 30, 2021 Findings of Fact, Conclusions, & Decision, MOD#021-21
Aug 26, 2021 Hearing Examiner's Decision, APP#001-21
Additional Testimony on Specific Articles of the District's Appeal, APP#008-21:
Our additional testimony on APP#008-21 follows on pages 3—5 below.
DO .
INDEX
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O C T I 2021
Additional Testimony on Specific Articles of the District's Appeal, APP#008-21: CITY OF YAKIMA
OMMUNI7Y DEVELOPMENT
Appellant articles 6.a. and parts of 6.b. state: "YMC 15.17.020.0 does not speak to changes in site elevation.
We agree. Our previous written testimony under APP#001-21 stated the subject YMC does not apply to grade
raises; it only applies to "gross floor area". Under that same appeal,the Hearing Examiner also found no
analogy between gross floor area and grade raise; his Decision found that the YMC 15.17.010.0 only applies to
"gross floor area" and not to grade raises. His decision also explained that the Appellant's 32%average grade
raise considers areas away from the neighbors, and is therefore irrelevant to neighbor's concerns. He also
stated that grade raises much larger than 132%, located near neighbor's lots do cause impact. 150%and 132%
grade raise issues are both irrelevant to the current Appeal APP#008-21.
Appellant article 6.b. states: "the average increase in grade of 32%across the entire site . . . as a whole is
consistent with YMC 15.17.020". This statement is wrong. Below is a list of YMC subparts and what they
cover.The term "grade raise" is not used in any subpart. In engineering and construction, grade raises are
earth embankment and are within a reasonable definition of a structure.There are many examples of
embankments as structures, or part of structures, typically designed by engineers. For example earth dams,
dikes and levees, elevated roads, bridge and overpass abutments, buildings built into sloped terrain or built on
engineered earth fills. In Mod#021-21 and APP#001-21 the Administrative Officer and Hearing Examiner
should have considered that earth grade raises are within the definition of structures. If grade raises are
considered a structure, then subpart D applies.
YMC 15.17.020A "residential density"
YMC 15.17.020B "parking"
YMC 15.17.020C "gross floor area"
YMC 15.17.020D "height of structure"
YMC 15.17.020E "cumulative effects"
YMC 15.17.020F "drive-thru facilities"
YMC 15.147.020 "hazardous materials"
By the grade/structure analogy, YMC 15.17.020D says: "The modification will not increase the height of any
structure", i.e. "will not increase the height of any grade".Therefore the District's grade increases specifically
violate article YMC 15.17.020D.The District's arguments in their Article 6.a. and b. of their current appeal,
APP#008-21, are either wrong, irrelevant or self-defeating.
Appellant article 6.c. says "adverse effect is not supported by substantial evidence." We strongly disagree with
this statement. In our written testimony for APP#001-21 we stated adverse impacts include lost view, lost
security, lost privacy, nuisance, and reduced property values. The City's Administrative Official and the Hearing
Examiner both recognized adverse impacts, and the Hearing Examiner added "personal safety" as an adverse
impact (see HE Decision, 08/26/21, page 11). The appellant says that adverse effects are limited to slope
stability, drainage, and potential erosion problems. That is a ridiculous limitation. Adverse effects can include
hundreds of categories and issues.This is why projects undergo Type (3) public review including many
categories and issues that can cause adverse impacts. Grade raises violated the 2019/2020 Public Review
Document, HE Decision of Feb 2020, and permit drawing B200126, and those violations have caused adverse
impacts on neighbors.
First, may we address the issue of drainage which the District says is not in violation. Refer to our previous
written testimony for APP#001-21, where we explained that along the east side of the playground the
contractor did not correctly build a drainage Swale. We also explained that the City's Surface Water Engineer
..
3 INDEX
# c - 1
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5RECEIVED
was wrong, and why he was wrong.The HE's site visit and Decision APP#001-21 did not understand o r r 3' 2021
explanation of the drainage violation, and he did not see that the drainage violation, an incorrectly bpi y of YAKIMA
drainage swale, still exists. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Second, may we address violations and adverse impacts from the grade raise itself. Our previous testimony for
APP#001-21 explained that adverse effects (or adverse impacts) on neighbors come from the District
intentionally violating their own 2019/20 Public Review Document and HE Decision of Feb 2020.There is no
question that the District violated provisions in those 2019 and 2020 Documents by raising the grade and
blocking views across the S and E playgrounds. There is no question that those District violations caused
adverse impacts on the neighbors.There is also no question that the District has purposely refused to look at
or acknowledge the adverse impacts. Our previous written testimony on APP#001-21, explains the step-by-
step grade raise work and chronology, in laborious detail.We also explained the adverse impacts on
neighbors; please take time to read this previous testimony.The City in MOD#021-21, and the HE Decision in
APP#001-21, also clearly understood that neighbors have adverse impacts, as both documents affirm and refer
to them multiple times. It is worth restating here that grade raises violated the District's own 2019/20 Public
Review Document and 2020 HE Decision (written by Gary Cuillier), and also violated the District's own permit
drawing B200126.All the violations were deliberately done by the District in step-by-step fashion over a
period of months, and are now disclaimed by the District.
We would like to elaborate on the adverse impact of"personal safety" which the HE recognized in his
08/26/21 decision, page 11. In our view this safety impact applies to neighbors because people standing on
the grade raises can more easily see into our back yards and homes. Neighbors are less safe in our own back
yards and homes because of this. Some of us are now considering installing security cameras. Personal safety
can also apply to school children playing on the downslope of grade raises, because school staff standing on
the flat portion of the playgrounds, can no longer see children playing on the downslopes. It can also apply to
criminals who can hide on the downslopes, out of school yard view and out of neighbor's view.The grade raise
downslopes around the playgrounds outer perimeter, together with the school's chain link property fence
with slats, create a hiding area for criminal mischief. In past years, when the playground was flat, anyone on
the playground could see anyone else. No one could hide on the playground. In the past we could see across
the playground, and often called Yakima Police to report suspicious evening activity in the schoolyard, and
even on the school roof. In the past 15 years, after calling Yakima Police,we sometimes observed police cars
driving and spotlighting across the schoolyard, all of which could be easily seen. The grade raise has created
hiding areas along the South and East perimeter of the school yard. Hiding areas are contrary to new design
recommendations for schools, parks, and public grounds; designs now discourage hiding areas.
In summary,grade raises have caused definite adverse impacts to the residents, possible adverse impacts to
the school building and to school children's safety, and may facilitate criminal activity.
Appellant article 6.e. objects to the HE proposal of a Type (3) review for the grade raises, because the original
project went through a Type (3) review in 2019/2020. The HE proposed a Type (3) review for the grade raises
because he actually presided over the 2019/2020 public Type (3) review, and he knows that review did not
address grade raises for the S and E playgrounds. Actually the 2019/2020 public review clearly portrayed that
the S and E playgrounds would "remain" and "be maintained";those terms were used nine times in the
District's public review document. Neighbors clearly understood from the 2019/2020 public review and 2020
HE decision that the S and E playgrounds would remain the same as they had been for decades;that meant no
grade raises. In APP#001-21,the HE also explains that a Type(3) review is needed for the grade raises because
grade raises have caused adverse impacts. Refer to our previous written testimony for APP#001-21 which
explains that grade raises were not in the 2019/2020 Type(3) public review.
DQC.
4 � '1
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CIT`Y_QF YAKIMA
Appellant article 6.f. reargues "nexus and proportionality. In his Decision on APP#001-21,the HE 6t�K 70131j DEVELOPMENT
the District's previous testimony on nexus and proportionality. Our previous written testimony on APP#001-21
recognized the practical reasons for considering the cost to lower the grade vs the cost to pay neighbors for
damages. We suggested that the District estimate the cost to lower the grade. In their oral testimony for
APP#001-21 the District did so, presenting an estimate of$1 million. We believe that is a reasonable estimate,
and agree with the District, objecting to such a high expenditure. That is why our previous testimony, on
APP#001-21, proposed damage settlements for each neighbor based on their individual adverse impacts.
Please refer to our previous written testimony. There are two additional reasons that we prefer damage
settlements to lowering the grade. First, we, and all the neighborhoods adjacent and downwind of the school
yard, suffered blowing dust from the schoolyard work almost daily for the spring, summer and fall months of
construction, 2020 and 2021. Hundreds of days and mornings we found layers of dust on our patio, autos,
garage, siding and windows, and inside our homes. In those two years, we spent dozens of hours cleaning up
this dust and are tired of doing so. We cannot bear another summer of dust, for the grade to be lowered.
Second,the District has been prejudicing parents, neighbors and district citizens against us "handful of
neighbors" as their appeal calls us.This prejudice is totally unfair. We "handful of neighbors" are also district
taxpayers and we personally voted "yes"three times,for three school replacement bond issues. We "handful
of neighbors" also cringe at spending$1 million dollars to lower the grade. We like school children, and hate
that the District is trying to blame us for defending ourselves against adverse impacts caused by their illegal
grade raises. This is misplaced blame, blame shifting and bullying. We "handful of neighbors" have done
nothing wrong. We did not author, and then violate,the public review documents and building permit. We did
not deliberately raise the grade, step by step over months. We did not cause adverse impacts on ourselves.
We know the District's strategy of shifting blame is working, because several neighbors have asked us not to
oppose the appeal. Other neighbors no longer wave to us, or greet us in the friendly way they had for the past
15 years. So we don't want to force $1 million dollars to be spent, we don't want to suffer more dust, and
don't want to be blamed for both. We would prefer mitigation.
Summary
In summary, the District's grade raise work violated their own public hearing documents and
Hearing Examiner's Decision that enabled the school replacement project, and they violated
their own building permit. These violations caused adverse impacts. The Administrative Official
and Hearing Examiner, both denied the Districts request to approve grade raises, because of
the violations, and because there were adverse impacts on neighbors. We believe there is a
better solution to grade raise violations than to spend $1 million to lower the grade. The
District could settle their adverse impacts on those neighbors, who are "party of record" in this
appeal, by paying damages for adverse impacts. This would require a case by case
determination of impacts and damages, and for some neighbors may include the cost of selling
and moving. We ask the City Council to allow the District time and opportunity to negotiate
damage settlements with those neighbors who are "parties of record" to this appeal. If
settlements can be made, those neighbors could disclaim their adverse impacts. Without
adverse impacts, the City Council could approve the District's appeal. This would be much
cheaper, easier and cleaner than forcing a $1 million expenditure of District tax money to
lower playground grades. It would also avoid wasting more time and money by the District,
City, and neighbors, in another appeal to Yakima County Superior Court.
DOC.
5 INDLOC