Queen Anne Elementary School Addition Project FROM: Pegi Mcevoy, SEPA Environmental Offic
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SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS DATE: October 6, 2017 TO: Recipients of the State Environmental Policy Act Determination of Non-Significance (SEPA DNS) for the Queen Anne Elementary School Addition Project FROM: Pegi McEvoy, SEPA Environmental Offic Seattle Public Schools has identified that the SEPA Environmental Checklist dated October 2017, meets our environmental review needs for the current proposal to expand the Queen Anne Elementary School building using fundingJrom the Building Excellence TV (BEX TV) Capital Improvement Program, approved by voters in February 2013. Project construction is scheduled to begin June 2018 and will be targeted for completion in the fall of 2019 After conducting an independent review, SPS has determined that the project does not have significant adverse impacts on the environment as documented with the enclosed Determination of Non- Significance (DNS). The SEPA Environmental Checklist, October 2017, discusses the potential environmental impacts that could result from expansion of the school to add classrooms for a permanent capacity of 200 students, a new gymnasium, and expanded dining commons, and new administrative space. A draft of the Checklist was released for public comment from May 31, 2017 to June 26, 2017. Comments received informed revisions to the final SEPA Checklist on which the DNS is based. The responses to written comments received are documented in the summary table, Attachment A to this memo. Thank you for your participation in the Seattle Public Schools Building Excellence IV Capital Levy Program. Your involvement has helped to make the addition at Queen Anne Elementary School a much better project. Pegi McEvoy, Assistant Superintendent, Operations, District SEPA Official P0 Box 34165, MS 22-183, Seattle WA 98124 * (206) 252-0102 WAC 197-11-970 Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS). DETERMINATION OF NONSIGNIFICANCE QUEEN AN1’ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADDITION Proponent. Seattle Public Schools Location of proposal, including street address, if any. Queen Anne Elementary School, 411 Boston Street, Seattle, Washington. Description of Proposal. Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is proposing to expand the existing Queen Anne Elementary School. The project would be funded by the BEX IV Capital Improvement Program, approved by voters in February 2013. The project would add eight classrooms with permanent capacity of 200 seats and replace existing portable classrooms on site. The total capacity of the school would be raised from the current capacity of approximately 420 students to 500 students. The project would also include a new gymnasium and associated support spaces, an expanded dining commons, and new administrative office space. There would be approximately 19,850 square feet of new construction, and approximately 3,730 square feet of remodeled space. In addition, 3,000 square feet of covered outdoor play area would be provided. The parking lot would be relocated and 11 parking spaces would be added. An additional 27 spaces would be available for overflow parking. Other site improvements would include excavation and grading, stormwater improvements, tree planting, and landscaping. During construction, the John Marshall building in the Green Lake neighborhood, an existing interim school site, would be used to house Queen Anne Elementary School. The Queen Anne Elementary School site consists of two separate primary buildings — a wood building originally opened in 1905 and a brick building originally opened in 1922. The buildings were operated as the John Hay School until 1988, when they were closed as an elementary school and a new John Hay Elementary School was opened nearby in the Queen Anne Neighborhood. The buildings were used as a temporary site and for alternative schools then modernized and reopened as Queen Anne Elementary in 2011. The project would not alter the 1905 building. A covered play area on the south side of the 1922 building would be renovated and converted to interior space to expand the current lunchroom. The lead agency for this proposal has determined that it does not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. An environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required under RCW 43.21C.030 (2)(c). This decision was made after review of a completed environmental checklist and other information on file with the lead agency. This information is available to the public on request at the following location: John Stanford Center, 2445 Third Avenue South, Seattle (Attn: Vince Gonzales, Phone: 206-252-0151) and on line at www.seattleschools.org/sepa D There is no comment period for this DNS. D This DNS is issued after using the optional DNS process in WAC 197-11-3 55. There is no further comment period on the DNS. This DNS is issued under WAC 197-11-340(2); the lead agency will not act on this proposal prior to October 23, 2017 (15 days from the date below plus allowance for the holiday). _________ This DNS may be appealed by written notice setting forth specific factual objections received no later than October 23, 2017 (15 days plus allowance for the holiday), sent to: Superintendent Seattle Public Schools Box 34165, MS 32-151 Seattle, WA 98124-1165 Name of agency making threshold determination. Seattle Public Schools Responsible official Pegi McEvoy, Assistant Superintendent for Operations Position/title Seattle Public Schools SEPA Official Phone (206) 252-0102 Address MS 22-183. P.O. Box.41 Seattle, WA 98124-1165 Date Signature____________________ 2 SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Queen Anne Elementary School Addition Final SEPA Checklist Seattle Public Schools is committed to making its online information accessible and usable to all people, regardless of ability or technology. Meeting web accessibility guidelines and standards is an ongoing process that we are consistently working to improve. While Seattle Public Schools endeavors to only post documents optimized for accessibility, due to the nature and complexity of some documents, an accessible version of the document may not be available. In these limited circumstances, the District will provide equally effective alternate access. The new ADA-accessible SEPA documents procedure began with processes starting September 1, 2017. For those already underway, the final documents are being posted in the same manner as the beginning of the process. If you have trouble reading this document, you may have those portions read to you by contacting: Archives Department 206-252-0797 This document is the final SEPA checklist. It includes the figures, traffic impact analysis and tree inventory and assessment that were part of the draft checklist. It also contains all comments received during the comment period and the district response to each. Queen Anne Elementary School Addition SEPA Checklist October 2017 PREPARED FOR: SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2445 THIRD AVENUE SOUTH SEATTLE, WA 98134 PREPARED BY: ESA 5309 SHILSHOLE AVENUE NW, STE. 200 SEATTLE, WA 98107 SEPA Environmental Checklist TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................ i ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST ......................................................................................................... 1 A. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................ 1 B. ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS .............................................................................................. 4 1. Earth .................................................................................................................................... 4 2. Air ....................................................................................................................................... 6 3. Water ................................................................................................................................... 7 4. Plants ................................................................................................................................... 9 5. Animals ............................................................................................................................. 12 6. Energy and Natural Resources .......................................................................................... 13 7. Environmental Health ....................................................................................................... 14 8. Land and Shoreline Use .................................................................................................... 16 9. Housing ............................................................................................................................. 19 10. Aesthetics .......................................................................................................................... 19 11. Light and Glare ................................................................................................................. 20 12. Recreation ......................................................................................................................... 21 13. Historic and Cultural Preservation .................................................................................... 22 14. Transportation ................................................................................................................... 24 15. Public Services .................................................................................................................