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1973 ENVIRONMENT IMPACT STATEMENTQOUMPUP C@bnpzQG v SPOKANE VALLEY WAREHOUSE G�]LI�MOO G°�SPC�] � LaG�1DCSG°��Ofi�l 0 n a HAWORTH & ANOERSON WEST 420 SPRAGUE AVENUE SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 99204 IS093 624 -8733 January 25. ;073 ROUNDUP COMPANY - SPOKANE VALLEY WAREHOUSE The proposed warehouse development of the Roundup Company in the Spokane Valley was determined to be of environmental significance, requiring a zone change from "Agriculture" to "Restricted Industrial," and warranted the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. The draft version of that statement has been prepared and is now available for agency and public review and comment. The proposed project is a 500,000 square foot warehouse- office complex to be built on a 50 acre site just a mile northwest of the Pines Road - Interstate 99 inter,-mtion. This Environmental Impact Statement was prepared for the County of Spokane in accordance with the provisions of the State Environmental Policy Act of 1971 and the guidelines set up by the State Department of Ecology. It is intended to allow a greater evaluation of the impact of this development on the overall environment. In this Environmental Impact Statement a number of categories were covered, such as the identification of the flora and fauna; features of the site as it now is and as it will be if the project is completed; aesthetic qualities and character of the project; factors affecting water, air, noise, waste; possible impact on traffic, schools, fire and police protection, public utilities, housing; economic impact. In -depth analysis was made particularly of traffic congestion and noise pollution. The State Department of Ecology's final procedures and guidelines require a number of specific questions to be answered, among them being alternatives to the proposed project; mitigating measures proposed to minimize any potential adverse impact, short -term versus, long -term uses of the land, evaluation of the proposed project in light of present policies and plans of the Spokane County Comprehensive Plan. For instance, among the alternatives to be considered for the site were that of residential use, agricultural use, open space or park, leaving it in its present condition, or some other commercial or industrial use. Of additional interest is the plan for a new water system and a new county arterial. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS • LAND USE PLANNING • ECONOMICS - HOUSING - URBAN 6 REGIONAL STUOIES DRAFT ROUNDUP COMPANY SPOKANE VALLEY WAREHOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT prepared for SPOKANE.000NTY PLANNING COMMISSION by AN DERSON 1 1 1 1 This Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared at the request and under the direction of the Spokane County Planning Commission. It is intended to provide a helpful and consistent overall approach to the question of what is the environmental impact of the proposed warehouse project of Roundup Company in the Spokane Valley, which requires a Tone change from the present "Agricultural" to one of "Restricted Industrial." The proposed development has been determined to-be of a significant nature in scope,,size, and effect; thus, this statement is expected to help meet the requirements; regulations, and procedures of the State Environmental.Protection Act as administered by the State Department of Ecology. 0 T A B L E of C O N T E N T S PAGE ' Description of the Proposed Project . . . . . . . . . . 1 ' Location and Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Description of the Project . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Categorical Environmental Impact Analysis . . . . . 8 Natural Environment . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Past and Present . . . . . . . . 91 ' ... Flora and Fauna 9 ' Site Description . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . Topography 18 18 Geology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Archaeology and History 18 Flowing . . . . . . . . . Free Standing or Flowing Water 19 Faulting 19 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Condition of Site Prior to Proposed Project . . 21 Impact of Proposed Project on Site . . . . . . . Zoning Background 21 23 Other Land Use in Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Design /Visual /Aesthetic Quality and Character . . . 28 Water Supply and Quality - Pollution . . . . . . . 35 Quality and Quantity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Pollution 37 Air Quality - Pollution .. . . . . . . 38 Potential Effect of the Proposed Project . 39 Noise Pollution . . . . . . . . . 43 Proposed Warehouse Development . . . . . . . . . 43 ' Construction Noise - Temporary . 44 Potential Traffic Noise - Automobile . . . . . . 45 Noise Penetration of Surrounding Areas . . . . . 46 ' Rail Traffic Noise 47 Diesel Truck Noise . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . 51 ' Waste Disposal . . . . . . . . .. 60 Solid Waste . . . . . . . . . . 60 Sewage Disposa61 Other Liquid Disposal . . . . . . . . i 61 0 i 1 j i PAGE a Pesticides and Herbicides . . . ... . . . . . . . . 63 Congestive Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Traffic Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Car Traffic - Interstate 90 . . 64 1 Diesel Truck Traffic - Interstate 90 ; : : : : 66 Interchange Traffic Congestion . . . . . . . . . 68 Rail Traffic . . . . 72 ' Parking Facilities . . • . . . . • . • . . • • 74 School Impaction . . . . . . . . . 75 Spokane County Sheriff's Office ./. . . . . . Fire Department Facilities 75 75 General Congestive Safety . . . 76 Public Utilities . . . . . . . . . 78 ' Electricity 78 Gas............... ..... 78 ' Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Housing Patterns and Effect . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Demographic Characteristics and Change . . . . . . 84 Economic Impact . . . . . . . . . . 85 Property Value - Proposed Project . . . . . . . 85 Property Value - .Surrounding Area 87 Property Taxes . . . 87 Employment 88 Income . . . . . . 88 General Summary of Categorical Impact Analysis 90 I Topical Questions and Statements . . . 92 Summary of Any Adverse Environmental Effects Which ' Cannot Be Avoided if the Project is Implemented. 93 1 i Alternatives to the Proposed Action or Project. . . 95 ' Existent State 95 Commercial or Industrial Use . . . . . . . . . . 95 Residential Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . 96 Agricultural Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Open Space or Park 96 Mitigating Measures Proposed to Minimize Any Poten: iial Adverse Impact 98 What is the Relationship Between'Local Short -Term Uses of Man's Environment and the Maintenance and Enhancement of Long -Term Productivity . . . 101 f ' a 1 PAGE What is the Consistency of the Proposed Project to the Presently Adopted Policies, Standards and General Plan of the Spokane County Compre- hensive Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Concluding Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Appendix A - Irvin Water District N6 . . . . . 106 Appendix B - Water Test Samples . . . . . . . . . . 107 Appendix C - Inland Power and Light . . . . . . . . 110 Appendix D - Notes on Noise Pollution . . . . . . . 111 Appendix E - County Planning Commission Records: Zone Change Proceedings, 1962 (ZE- 32 -62) . . . . 115 Appendix F - County Planning Commission Records: Zone Change Proceedings,,1972 (ZE- 50 -72) . . . . 120 Appendix G - Additional Pictures of Project . . . . 123 i 0 ! i \', 0 _ 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT Location and Setting The new Roundup Company warehouse is. proposed on a site of approximately 50+ acres in the Spokane Valley, located in Section 9, Township 25 North, Range 44 East, at the southeast corner of Jackson Avenue and University Road. It is bounded on the north by Jackson ' Avenue, on the west by University Road, on the south by the Union Pacific Railroad, and on the east by a north -south line located 1870 ' feet due east from University Road. The first map on the next page shows the general location of the site with respect to Spokane and the Spokane Valley. The second map (see shaded area) gives the location of the site with respect to ' its immediate area near the main line of the Burlington Northern Railroad (about a half mile north), the Union Pacific Railroad on the, south boundary of the site, and Interstate 90 just a half mile south of the site. The third map shows the streets in more detail, and particularly the arterials (shaded). The Union Pacific trunk line at the south edge of the property was formerly the Spokane'Iriternational Railway. ' The setting of this site is rather typical of land on the floor of the Valley, and of the gravelly soil that predominates. The en- ' tire site is presently undeveloped and is covered by a combination of native wild grasses.and shrubs, some exotic grasses introduced through cultivation in nearby areas, and seed grasses grown for a few years in the northwest corner of the site. The site gently slopes t Precipitation to the south towards the Union Pacific tracks. is also typical of the Spokane Valley, and J O O O O O O O O Cpl GENERALIZED 2 ,..• ,,t R COMPREHENSIVE PLAN f SPOKANE METROPOLITAN AREA SPOKANE REGIONAL PLANNING CONFERENCE ° 1 NEWMAN LAKE am n � 3 L.__ -� S _. ���iP.V ptifE'l( `A ;D;E IF; A S �I tl -- 1 � �'A R K T - ,fl ':t FELT .FIELD E� MUNICIPAL it �j AIRPORT i f - .•- i I II�.EI 3 - I y • / �.:� 290- T� Location of the Site in the Spokane Valley t 10 F1 3 zD•!31ElD I�.... un 9 % ❑ 3 - I y • / �.:� 290- T� Location of the Site in the Spokane Valley t 10 F1 3 zD•!31ElD I�.... un 9 % J _J J cr O �� PO ST-40 FF I r, E--- n i• ►1 � T.F ntroH s . .� � k T .__� - +- •- --� -,1 � '•- ��_��, - ° tom. ...e =. ~ ° FAIRVIEV�' \\ �3 u < LE ooD V 0.0u�K,pO502� /BUCKEYE JACKSON F•' ON S MONTG MF DI O { J SHAN NO N� HMO" Q SHANNON �......1...' FREEWAY' NDIANA ` VE. . Y Y DW N - RA w Q F ' k U. � NORA Q Q lCl miss 10N EL. o/ { Q MS cc of f I SI�f70 U. g, m' 1 A WELL Co if CID O YI t y Vl a o �nR. a _ :_ M.4R• ( t - in P ~ anLFO�z y f>� PHV aQP10 ht 5 001: O: iRVi � J A A s 3 N MARIETTA AVE. - o AVE. M N a w > 0 tx Ul 9 > — t r z R SH KNCX EL.1965p INDIANA h P,4, 7 ' Z o o -< Z tD 7 01 1614WELL - SINTO Z •. yy •..� �.m 1 -s- averages 14 to 17 inches per year. Although temperatures may go below freezing at times in winter and at times up over 95 F. in summer, the yearly average is closer to 48 Fahrenheit. More will be said in a later section about the abundant, clean water supply available from the groundwaters which flow westerly below the Valley floor. In summary, the 'location and setting of the proposed project is on a site centrally located in the Spokane Valley, along essential rail service and a short distance from Interstate 90. The site is favorable to an operation of this kind, fairly level, and its overall setting is one that lends itself to.Restricted Industrial application. 0 U Notes: Location and Settin 1 Source: 0n -site inspection by staff of Haworth 6 Anderson 2 Source: Spokane Chamber of Commerce - 6 - Description of the Project 1 The proposed project is a warehouse - office complex of about 500,000 square feet on 50+ acres. The company is a distributor of goods to grocers, drugstores, restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, schools and colleges. There is no manufacturing or processing of these roughly 18,000 items. The operation is principally a pack- ' aging and sorting center of goods which are made at other places. The need for the proposed new warehouse is a result of their increased volume of business which has forced them to operate from several scattered locations. This has become very inefficient and inconvenient and has caused much additional traffic with trucks and cars within the city limits, with.its attending air and noise pollution. Still another problem has been the distance and time ' in getting.to Interstate 90 over which many of trucks and trailers operate. This project will provide jobs for some 300 people, whose work covers all facets of receiving, order selecting, shipping, ' office management, computer controls and electronics data trans-,- mission and receiving. It will also provide additional taxes to ' support community needs such as police, fire protection, schools and park development. Present plans call for fireproof,, precast, concrete walls and ' floors; and a wood, glue- laminated, prefabricated roof with wood decking. The overall height, including the portion of offices on ' a balcony level, is approximately thirty (30) feet. On the following page is a photo of a model of the planned project. The model illustrates not only the design of the building, but also the landscaping with trees, lawns and shrubs. Included is a sound and sight buffer zone or berm between the truck zone and the street. A new well, with a 2500 gallon - per - minute pumping unit and 1 500,000 gallon waterstorage facility will supply the new project. A new arterial road development will connect Jackson Avenue directly with Highway I -90 at Pines Road. See map of the site on the oecond ' page following with the proposed new arterial drawn in. ' Notes; .Description of the Project 1 Source; Roundup Company plans.and specifications - t�- -17- VVW -MCGCXR •FMTZ- LYHRLA ARCH-ENO Map the Proposed Project showing proposed new County Arterial 4ACKSON O ., .f 1 CAR ISL t .. .l ERY y I � I f :' ✓ LANSFWLO Yew RgIL-O E m v f '' FREE KIAY RCXXYDLIP CD. WA M40UBE 6 OFFICES ... • � O UYtV MY QPQCANE WABN Mi9BION AvE. VVW -MCGCXR •FMTZ- LYHRLA ARCH-ENO Map the Proposed Project showing proposed new County Arterial - 8 - CATEGORICAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS The following section presents a detailed analysis on a number of varied but very critical environmental impact categorical evaluations. The materials used in their development were obtained through extensive research.of all public and private agencies which had pertinent infor- mation concerning respective environmental categories, the general literature from each subject, the personal experience of the consultants, and original production of data where none was available. This section presented more specifically to answer the State of Washington's 1971 Environmental Policy Act section, "What is the Environ- mental Impact of the proposed action2 ".' Extensive analysis and conclusions are presented in this section, and data and statements presented here are critical to the following sections concerning Topical Questions and Statements, which provide the specific basic answers to the other questions asked by the State Legislation. I , C C 9 _ 11 1 .1 N CATEGORICAL ENVIRONMENTAL DTACT ANALYSIS Natural Environment Past and Present J 1 The site for the proposed project is roughly characteristic of the level grassland community originally native to the Valley. The soil is an association of prairie, grey - brown, and podzolic soils, built upon Garrison -type gravelly and sandy loam from the glacial outwash. Previous uses of this particular property are not exactly known, but probably were agriculture in nature. Most of this property was acquired by Irrigation District 1110 (now partof Consolidated Irrigation District 1119) through non -pay- . ment of irrigation assessments and was sold to the present owner in 1955. .Since that time only sixteen (16) acres of the northwest section of the site has been developed in any way. This acreage was leased to Jacklin Seed Company in 1960 who planted it in hard fescue for seed ( Festuca ovina variety dorviuscula The company has harvested this plot since 1960 and it has been left in this condition. The remaining acreage of the site has been left essentially untouched since 1955. It has to some extent returned to its native condition, although many of the grasses and forbs, as well as most ofthe trees now present, are introduced species. Flora and Fauna �1 The plant community in the area not in hard fescue grass con - ' lists primarily of blue bunch wheat grass Bromus tectorum blue grass Poa pratensis a native wheat grass ( Agropyron spicatum spp. t ur V of �_ Syr —rr{� i �rt c C M, y � r ` A r _47 4 �1l a a.. F �4 e]` •sup � , T � i qq CS �7��T ✓ ur V of �_ Syr —rr{� i �rt c C M, y � r ` A r _47 4 �1l - 11 - inerme and introduced crested wheat grass (A, cristatum Abundant forbs include three species of batchelor button ( Centaurea cyanus maculosa and C diffusa goat's beard ( Tragopogon dubius the thistle ( Cirsium undulatum milk weed ( Asclepius speciosa and sweet clover ( Melilotus officinalis Trees grow along Jackson Street bordering the property to the north. These trees are the black locust ( Robins Psuedoacacia the Norway maple (Acer patenoides the Mahaleb cherry ( Prunus Mahaleb and the wild cherry ( Prunus emarginata Of these only the wild cherry is native to eastern Washington. A grove of trees along a now defunct irrigation ditch near the center of the property consists primarily of sour cherries ( Prunus cerasus which is another introduced species. It is unlikely that any large, wild mammals are ever found on the property. The Columbia ground squirrel ( Citellus columbianus is evidently quite prevalent in the area as there are numerous indica- tions of its excavations here. The striped skunk (Mephetis mephetis the long - tailed weasel ( Mustela frenata the deer mouse ( Peromyscus maniculatus the common house mouse (Mus musculus and the Norway rat ( Rattus norvegicus may occasionally be seen on the property. Birds which use this area to the greatest extent fall into two general categories: the ground - nesting birds native to grasslands in this life zone,and birds of prey likely to feed on the small rodents and grasshoppers of the property. Most prevalent of these birds of prey are the sparrow hawk ( Falco sparverius and the red - tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis Ground nesting birds most common here are the ring- necked pheasant ( Phasianus colchicus and the western meadow lark (Sturnella neglects the horned lark (Eremophila alpestris the morning dove ( Zenaidura macroura and the killdeer ( Charadrius vociferus A more complete listing of the plants, mammals, reptiles, and birds that frequent the Valley are shown on the next four pages. Ground - nesting species of birds which may well be directly affected by the warehouse construction are indicated with an asterisk in the, list of birds shown. Tree nesting and:most migratory species will probably not be adversely affected by the development as the present plans include the planting of trees and shrubs along the northern - 12 - portion of the property and certain other areas. If feed trees are planted (i.e., mountain ash, cherry, crab apple, or even pine trees) there may well be a greater diversity and number of birds, particularly the migratory species, frequenting the area. There are no endangered species which are even remotely likely to inhabit the area. The upland plover ( Bartramia longicauda which is becoming rare, was probably at one time found here. However, it is now found only in the less developed areas of the Spokane Valley to the east. As the on -sight assessment of flora and fauna was made during the winter months, additional information was supplied by nearby residents, area naturalists, and the general literature dealing with the ranges and habitats of these species of the Pacific Northwest. Notes: Natural Environment 1 Source: Mr. C.B. Kelsey, County Agricultural Extension Service 2 Source: Jacklin Seed Company, Dishman 3 Source: On-site inspection by staff of Haworth 6 Anderson 4 Source: Mr. William Yake of staff of Haworth b Anderson J 1 I I U ii J L .1 PLANTS Grasses: Bluegrass Brome Grass, Cheat Blue Hunch Wheat Grass Crested Wheat Grass Hard Fescue Timothy Red -top Grass Tall Meadow Oat Grass Forbs: Sweet Clover Alfalfa Clover Hairy Vetch Dandelion Prickly Lettuce Batchelor button Thistle Milkweed, Purple Top Cincuefoil Yarrow, Tansy Toad Flax Goat's.Beard Moth Mullein Evening Primrose Chicory Phlox Balsam -root Creeper Wild Morning Glory Jim Hill Mustard Willow Herb Blanket Flower *Buttercup *Granpa's Beard *Shooting -star *Baby's Breath *Sunflower Trees: Mahaleb Cherry Sour Cherry Wild Cherry Black Locust Norway Maple Siberian Elm Dogwood Poa pratensis romus tectorum romus Sp. Agropyron spicatum spp. inerme Agropyron cristatum r est uca oven var, dorivscula 7 m pr atense Agrostis rr enatherum elatios Me lilotus officinalis P•tedicago sativa TriToFinm sp. cta vi losa Taraxacum vnlgare actuca scarioTa Centaurea diffuss Centaurea macuT0_sa Centaurea cyanus Cirsium unou shim sc epics speci sa -- Pont;il�mil ifolium v�r. c i a mi i.o ium asp. inaria da matica Tragopogon Fu ius er ascum brat aria eno era bien nis is orium sec xcas Phlox caespitosa Bnlsamorh 2a sagittata Part enocissus inserts onvo vu us arvensis isym rium a tlssimum Epilobium anion atum ar is arias a a anuncu us p, a errimus eum trif orum o ecat eon pauciflorum it on ragma u era e ant us ennuus flabelliformis lams osa Prunus mahaleb Prunus cerasus runus em a To 71 ma p oacac18 Acer pTatanoides ,Ji m , pum us ornus sp. # These species were not collected during the winter census, however they are very like] Y. spring and summer plants common to the area. - 14 - MAMMALS L L Certain or Very Likely Inhabitants Columbia Ground Squirrel Striped Skunk Deer Mouse House Mouse Norway Rat Montane Meadow Mouse Long- tailed Weasel Domestic Mammals Domestic Dog Domestic Cat Domestic Horse Citellus columbianus Mephetis mephetis Peromyscus maniculatus Mus muscu us 7ttus norvegicus crotis mo ntanus us e a 'frenata Canis familiaris Few catus F.ouus caballus Less Likely or Casual Inhabitants Long - tailed Mouse Western Harvest Mouse Gapper Red - backed Mouse Western Jumping Mouse Northern Grasshopper Mouse Nuttall Cottontail Rabbit California Myotis Bat Little Brown Myotis Bat Big Brown Bat . Vagrant Shrew Northern Pocket Gopher Badger White - tailed Deer Coyote Microtus borex vagrans TThiomomys talpoides Taxidea taxus Odocoileus vlrginianus ochourus Canis latrans REPTILES Casual Inhabitant Great Basin Gopher Snake Pituophis melanoleucus desertico1g. Inhabitants of Nearby Hills, May Occur on Property Very Rarely Rocky Mountain Rubber Boa Western Yellow - bellied Racer Valley Garter Snake Wandering Garter Snake Charina bottle utahensis o u er constric or mormon T amnoph s sir a s itc T i amnoph�s Llegnns vagrans - 15 - BIRDS Status Most nrevalant. inhahit.nn +.g R R R S R R S S M W R R R R R W R S S *California Quail -Ring- necked Pheasant *Hungarian Partridge *Killdeer*;'::. *Mourning Dove *Horned Lark #Western Meadowlark *Chipping Sparrow *Savannah Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow Red - tailed Hawk Sparrow Hawk Starling Rcd- shafted Flicker Brewer's Blackbird Northern Shrike House Sparrow House Wren Robin Less likely or casual inhabitants . S S S R R S S R S S R W M S S S S R R W W S S R M M M M M M Common Nighthawk Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Black- billed Magpie Common Crow Bullock's Oriole *Brownheaded Cowbird American Goldfinch *Grasshopper Sparrow *Lark Sparrow Oregon Junco Tree Sparrow White- crowned Sparro *Song Sparrow *Vesper Sparrow Violet -green swallow Rough - winged Swallow Common Raven Red - breasted Nuthatc Mountain Bluebird Bohemian Wexwina Lophortyx cplifornicus asienus cc c cus Peerdix iTx Cheradrius vociferus ena� macroura red mo hila al estris b turnella neg ec a Soi ,elpasseri.na ash serculus san w chensis pi�eTra - Fr - eweri Buteo jamai nsis Falco s arverius t6-uxnus vu saris oZlaaptes cafer u�agus cyanocephalus Lanius excubitor riser omcT esticus Troglodytes ae o Tur us m gratorius Chordeiles minor. irA� rus ica Petroche idon pyrrhonota rica pica oor� Tirachyrhynchos Icterus bu lo�i N,o of rus ater piu� nus tristis XFa=w rramus saysnnarum C onestes grammacus unco oreganus �e 2 ar orea w 7onotriche leucophys e ospi%a melodia oocc -cetes gramineus Tac y of e a t a pssina to gi opteryx rui colIA orvizs corpx h SItta canadensI a is currucoiUes Cedar Waxwing Pock Wren Red - winged Blackbird ,. Evening;Grosbeak Audubon!s Warbler 91 Orange- crowned Warbler McGillivaray's Warbler Wilson's Warbler Nashville Warbler ca! auduboni - •' 0 orornis to wilsonia pus�a Is Indicates summer resident ground - nesting birds - 16 - BIRDS (Cont'd) Status Less likely o r casual inhabitants R Downy Woodpecker Dendrocopos dubescens R Hairy Woodpecker endrocopos vi osus S Lewis Woodpecker s,vn esmus lew s W Short -eared Owl Asio ffi R Marsh Hawk rcus cyaneus S(M) Ring- billed Gull erus de warensis. R Rock Dove Colimbp livia W Lapland Longspur Ta c'arius apponicus W Snow Bunting l iv,-Iis R Great Horned Owl u o virg nianis W Rough- legged Hawk Buteo lagopus - I �j Notes: Flora and Fauna J Specific References 1. Richard, W. H., "The Distribution of Small Mammals in Relation to the Climax Vegetation Mosaic in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho." Ecology Vol 41 pp. 99 -106. 2. Grasses and Legumes for Soil Conservation in the Pacific Northwest ' Agricultural Extension Service, Jewett, S.G. Birds of Washington State. ' 3. St. John, Harold, Flora of Southeastern Washington and Adjacent Idaho Esconda, California, (1963), 583 pages. Gilkey, H.M. and L.J. Dennis, Handbook of Northwestern Plants Oregon State University Book Stores, Inc., Corvallis, Oregon (1967), 505 pages. 5. Peterson, R.T. A Field Guide to Western Birds 6. Conant, R. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians 7. Pough, R.H., Audubon Western Bird Guide New York: 1957, 316 pages. General References 1. ,Lyons, C. P. Trees, Shrubs and Flowers to Know in Washington J.M. Dent and Sons, Toronto, Canada, 1956. 2. Gaines, X.M. and D. G.Swan, Weeds of Eastern Washington C.W. Hill, Spokane, Washington, 1972, 349 pages. 3. Daubenmire, R. "Steppe Vegetation of Washington ", Washington Agricultural Extension Service, Technical Bulletin 62 1970, 131 pages. 4. Daubeiimire, R. "Forest Vegetation of Washington," Washington Agri - c ultur a l E xtension Service, Technica Bu 60 1968, 104 pages. i Interviews 1. Consolidated Irrigation District 1119 2. Jacklin Seed Co., Mr.Butch Schultz 3. Mr. Tom Rogers, Teacher, University High School 4. Mr. Warren Hall, Teacher, Lewis 6 Clark High School 5. Mr. C. B. Kelsey, County Agricultural Extension Service i i ' i There appears to be no evidence of use of the subject property itself by '.native American Indians of a bygone period. Nor is'there any visible remains of what might have:been.a camping spot, burial ground, or Indian artifacts. 'i - 18 - Site Description Topography The subject site is generally quite flat and slopes gently from i ' north to south. See the contour map, next page, for more specific information as to the slope of the site itself. The railroad:tracks, which border the southedge of the property, follow a depression in . the Valley floor which comes from an easterly direction beyond Pines Road at its intersection with Interstate 90, and then turns west and north from the property. ' From the property itself, the valley floor extends westerly at about the:same elevation. However, directly north and northeasterly, the slope'becomes steeper, with a rocky knoll directly east. One of the major residential developments to the northeast, Mirabeau Ranch, is separated from the subject property!by a sharp rise in the topo- graphy. 1 Geology From :a geological standpoint, the site is part of the lowland, i glacial- outwash plain upon which the Spokane River flows from its i source, Coeur d'Alene Lake, down to the Columbia River. Under and I through this highly - permeable sand and :gravel deposit flows a most i abundant and pure underground stream of water.It is to the ground- ' water supply that the project will go with a well and pumping system to furnish up to 2500 gallons -per- minute of water. It appears that ' the ground water at the location of this well is about 80 to 90 feet below the-valley floor. Below the glacial - outwash is the original granite - schist bed -rock, of the pre - Tertiary period. . ' Archaeology and History i There appears to be no evidence of use of the subject property itself by '.native American Indians of a bygone period. Nor is'there any visible remains of what might have:been.a camping spot, burial ground, or Indian artifacts. 'i I - I I I Ih I 1 I _• . Vie•• ....�..o.....�•a^°f c.. vne, � •,v �.'` Y. � m. 'n'"•• "�..t^y -. .>_ . } ....e+.r+.un<- m.ane.]v': �.vraK..a....; :]I��` n`5 .. a ^+�� _'� `�_ _- '_ ^`_C. ` .,I _ .L a __r.•� 1 . a ll- •• , ' .,.• P `.r •. u ,o ]...n+ !•a• ._• ..� C.�� u . `n, . . . a. _• �� es . .. _ .. .. f • ' - C 'a...++.0 Cuc••va. • , • 4.•••a. • r ,e • i.lncr .• C•. •• •. �. + •e1 Vl Q•y M•', •+[a uaY i.r . O.a..r[[ o. „u r� auk .[�[[ Ve.. i. ' On�.Y[l O .f• • 14.••.a F K'aYVl.'eV J ... •[. .•... 1.[ i. b [[i._n. •. .. W'• G Ilia - 19 - Free Standing or Flowing Water 4 . There is no surface water to be found on the site, except that during rains or melting snow there will be the usual run -off. As a matter of fact, the ground is sufficiently porous that it will absorb most storm and melting snow run -offs. No gulleys or water -ways are evident on the property at the present time. Faulting The Spokane area has been a relatively "quiet" zone as far as ' earthquakes are concerned. There are no known "faults" near Spokane; the nearest are those in central Montana and in the Seattle area: The Spokane area is considered in Zone 2, from a risk standpoint, on a scale of Zone 0 - no damage; Zone 1 - minor damage from distant ' earthquakes; Zone 2 - moderate damage, corresponding to intensity VII of the M. M.'scale; and Zone 3 - major damage, corresponding to in- tensity VIII and higher on the M. M. scale. These zones are shown on the map on the next page. Summary Considering the various natural aspects of the site as described above, it has several obvious advantages as property suited for development, and few critically adverse characteristics. Notes: Site Description 1 Source: On -site observations by staff of Haworth 6 Anderson 2 source: ;Phillips, Cavin, Dunstan and Crosby, Spokane Valley'Groundwater Pollution Study (Washington State University, Institute of Technology, Division of Industrial Research, 1962). 3 Source: ;On -site observations by staff of Haworth 6 Anderson 4 Source: Jbid S Source: ' Uniform Building Code (International Conference of Building Officials, 1971). 0 C -- i SEISMIC RISK MAP UNIFORM BUILDING CODE 1970 EDITION SEISMIC RISK MAP 1 � � � t I a 1 1 " 1 1 + • ' I I r. : I I • I 111 I �° 1 -s fi j ! - y y #KIM W I -UIWIC legit IW M I111 041110 Purl] 122 Y� , a 4 a;: =a1e51 i IKYR wu - ^•'•'^ KAUA 1. IxA 0 1 U /MOLOKK z � 0 1 ' I WAWA I I SEISMIC ZONE MAP _ HAWAII .123 i S " t UL:( .71 ° ? wa Z 1 • AMC M & C7 7 ! 3 % N tl ' �i / v2• T B 400�4n V PACIFIC OCEAN SEA SEd i� i SEISMIC ZONE MAP ALASKA SKa IUS[ nt[S IKYR wu - ^•'•'^ KAUA 1. IxA 0 1 U /MOLOKK z � 0 1 ' I WAWA I I SEISMIC ZONE MAP _ HAWAII .123 i S " t UL:( .71 ° ? wa 21 - I 1 Land Use ' As Spokane has grown, increasing quantities of land within the City limits have been put to urban use. The location of some ' of the industrial and commercial areas has also "shifted" and in many cases, like people who want more open space, many of the businesses who are able to do so find it to their advantage to ' move to the suburban areas. This is particularly true of the Spokane Valley, along or near transportation facilities such as I ' the railroads and freeways. i ' Condition of Site prior to the Proposed Project ' The original or natural state of the land on the proposed site i was probably the native grass of the valley, and not a wooded area. With the coming of irrigation, it was then used for the normal agri- cultural purposes that the valley supported. No records are now available, however, to indicate exactly what crops were raised. In ! ' 1960, about 16 acres in the northwest section of.the property was cultivated for grass seed. ' Impact of Proposed Project on the Site The proposed development of the site will not require a great amount of excavation or finish grading. The warehouse building, about 500,000 square feet in area, will occupy the south- center section of the property. This portion varies only three to four feet over the area to be occupied by the warehouse building. See contour map, next page. 1 ' There will be some excavation for the dry wells as catch - basins for rain -water drainage off the paved and roof areas. Also, the ' 500,000 gallon domestic water storage basin is to be underground. The truck parking and loading zone on the north side of the warehouse building will require some removal of top soil, but thid will furnish ' the material for the buffer zone or berm between the parking zone and Jackson Avenue. The railroad spur into the warehouse is also to be ' about five.feet below the level of the warehouse floor. - 23 - I The warehouse - office building will be physically located in the south central part of the site. iThe original specifications also ' provide for the truck maintenance facilities to be placed near the northwest corner of the property. Employee and visitor parking lots ' are situated along the north central area of the site, while the truck parking and loading zones are south of this area, next to the north side of the warehouse building. One of the safety features for ' pedestrian foot traffic is an overhead walkway from the parking lot to the warehouse - office building. Road access to the employee and visitor parking lot is an entrance in approximately the north center of the site off Jackson Avenue. The truck and service entry to the site is from the new arterial street as it crosses diagonally over the northeast corner of the property. There is to be no normal entry from University Road on the west. A complete packaged mechanical sewage- treatment facility is to be installed in the southwest quadrant of the site, which is the lowest part of the property. The drain field from this facility will extend and drain off in a southwesterly direction. The installation will conform to designs and specifications of the County Environmental Health District. Altogether, the altered state of the site will require the move- ment of about 74,500 yards of top soil and gravel. None of this will. be moved off the property, but will be used for levelling and grading the land for its finished use, and preparing the north edge of the site for lawns, shrubs, landscaping, and berm. There probably will be no soil brought in, unless the buffer zone or berm requires more material than originally planned. A contour map, showing the location of the warehouse'-office building, berm, and other features of the development, is included on the previous.page'. Zoning Background The site on which this new warehouse is proposed was zoned as Agricultural on April 24, 1942, probably for the purpose of preventing completely unrestricted use of the land until the exact character of - 24 - the area became established, just as other acreage was similarly zoned. Thus, property that was zoned Agricultural was usually zoned Agricultural Suburban as it was platted.into residential lots: Con- versely, as land was planned for industrial use, a zone change to an industrial classification became suitable. In 1959 an application for a change in zoning for this property from Agricultural to Manufacturing was denied because the proposal was not in harmony with the then existing Comprehensive Plan for the Spokane Valley, among other reasons. Between 1959 and 1961 the County Planning Commission completed land use and neighborhood studies, as well as other elements of the Valley's Comprehensive Land Use Plan. An industrial corridor was at that time considered along both sides of the railroad right -of -way from Trent Road to Pines Road. In August, 1962, the property of which.this proposed project is a part was requested for a zoning change from Agricultural to Restricted Industrial. After considerable study of alternatives to the Valley's Com- prehensive Plan and a series of publicihearings in the fall of 1962, the County Planning Commission recommended approval for a change in zoning to!Restricted Industrial. The Board after holding its own hearing concluded that there was ample unused acreage zoned Restricted Industrial in the vicinity, and further that there was not good ar- terial access to this property from the Freeway nor (at that time) realistic prospects for obtaining goodiarterial access. In 1965, the proposal was heard again, but again denied because there was still no feasible plan.for arterial access to the property. i It was also noted that the then - proposed Bowdish- Indiana route while perhaps the most feasible, would present traffic problems at the Pines Road and Interstate 90 interchange. Again in 1969, an application was made for an industrial,park on this site, complete with a road network, restrictive covenants, afid'a landscape screen along Jackson Avenue. Again the application was denied, for substantially the same as for previous ap= plication6. At this point it should be noted that on October 22, i 1968, the Spokane Regional Planning Conference revised and approved I their Generalized Comprehensive Plan for the Spokane Metropolitan Area and that it was recommended that an industrial corridor be set - 25 - IL7 ' up along the railroad tracts from Trent Road to the Pines Road and Interstate 90 interchange and beyond. The present proposed project again asks for a change in zoning ' from Agricultural to Restricted Industrial. However, the developers of this project have offered solutions to some of the problems on which ' previous applications were denied. For instance, it is proposed to provide a new arterial from Jackson Avenue to the intersection of Pines Road and Interstate 90, financed by the developer. This will enable traffic to and from the project to by -pass certain residential areas as well as give a better access to the industrial area. The arterial will cross the railroad tracks -on Wilbur and proceed east on ' Indiana to the intersection. The Union Pacific Railroad has agreed to install straffic signals at the crossing. See zoning map on next ' two pages. Other Land Use in the Area Land use off -site but in the immediate areas to the north and east ' are basically residential in nature. The specifics of these uses are in- cluded in the section under "Housing Patterns." It should be mentioned ' that the land to the immediate south of the property is utilized for a very visibly blighted automobile wrecking yard. The land to the immediate west is scattered withsmall warehouse structures and light industrial ' plants. From an industrial or commercial land use standpoint, these other present operations do not appear to be as well - planned, designed, and landscaped as does the proposed Roundup project. Notes: Land Us ' 1 Source: On -site observations by staff of Haworth & Anderson 2 Source: Jacklin Seed Company, Dishman ' 3 Source: Engineering and architectural plans of project 4 Source: Records of Spokane County Planning Commission, including ' studies of 1962 and 1972. See Appendix. S Source: Records of Spokane Regional Planning Conference, Oct. 22, 1968. vi / 12 di / /� / /�/ / /'' • /' / yam / / // �`'''� • / /! /' / /// /� /� / / / >/ j/ / �� //' �'� l `'/ Ll NON NVHS XG" YT. i . iJSN 77- . . . . . . . . . ....... ....... . . . . . . . . Atl 3AV / � fla rt ' a� .......... . ... .. ....... ME - 27 - L t i (U) UNCLASSIFIED o (A) AGRICULTU);;fAL ZONE) I IM I [TAN (C) (FC) (AS) AGRICULTURAL—SUBURBAN ZONE. (R-1) SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE 'Al"A (RR) RESTRICTED RESIDENTIAL ZONE (MFS) MULTIPLE FAMILY SURBURBAN Z NE (RMH) RESIDENTIAL MOBILE HOME ZONE (RO) RESIDENTIAL OFFICE ZONE (LB) LOCAL BUSINESS ZONE ( R I ), A V (T) COMMERCIAL ZONE FREEWAY C MERCIA I L Z 0 N�Ij RESTRICTED INDUSTRIAL ZO1 MANUFACTURING ZONE MINING (CLASS I, II III) ZONE TRANSIENT LIVING ZONE - 28.- Design /Visual /Aesthetic Quality and Character The Roundup Company, developers of the proposed project, have worked closely with their architectural and engineering firm to pro- vide an aesthetically pleasing building and landscaping. Much at- tention will be paid to plantings, sound and sight buffer zones, and "an overall sense of attractive'design and livability that will be more appealing than many other types of construction that are less full maintained and groomed. " It is their "intention to earn their welcome to the community by maintaining the facility and its services to the best of their ability. " This includes roadway improvements, a new arterial street, and an addition to the domestic water supply of the Irvin Water District. See artist's sketch, next page,.for illustration of these features. Prior to approval for a zoning change, a landscape and site development plan is to be submitted to the Director of the Spokane County Planning Commission. The plan is to specify the variety, number and location of turfed areas, trees, shrubs, and other plants; design and specifications of parking areas and internal roadways; access points to adjoining roads; exterior lighting and 'signing; location and arrangements for maintenance of fire protection equip- ment and water lines and hydrants; location and type of fences, burg- lar "alarms, and other theft prevention apparatus; a sight and sound i obscuring screen or berm along and between Jackson Avenue and the truck parking and loading zone; and other specifications not included under the heading of visual and aesthetic design. The'warehouse building itself,as well as the truck maintenance building; will retain the finish of the natural concrete wall con- struction. No artificial lighting effects will be used on the buildings. It seems probable that because of the landscaping with trees and shrubs, plus the raised buffer zone or berm, the trucks and the buildings themselves will be fairly well screened from sight and sound for,traffic on Jackson Avenue and beyond. The architect's sketch of the east end of the north elevation of the building is shown in the drawing on the next page. The view at i the top is that of the building from the truck loading and parking level. The window area of the offices is at the left and the east NORTH ELEVATION of OFFICE - WAREHOUSE (East end of north elevation, offices at left, pedestrian bridge in center, and warehouse to right) 31 - ' end of the loading doors (with numbers above them) extend to the right the full length of the building. Note the cross - section of the second ' floor pedestrian walk -way which crosses over the truck roadway from the parking lot. ' The bottom half of the sketch is an elevation of the pedestrian bridge from lot. The - buffer the parking cross section of the zone, or berm, shows the height of the berm above the ground level. It is about ' six (6) feet above the parking lot and landscaped areas between the berm and Jackson Avenue. It is also about eleven (11) feet above the ' truck roadway. It will therefore obscure much of the sight and sound of the trucks and building from Jackson Avenue and the area beyond: t The building as viewed from Jackson Avenue presents a low but in- teresting profile. Shielded as it is by both a row of trees and a berm, and although the entire structure covers a rather large area, ' yet the design is such as to be in scale with the surrounding area. From Jackson Avenue, the berm allows a view only of the tops of trucks and ' building. It is apparent from first viewing the complex that the two main ' functions of warehousing and offices have been separated by a pedestrian bridge to the building from the parking lot. To the left of the walkway ' is the open glass office area. The windows are framed in dark, anodized aluminum with gray- tinted glass. To the right of the walkway is the molular front of the warehouse operation; with super - graphic numbers over ' the loading doors giving interest to the warehouse facade. Along the ' entire length of the building, the wall texture is that of the smooth, -cast pre concrete. An interesting feature of the main entrance, with its glass - enclosed ' overhead bridge, is not only the safety feature for crossing over the truck driveway, but also the eye - catching view of the entire activities of the truck loading area. Two additional views of the buildings and grounds are shown on the next two pages. 1 :P . ol t j :P . ol j :P . ol 6 i t � I d ._ /� '� �6 � I d ._ /� "':;a' - 34- Summar The architects and engineers have drawn up a coordinated office - warehouse -open space design with the purpose of providing not only a functional, efficient distribution center but also a grouping of buildings and landscaping which are aesthetically acceptable and an improvement over the existing state of the land. Every effort has been made to add the beauty of trees, shrubs, and green lawns in their proper setting around the low- profile of an interestingly designed office- warehouse building. Much attention has been paid to providing a safer, better located arterial street, an additional water supply for the area, and as much protection as possible from potential noise and air pollution. Notes: Design/Visual/Aesthetic_ Qual and Character I Sources Plans and specifications of the Roundup Company 2 Sources Published statement by Roundup Company, October 20, 1972 3 Sources Ibid 4 Sources County Planning Commission -35= Water Supply and Quality - Pollution ' As was mentioned in a previous section, the proposed project ' will install its own well, to be taken over and maintained by the Irvin Water District. The map on the next page shows the location of the well at the northwest corner of the property, where the water is estimated to be about 80 to 90 feet below ground level. Since there isan abundance of groundwater, the well can be operated if need be at its maximum pump capacity of 2500 gallons -per- minute. Present plans call for a 500,000 gallon reservoir, entirely below ground level and covered, from which water for fire protection will be drawn. This storage capacity will furnish a full stream of water into the fire sprinkler system in the warehouse - office building for two hours. Two pumps will be installed for drawing water from the reservoir; one will be electric motor driven, the other driven by a diesel motor. Quality and Quantity Since thewarehouse operation is solely a redistribution function (i.e., no manufacturing, no processing), the normal need for water is quite limited. The excess capacity of the well is then turned into the Irvin Water District's ten -inch (10 ") main on Jackson Avenue, which will almost double the present pumping capacity of the District. Also, this additional water flow will be entering the system at a point which is presently low on water pressure.. This water system will provide a substantial investment value and needed water supply for.the District. The source for water for most of the water districts in the Valley, as well as for the City Spokane, is the underground flow which comes down the valley fromthe east. The Irvin Water District's water, similar to that of Trentwood and other nearby water districts, has a chemical analysis as shown in the Appendix. The water has a hardness of 150 to 190 parts per million, and maintains an averago temperature of 48 Fahrenheit. The coliform bacterial count is far below that allowed by the U.S. Public Health Service for public water supplies allowed in interstate commerce.3 E.XISZ IN lU wA I r r o �ICN 1 SERvicE ,� �� �i SERVICE �IlD1N4 � warE '1 i �- PuMP 1 I r i v vvr) i L1 t , 0 m ou se Ewa GE _�E f � j�LER�FRE�Z� -37- Pollution One of the ever - present problems of waste disposal, such as sewage, is proper treatment and disposal of the effluent. Most of the resi- dential areas of the Valley are served only by individual septic tanks and drainfields. In the case of the subject project, however, a pack- aged mechanical treatment plant will be installed, together with a drainfield for the liquid effluent. This sanitary sewage treatment facility will of course be built under the direct supervision and stan- dards of the Spokane County Environmental Health Department. The system will be located in the extreme southwest section of the property, which is the lowest point. It is about 800 feet down- grade from the company's water well. The plant will provide both primary and secondary treatment of the sewage waste, but will not include the run -off from the washing of trucks and trailers in the maintenance shops. This latter effluent will be drained into drywells. There will be practically no phosphates or othertoxic chemicals involved in the ware- house operation, except perhaps for some small amount of dish - washing' soaps used in the company's employee eating facilities. Provision has been made for storm drainage from the paved and roof areas to go into catch basins and drywells. All of these have capacity to contain a maximum storm of an average 20 -year period. This storm drainage system, too, will conform to standards set up by the Spokane County Engineer. Notes: Water Supply and Quality - Pollution I Source: Plans of the proposed project 2 Source: .Irvin Water District 116. See also Appendix for copy of memo from the Board of Commissioners. 3 Source: Mr. Dennis Byram, County Health District 1 1 1 1 1 1 - 38 - Air Quality - Pollution The general ambient air quality in the Spokane region, in comparison to other major metropolitan centers, can be considered excellent. There are certain problem conditions which do exist (i.e. Carbon Monoxide and Suspended Particulates) which can be associated with specific causal factors. In the case of Carbon Monoxide (CO), the chief problems are located in the downtown Spokane sector where the highest volume of traffic is found. CO conditions exceed federal primary ambient air quality standards nearly half of the allowable time. These CO problems are directly related to the vehicular traffic (and resultant patterns and flow), in this particular location. Suspended particulates, on the other hand, are the result of two basic factors: (1) agricultural and natural wind blown dusts coming from outside the Spokane Metropolitan proper area, and blown into and across the city,.and (2) people activity, such as driving a car on an unpaved street which then causes the creation of dust on a dry day. Other "people activities" which'add to the suspended particulates and consequent adverse readings are the large number of coal and oil stoves, especially during the winter months, and open burning and grass field burning during portions of the spring and fall. Specific ambient air quality data for the Spokane Valley is not available at this time, although certain assumptions can be made. First, potential air problems in terms of CO are most likely minimal. 'Parcels of land located in close proximity to the I -90 freeway and other major arterials with heavy traffic flow will undoubtedly experience higher readings CO than parcels located further away (during certain time periods and under certain stagnant meteorological conditions.). Second, levels of suspended particulates may well be nearly the same as found in other sections of the metro- politan area due to the fact that background levels will affect most areas of the air basin in a like manner and also that there is still a considerable amount of agricultural activity plus a large number ofunpaved roads in the area. Z The proposed project site is in an area of the Spokane Valley that is most likely not adversely affected by CO from the I -90 ' freeway, as it is located nearly 1000 feet from the freeway (the nearest straight -line to a major traffic generator). Also, the ' volume of traffic on the freeway at this point is not such as to produce excessively high CO readings. The project site will most likely be affected by suspended particulate activity in the same manner as any other similar area so found in the Valley. ' Potential Effect of the Proposed Project ' Since ambient air quality data is not,available, and since ' - 39 The proposed project site is in an area of the Spokane Valley that is most likely not adversely affected by CO from the I -90 ' freeway, as it is located nearly 1000 feet from the freeway (the nearest straight -line to a major traffic generator). Also, the ' volume of traffic on the freeway at this point is not such as to produce excessively high CO readings. The project site will most likely be affected by suspended particulate activity in the same manner as any other similar area so found in the Valley. ' Potential Effect of the Proposed Project ' Since ambient air quality data is not,available, and since there are many unpredictable variables which must be considered ' when trying to predict the effect of an action on the ambient air, it is impossible to know this projects absolute effect on air quality. It is, however, possible to project the total amount of ' emissions that can be expected to be created in this area by this proposed activity. There are two potential sources of air pollution emissions which will be associated with this project. These will be the diesel ' trucks used in the conveying of warehouse grocery products to and from points of delivery, and,also the automobiles transporting ' the employees, salesmen, and others to'the warehouse location.' There will be no other on -site or in -plant activities which will result in the production of adverse air pollution emissions, with the ' possible exception of the one railroad ;switch engine a night which ' will add a negligible amount of diesellemissions. is that 300 On an average busy day (24 hour period), it expected cars will'be transporting employees, salesmen, customers, etc., to ' the new warehouse site. From the present main warehouse location of Roundup Company, the extra.distance that these cars will have to ' travel isiapproximately 12 miles (again, on the average). This additional 12 mile trip to and from the new location will result in the following added pollution amounts being released into the.at- ' mosphere: i 1 ' Carbon Monoxide: 420 lbs. per day Hydrocarbons: 53 lbs. per day ' Oxides of Nitrogen: 36 lbs. per day ' Total Auto Emissions: 509 lbs. per day The above estimated figures can be hypothesized to be those amounts which will be added by the necessity to drive the additional two -way mileage to the new location. It should be mentioned, however, ' that the present location of the main Roundup warehouse is very close to the central business district (CBD) area which requires ' a number of their employees to use downtown surface streets. This consequently adds to the downtown traffic and the already adverse ' air quality in the CBD. The movement of these vehicles from the downtown core could potentially help in the reduction of the most critical carbon monoxide problems. An already existing emission factar which will be shifted ' to the new location is the emissions resulting from the operation of the diesel trucks. In the figures following below, the basic assumption has been made that there will be 57 diesel trucks in: vw� operation each day, and that each truck will, on the average, produce 100 brake horsepower per hour. The duration of their ' operation will be approximately one hour as they leave the Pines Road intersection to I -90, traverse to the warehouse, undergo idling ' and necessary activities at the warehouse, and finally traverse the distance back to I -90. ' Carbon Monoxide: 70 lbs. per day Hydrocarbons: 31 lbs. per day ' Oxides of Nitrogen: 157 lbs. per day (For the general methodology as to how the above average figures were arrived at, please see the footnotes at the end of the section). -40- ' Carbon Monoxide: 420 lbs. per day Hydrocarbons: 53 lbs. per day ' Oxides of Nitrogen: 36 lbs. per day ' Total Auto Emissions: 509 lbs. per day The above estimated figures can be hypothesized to be those amounts which will be added by the necessity to drive the additional two -way mileage to the new location. It should be mentioned, however, ' that the present location of the main Roundup warehouse is very close to the central business district (CBD) area which requires ' a number of their employees to use downtown surface streets. This consequently adds to the downtown traffic and the already adverse ' air quality in the CBD. The movement of these vehicles from the downtown core could potentially help in the reduction of the most critical carbon monoxide problems. An already existing emission factar which will be shifted ' to the new location is the emissions resulting from the operation of the diesel trucks. In the figures following below, the basic assumption has been made that there will be 57 diesel trucks in: vw� operation each day, and that each truck will, on the average, produce 100 brake horsepower per hour. The duration of their ' operation will be approximately one hour as they leave the Pines Road intersection to I -90, traverse to the warehouse, undergo idling ' and necessary activities at the warehouse, and finally traverse the distance back to I -90. ' Carbon Monoxide: 70 lbs. per day Hydrocarbons: 31 lbs. per day ' Oxides of Nitrogen: 157 lbs. per day (For the general methodology as to how the above average figures were arrived at, please see the footnotes at the end of the section). ' - 41 - It is expected that the total air pollution impaction on the particular site area where the proposed warehouse is to be located will be the following emission levels: ' Carbon Monoxide: 490 lbs. per day Hydrocarbons: 84 lbs. per day ' Oxide of Nitrogen: 193 lbs. per day Total Emissions from all sources: 767 lbs. per day. It should be pointed out that the above levels are best - estimate ' projections and are merely presented to show the absolute level of . potential air contamination which could impact the specific site. ' These pollution amounts, in perspective of total Spokane County daily tonnage emissions for their respective categories, would amount to less than one -tenth of one per cent of that amount. In final analysis, these emissions are estimated to have an ' insignificant,.if non - measurable, effect on the ambient air quality in the warehouse site area and the Spokane Valley as a whole, and ' may help reduce by a small amount the car and truck activity in the more heavily impacted downtown core. Notes: 1. These estimates of'air contamination by the vehicles expected ' to be at the Roundup Warehouse development are derived from a i formula established by Art Hocker'of the State of California Air Resources Board and by Anthony H. Anderson of Haworth and Anderson. Without divulging the specific methodology, it ' relates the Hydrocarbons (Organics), Oxides of Nitrogen, and Carbon Monoxide in grams per mile by model year as established ' by'testings of the A.R.B. to the,estimated number of total vehicles for the proposed development and the amount of miles ' each vehicle is anticipated be driven each day. (On the -42- average, each of the 300 vehicles will travel an extra 12 miles each day). In order to insure accuracy, the 300 vehi- cles are broken into model year categories based on national sampling averages and percentages. For example, 10.8 per cent of the 300 vehicles will be estimated to be in the 1972 -1973 model year category, 10.5 per cent in the 1971 -1972, etc. 2. Diesel truck emission estimates are derived by a formula established by Art Hocher and Anthony H. Anderson, and basically utilize the State of California emission test data from 1968 to 1970 for the average diesel truck engine in grams per brake horsepower. In turn, it was estimated how long the trucks would be operating under what load and /or engine speed conditions. In this case, a truck of 30 minutes operating time under load at 150 brake horsepower, and 30 minutes of idle time under 50 brake horsepower was used. 0 -43- Noise Pollution Sound, so vital a part of our existence, is growing to such disa- greeable proportions within our environment that today it is a very real threat. Noise is defined as "unwanted sound," "undesired sound," or "sound without value. " Noise, as used in this environmental impact statement, consists of any sound -- independent of loudness -- that may produce physiological or psychological damage and /or interfere with the social ends of an individual or groups, ends that include all of man's activities: communication, work, rest, recreation, and sleep. Noise is an environmental pollutant, a waste product generated in conjunction with the various activities of man. Noise is a form of an energy residual, similar in context to thermal pollution, with one major difference. Energy in the form of sound waves (acoustical pollution) has a very short life and a rapid decay time. For.more detailed infor- mation, see the Appendix. Proposed Warehouse Development It is expected that the Roundup Warehouse Development will create little, if any, adverse noise pollution problems for the occupants of the building and /or cause any physiological or psychological impact on local residents adjacent to the development of Jackson Avenue or in other surrounding areas. This conclusion is based on the evaluation of the noise data that follows, and the most recent noise information regarding the possible harmful effects of noise. 'The closest family dwelling units to the proposed development are located in two areas: (1) 8 homes along Jackson Avenue, across the street from the site, and (2) 18 Department of Housing and Urban De- velopment "235" low income homes located at the intersection of Jackson Avenue and Bowdish Road. This area is called Sunny Valley Acres, the closest house of which is about 300 feet from the nearest edge of the property, or about 1600 feet from center of Sunny Valley Acres to center of proposed project. Mirabeau Ranch Subdivision, at its closest point, is approximately 1400 feet from the proposed warehouse and road development proposal. - 44 - The Fairacres residential development at its closest point is ap- proximately 1000 feet from the site. See map in Housing Patterns. Construction Noise -- Temporary Construction noise generated by the development of the site and road system will be kept to a minimum due to the nature of the building materials, architectural design, and the general flatness of terrain which will reduce the amount of heavy equipment needed for preparing: the site. The warehouse facility has been so designed as to present a physi- cally attractive and aesthetically appealing building complex. Pre -cast building materials are being utilized to reduce construction time and noise radiation to the surrounding areas. Heavy building equipment which normally generates a noise level of 80 to 95 decibels will only be operated for short periods of time. Noise radiation from incoming and outgoing diesel freight trucks will be greatly reduced by an optical noise barrier (berm) that has been de- signed around the loading and parking zone which is located on the northern front of the warehouse. The barrier is approximately eleven feet high, made of compacted earth, and has the essential qualities for interposing i as an effective noise shield. Compacted earth has reasonable mass, will not vibrate easily nor will it leak air through itself. The building is so designed that all of the remaining refractive or reflective sound paths are rather poor ones; and this will further diminish noise pene- tration of the surrounding areas. Noise barriers or shiilds can reduce noise levels as much as 20 decibels within 100 feet. Residents in close proximity to the development site, such as resi- dents on Jackson Avenue and in Sunny Valley Acres can expect some noise impaction due to the construction phase, but this should be for only a short period and will result in a small annoyance factor / only. The residents of these areas should experience little adverse psychological or physiological affects from the construction noise. The noise - radiation properties of the construction noise are within an acceptable decibel range in which no hearing impairment would occur. It is also expected that all heavy equipment traffic will use the 1 - 45 - ' major arterial road system (Interstate.90) to the site and therefore ' avoid noise penetration of the surrounding residential areas. Further, i since the gradient and present road system is relatively flat, it will be for heavy in lower not necessary the equipment to operate gear ratios which increase the engine revolution per minute and produces noise emis- sions. Roundup Company is a wholesale distributor and does not utilize ' machinery, belt driven conveyors, or electric motors that have the capa- bility of'generating excessive internal noise levels. Operating noise ' levels within the building should fall well below the Federal guidelines outlined in the Walsh- Healey Health and Safety Regulations Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act which governs all industries involved ' in interstate commerce. ' Potential Traffic Noise -- Automobile i ' Roundup Company will employ approximately 300 employees with stag- gered work shifts: day shift, swing shift, and graveyard. It has been ' estimated by the Transportation Department of the Roundup Company that no more than 125 vehicles would be in the parking area at any-one time. Peak inbound traffic noise will be generated intermittently between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Peak outboun traffic noise will occur between 3:30 p.m. and 4: All but a very few employees will come and go via the new ' _pm. arterial and Freeway. Approximately 3 employees will be coming from the East via Trent to Pines Road and'then to the new arterial. Approximately ' S employees willcome from the West via;Trent to University. Since better than 95% of the new car traffic volume generated by the relocation of the facility will enter the site via the Freeway and new arterial access road no significant increase in noise levels is expected. ' Higher than normal traffic noise levels can be anticipated along Jackson Avenue, Mansfield Ave., and Wilbur Road. This will prevail for very short periods during peak traffic hours. The construction of the new i 'access effectively arterial road to the site will route traffic away from the surrounding residential, areas. There should be a limited per - ' manent noise increase in any of the following areas: Sunny Valley Acres, Fairacres Mobile Home Park, Fairacres or Mirabeau Ranch. Car traffic ' noise will range between 70 and 85 decibels only during peak inbound - 46 - and outbound hours. Road traffic will be proceeding at a reduced speed and this will further.reduce the noise emissions. There will be little if any sustained car traffic noise produced by the proposed development. Since Roundup has agreed to help finance the construction of its own access road to the site, surrounding connector and feeder roads will experience no marked increase in traffic volume or increase in overall noise levels. It is possible that some local service vehicles will use the new access road and in doing so, reduce truck traffic on Mansfield and Wilbur Road. Consequently, some of the residential areas will experience. less truck traffic. Due to the physical properties of sound waves and the rapid decay time of sound, the residents of Sunny Valley Acres and Jackson Avenue should not experience any adverse noise that would endanger their health or general well being. Noise levels should fall within an acceptable range with no complaints expected by local citizens. The increased road traffic and attendant noise pollution in the surrounding area will have little if any significant social or economic impact on the present population clusters. Noise Penetration of Surrounding Areas Many of the residential areas within close proximity (2,000 feet or less) to the proposed development site are at such great distances that the noise impact from car, truck, or rail traffic is insignificant and should create n& problems. Recent noise studies on the public's reaction to peak noise near residences have shown that a level of 85 to 95 decibels must be reached before local citizen committee activity with influential or legal action will occur. 10 It is not expected that noise levels will reach such a high level during the life expectancy of this development. Given the physical characteristics of the degeneration of the intensity of sound waves as distance to the receiver increases, excessive noise pene- tration of existing residential areas Is practically negligible if not non- existent. Concerning the Mirabeau Ranch area, it is more than 1,260 feet from the development, and only a few residents of the southeastern section of the subdivision have line -sight noise penetration. By the time the sound waves reach this general area, loudness of the noise will have been so diminished, the noise level will have a negligible impact. Since the t -47- ' Mirabeau Ranch Subdivision is slightly elevated and above the develop- ment site, sound waves will be somewhat absorbed and refracted by the ' elevated topography. This will further diminish the impact of noise from the site. Residents of Sunny Valley Acres and Fairacres are lo- ' cated at such a distance as to effectively negate any unacceptable noise penetration of the area. Residents of Jackson Avenue will experience an absolute increase in ' noise levels due to their closeness to the site, but this area in the future is expected to become rezoned to light industrial. The housing_., units„are_of low - quality, =- less °th'an °$15;000:00.�They- are ^older_- ,homes andxare- deteriorating-.- of this area should experience no more noise than the residents of the well - traveled roads of Mansfield and Bowdish Roads. Noise levels on these two routes are considerably higher than on Jackson Avenue because of their heavy traffic volumes. I' The proposed development as presently planned should not cause noise problems in the surrounding areas in any of the following cate- gories: hearing impairment, speech interference, task interference, or sleep interference. There may be a small increase in regards to the annoyance factor, but existing noise conditions have already created and aggravated this,situation. It is anticipated that this development ' will not create nor cause a noisy environment. It will create new noise sources within the area, but their significance is negligible. i RaillTraffic Noise i Increased rail traffic noise impaction of residential areas north and northeast of the site area is not expected, due to three intervening variables: (1) Distance of sound receivers from noise source, (2) Noise characteristics of diesel locomotives and, (3) Environmental factors, a non -free field. i The Roundup Warehouse is designed:to hold and handle up to 16 rail I cars at one time. Predicted rail useage is set at a flow average of 7 to 8 cars per day. Union Pacific's'trunk: lines are adjacent to the southern edge of the property and run east and west for the entire distance (1,900 feet). Burlington Northern also has a set of tracks and they are next to the Union Pacific trackage. ' - 48 ' Present rail traffic in the area of concern is as follows: ' Union Pacific ' 6 trains a day -- 3 each way Average 100 cars on long -train -- one each day -- each way 30 cars on second long -train -- one each day -- each way 20 cars on third long -train -- one each day -- each way ' Total 300 cars per day both ways Burlington Northern Operates 1 local each way per day with 12 - 18 cars Union Pacific plans to build a short siding into site area in order to provide Roundup with the necessary rail cars it needs for its inter- state and intrastate distribution operations. Tracks into the property will be depressed 5 feet below ground level and will extend inside the warehouse. Switching operations will be done from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. ' According to the most accurate information available from Union Pacific's Chief Engineer in Omaha, Nebraska, diesel switch engines and general pur- pose engines produce, under maximum load conditions a noise level of-be- tween 88 and 92 decibels (dBA). Union Pacific will use either one of the two engines in their ' switching operations at Roundup: ' (1). Diesel Switch Engine (1,000 Horsepower) Unit 1075, rated 92 dBA under maximum load in fifth throttle position, at 25 feet. (2). General Purpose Diesel Engine (1750 Horsepower) Unit 180, rated at 90 dBA under maximum load, full throttle, at 25 feet; 82 dBA at 100 feet; and 64 dBA at 200 feet. 1 Diesel engines in use at the site will be turbo - charged (High Torque) ' and will be baffled to reduce noise emission levels. The above engines are manufactured by the Electromotive Division of General Motors and in- ' corporatelnoise attenuation devices on -all engines. It should be noted that the noise levels produced by locomotives is generally lower and less intense than some of our home appliances and other motor vehicles such as 11 motorcycles. 1 I L. -49 -, ' Since the switch engines will not be operating at full throttle ' and the terrain is relatively flat, noise levels should be considerably less than 90 decibels 12 (at 25 feet) as mentioned. We have been informed by Union Pacific officials that noise emission studies are currently being conducted and more specific data will be developed concerning this problem within the next several weeks. ' Based on the information supplied, the following conclusions can be made regarding noise impaction of surrounding residential areas. ' The residential areas under consideration are. Jackson Avenue, Sunny Valley Acres, Fairacres, Fairacres Mobil Home Park and Mirabeau Ranch Subdivision. Since it is impractical to conduct noise field studies in the site ' area under conditions which will be found during and after construction and under normal operations, the following statements are predicated on current information _about noise characteristics, sound level pressure ' decay times, and distance factors. 13 ' The residents of Jackson Avenue, Sunny Valley Acres, Fairacres, and Mirabeau Ranch Subdivision are at least 1,000 feet north of the Union ' Pacific rail lines. The degeneration and decay of noise (sound pressure level, measured in decibels)from switching operations at the warehouse will not cause a significant noise level increase in the aforementioned 1 areas. Sound levels are measured at their source; thus their decibel rating 1 decreases as the distance from that source increases. Locomotive noise will be generated as a line and point source. Given the nature of the i ' terrain (assuming a free - field), flat and open, when the engine is under a light load or idling, point source noise levels will decay approxi- mately six decibels for each doubling of distance from the noise source, 14 With,a noise level rating of 80 decibels under light load conditions, the residents of Jackson Avenue, Fairacres, Sunny Valley Acres, Fairacres ' Mobil Home Park, and Mirabeau Ranch Subdivision could experience the following',•noise levels in their respective locations. (See the graph on the next page.) I � i POTENTIAL NOISE LEVELS Avenue * ** Locomotive -Point Source Track Siding SOUNDPATH))))) 00 ft. 25 ft. 50 ft. 100 ft. 200 ft. 400 ft. 800 ft. 1300 ft. * ** GROUND LEVEL Decibels dBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 74 68 62 56 50 46 - ---- -- -Free Noise Field- Flat Terrain to Fairacres * ** Locomotive -Point Source Track Siding SOUNDPATH))))) 00 ft. 25 ft. 50 ft. 100 ft. 200 ft. 400 ft. 800 ft. 1600 ft. 2600 ft. * ** Decibels dBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 74 68 62 56 50 44 40 Free Noise Field -Flat Open Terrain From Source to Sunny Valley Acres * ** Locomotive -Point Source Track Siding SOUNDPATH))))) 00 ft. 25 ft. 50 ft.. 100 ft. 200 ft. 400 ft. 800 ft. 1800 ft. * ** i Decibels dBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 74 68 62 56 50 42 L, Free Noise Field -Flat Open Terrain 0 From Source to Fairacres Mobile Home Park * ** Locomotive -Point Source Track Siding SOUNDPATH))))) 00 ft. 25 ft. 50 ft. 100 ft. 200 ft. 400 ft. 800 ft. 1400 ft. * ** Decibels dBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 74 68 62 56 50 45 Free Noise Field -Flat Open Terrain From Source to Mirabeau Ranch Subdivision * ** Locomotive -Point Source Track Siding SOUNDPATH))))) 00 ft. 25 ft. 50 ft. 100 ft. 200 ft. 400 ft. 800 ft. 1600 ft. 3200 ft. * ** Decibels dBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 74 68 62 56 50 44 38 Free Noise Field =Flat Open Terrain Distances from noise source to residential areas are based on straight line measurements taken from County Township maps: Section 9, Township 25 North, Range 44 East. It should be noted that the figures used in the noise penetration analysis are not exact noise level readings but only estimates. There are several intervening environmental variables that would tend to de- crease all estimates in the residential areas: reflective, refractive, or noise absorbing objects; and noise barriers such as the depressed railroad spur line. 15 Based on the analysis, residents of the following areas should ex- perience little if any noise impaction from the additional rail traffic movement at the project: Fairacres and Mirabeau Ranch Subdivision. Noise levels in these two areas would most likely fall within a 20 to 38 decibel range. This noise level would not create a noisy environ- ment nor would it adversely affect the residents. 16 This noise level is within acceptable limits. Existing railcar activity is light, and the additional demand for 7 to 8 cars per day will have a negligible impact on the noise levels in the area. Residents of Sunny Valley Acres, Fairacres Mobile Home Park, and Jackson Avenue should not experience an adverse noise impaction con- dition. Recent noise studies indicate that when potential noise re- ceivers are at least 600 feet from the noise source, noise is no prob- lem. 17 Residents of these areas can expect short periods of noise levels between 30 and 46 decibels. Such levels should not disturb or interfere with normal living activities. The maximum noise level that any residential area would experience would not exceed 50 decibels. Such sound pressure levels will be for short periods when rail traffic is in the warehouse area. Diesel Truck Noise Roundup Warehouse utilizes Kenworth diesel truck units with Cummins diesel engines which are rated at 88dBA underload at 35 mph at 50 feet. Roundup currently owns and operates 47 diesel units, with the oldest trucks being in operation since 1965 (23 units). The breakdown of the number of vehicles and their respective ages is as follows: - 52 - ' Diesel Truck Units 11 Number Year Horsepower Make 23 1965 250 Cummins ' 4 1966 250 Cummins 3 1968 335 Cummins ' 3 1969 335 Cummins 2 1970 335 Cummins 4 1971 335 Cummins 8 1972 335 Cummins ' 47 Total All are stack equipped with pyrometers to avoid over - loading or over - heating the engines. From 1968 on, all trucks are equipped with anti - pollution devices. This includes some of the following equipment: ' baffling devices to reduce noise pollution, anti - pollution mufflers, in- sulated engine compartments to absorb engine noises, and turbo- chargers to increase engine efficiency.and reduce air pollution. Roundup officials estimate that by the time the new warehouse is occupied, all 65 model engines and possibly 66, will have been traded in on new engines having the latest air and noise pollution preventive equipemtnt. Tractor diesels ' are run 7 to 8 years, and rebuilt every 3 years. Roundup also intends to purchase 10 new Kenworth diesels in 1973. These new diesels will have noise requirements of not more than 92 decibels under maximum load conditions. Noise penetration.of surrounding areas is dependent on two variables: ' (1) amount of diesel truck traffic in the prescribed area and (2) noise generation potentials of the truck units at peak inbound and outbound ' truck movement periods. The total number of diesel trucks arriving and leaving in a 24 -hour period is estimated at about 114 vehicles. Incoming ' and outgoing traffic will be spread out during the 24 -hour period. A sur- vey of truck traffic movements is provided on the following page. The heaviest truck traff period is estimated to be between 2:00 a.m. and ' 7:00 a.m. with approximately 24 trucks leaving which represents about 5 t..�^ trucks per hour; and 17 trucks arriving, about 4 trucks arriving every ' hour. Information supplied to Haworth b Anderson regarding the noise r properties of the Roundup diesel trucks, estimates that the general op- erating noise levels of their units.is between 80 and 90 decibels, under maximum load measured at 25 feet from the center point of the roadway. 11 - 53 - Therefore, the following statements and analysis are based on the best available data concerning noise and diesel trucks. 18 The residential areas that will be potentially affected by diesel truck noise are the following: Fairacres, Jackson Avenue, Sunny Valley Acres, Fairacres Mobile Home Park, and Mirabeau Ranch Subdivision. With a noise level rating of 84 decibels under light load at 20 mph at 25 feet, the residents could experience the following noise levels in their respective locations: 0 - 54 - i( i( h C a a, W 7 d a G W N � x H U o ro d u H d u W H H O 0 O 8 O H W a w W a q a O !Yi ca I is it i( 1l W .( O (+1 C .H ro H i( N H i w � F y O 0 v O C H N U U CL ca O H u u ro w ro w o n w o r-I b rl U 0) V M H u W C w o v O O O z H W L O) W d 00 W N u W CD O n U � H � 7x o O a L 00 W V u ro w 7 M b H H H W N L .-1 m u M y N qzq i( i( i( a+ w O O V1 O C'1 '•I 1J W v O in O ao u z W U U O 0) H O 0 N C O •# V1 00 W N O V1 M i( ro w H w +� H H w of u W H d O %D C O C O N 0) N CL V1 o H roi N H J w ca ro •o %D H P O n w G O G w N �I � CL 0 U u M O u w u w O n v d O 0 U Ln 1 H 0 O C z o 1J W V Vn 00 N J-1 W o O I y , . U H � ox D d w 0 0 O O 4 N LG 'i d L) Cl m 7 M b 4 (U y (U 0) u .) v 6 a v 3 u •1 Ol N azq is it l4 W N O L/1 0 n JJ W O O O O .t G w ( •0 E O f N J.1 J 1 w ro O�w O I � b .�i u W w m v u� M 0) 'i M 0 0 ZP L W f v1 00 p N U W O O n U U � H � C 2 n d w u C 00 � (n L) m 6 O M W u H b H U) L r1 v 6 a n M i N N ] z q is z is U U i( 0) H J-I N C W V1 00 W N O V1 0 O L i( W i( W O ID C O O C •rl V1 ro H > � u H •ri w w •o %D H P O O 7 O G w N 0) CL O U u 4 w u ro a O n W 7 O 1 0 'i 1 n (D ro u W w 00 a) O t N O V) M N n �x � H n d w D0 � O w w gym¢ 0 M q + H b � Q) U d a 13 u i 41 0 qzq i( -X i( u W o v 0 N u w GD O v O r-I L W v O Ln 0 m L W O � O �7 t . { u Y w O F O D O f N d N w o n 0 u w' ao O 1� L W v V1 00 N 1J W O • O w, U H � O x O H U) d CC W 0 O O a (n I u m 6 o ••+ w N H b H d L -I N 6 4) 0) M ° imv qzq u M W T W ro H v O V 0) m 0 C O O H .0 W 0 H b ro W 3 H N H .0 01 1) 'O 0 N O 1! H G W U 8 0 N a+ H C 7 U co 8 ro w m 7 r4 N d ro o0 0) ro FA 0 0) O Ci W u m ' w M H ca ro m ro C o a � vv u •0) N N ro Ol p H vw H O ro H N U ro u 0) C H U ro U, N 01 ro u •� ro u g C •'1 a) 0 b O U) CL v a H ro O O Y 1J u ro H •H 7 H O 0) 0) N rn M N G U El u O N w C N O N v v a U C U C •H ro N N u H C -H G 0 q 41 H z U U +4 0) H W N C V1 00 W N N 0 O H u W W O • O n �x � H n d w D0 � O w w gym¢ 0 M q + H b � Q) U d a 13 u i 41 0 qzq i( -X i( u W o v 0 N u w GD O v O r-I L W v O Ln 0 m L W O � O �7 t . { u Y w O F O D O f N d N w o n 0 u w' ao O 1� L W v V1 00 N 1J W O • O w, U H � O x O H U) d CC W 0 O O a (n I u m 6 o ••+ w N H b H d L -I N 6 4) 0) M ° imv qzq u M W T W ro H v O V 0) m 0 C O O H .0 W 0 H b ro W 3 H N H .0 01 1) 'O 0 N O 1! H G W U 8 0 N a+ H C 7 U co 8 ro w m 7 r4 N d ro o0 0) ro FA 0 0) O Ci W u m ' w M H ca ro m ro C o a � vv u •0) N N ro Ol p H vw H O ro H N U ro u 0) C H U ro U, N 01 ro u •� ro u g C •'1 a) 0 b O U) CL v a H ro O O Y 1J u ro H •H 7 H O 0) 0) N rn M N G U El u O N w C N O N v v a U C U C •H ro N N u H C -H G 0 q 41 H ' -55- These above estimates of noise levels are based on the sound pressure level dissipation characteristics on flat open terrain (free ' field). An additional chart on diesel truck peak noise levels is on the next page. However, it should be made clear, that the noise information on the chart is for highway truck traffic only Noise levels in the re- ' spective residential areas beyond 600 feet from the noise source can ex- pect lower sound pressure levels. ' Residents of Jackson Avenue, Sunny Valley Acres, and Fairacres Mobile Home Park could experience noise levels within the 40 to 65 decibel range. ' This sound level will be for short periods only, during peak inbound and outbound freight movements. Residents of Fairacres and Mirabeau Ranch Subdivision can expect noise levels between 20 and 50 decibels. Noise usually is no problem at such distances (over 1,000 feet), 19 ' Several planned mitigating factors will help reduce noise in the general area of the warehouse. An 11 -foot noise barrier encloses 3 sides of the truck parking and loading zone. Noise levels of 70 to 85 decibels within this confined area will not be transmitted beyond the earth bar- rier. The parking and loading zone is a non -free sound field. The 11- ' foot barrier will partially reflect, refract, and absorb the noise being generated'in the parking zone. Noise levels beyond the noise reduction ' barrier should be reduced by at least 10 to 15 decibels. Truck traffic on the new arterial will be traveling at low speed (10 to 20 mph), and ' this will reduce noise emissions from the diesel trucks. : The most affected residents will be those living along Mansfield and Wilbur Road. Noise levels will increase in these areas during peak ' traffic periods. However, the present noise level is already fairly high, due to the close proximity of the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern ' Railroads and the Interstate Freeway. The area in question consists mostly of mobile homes and run - down dwelling- units. Property values are low, and - the landscape is physically unattractive. Noise levels are not expected to reach a level where citizen complaints would be warranted. Noise ' levels should fall within the 60 to 70 decibel range only during peak traffic periods. The chart on the next page illustrates the noise levels that must be reached before citizen action is taken. It is doubtful that ' such levels would be reached. The.overall assessment of the potential noise impaction of the sur- 1 En 0 C K n b x ti G !+ O 00 GO G f9 S rt w £ O G O r m I 4 rt7 O O 0 7' f m r a• n w C aCL o e do fD 014 P7 O t . w x� T G (7 G P O o z w O O + G [n n n � G 0 G O rt M Y a O O o m r 0 N � W N 10( In 90 i U.1 J U cn J C� U 7c W a FLAT SIECTIO DIESEL TRUCK PEAK NOISE RANGE OVER OPEN TERRAIN � 1 - I TYPICAL j RANGE USUAL R /W. LINE 38 — AVERAGE LEVEL OF- DIESEL TRUCKS —r6 uBA 7 n 6c Q z NOISE IS. USUALLY NO PROBLEM BEYOND 600 15 20 30 40 50 60 70- 100 200 300 DISTANCE FROiNll EDGE OF PAVEMENT — IN FEET 400 600 rn i 1 1 1 I 1 � 1 - 57- d BA 90 -r 60 J ---- - - - - -- 70 60 50 COMPLAIN T S RARE ACCEPTANCE REND OF PUBLIC � L:AC1 a0FN3 i0.> P NOISE NEAR RES,D`�`3CES Source: Beaton, John L. and Bourget, Louis. "Can Noise Radiation From Highways Be Reduced by Design,." Highwav Research Record Vol 232, pages, LOCAL COMMITEE ACTIVITY WITH INFLUENTIAL OR LEGAL ACTION PETITION OF PROTEST LETTERS OF PROTEST COMPLAINTS. LIKELY COMPLAINTS POSSIBLE--------- __ - - - - -- -58- ' rounding residential areas is that expected noise levels should not produce noise sound energy that is detrimental or unpleasant for the ' public at large. Much of the noise created by traffic will be of the non - continuous type. Some nonauditory effects such as speech inter- ' ference may occur for a few residents along the new arterial, but no harmful auditory effects are anticipated. ' Notes: Noise Pollution 1 Source: Report of the Panel on Noise Abatement "The Noise Around ' Us: Findings and Recommendations," U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. (September, 1970) page 6. ' 2 Haworth and Anderson. This is the consultant's opinion based upon the analysis of noise studies and the noise factors in this section. 3 The distance figures from the center point of the warehouse to the residential areas are estimates, and are not to be considered exact footage figures. 4 Source: Cohen, Alexander, "Location - Design - Control of Transporation ' Noise," ASCE Journal, Volume 93 (December 1967), 80 -90. S Decibel is the unit measure of sound. See appendix for further infor- mation. 6 Noise levels will be higher than normal, but will not last for extended periods. 7 This statement is based on studies performed by the Environmental Pro- tection Agency, "Social Impact of Noise" Report No. NTID 300.11; Document No. PB- 20674. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. B This is a conclusion of Haworth and Anderson only. 9 Possible,noise levels will be below the hearing impairment level, as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Report No. NTID 300.7 "Effects of Noise on People," U.S.Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. (1972). ' 10 source: Beaton, John L. and Bourget; Louis. "Can Noise Radiation From Highways Be Reduced by Design," Highway Research Record Vol. 232; 1 -10. ' ll See appendix for chart listing noise,levels of certain equipment, ap- pliances and vehicles. 12 Current ',noise studies on diesel engines are based on maximum load con- ' ditions. Rail traffic in the Roundup Warehouse will not be operating at maximum load conditions. Train speeds will be reduced, due to several rail crossings in the area,'and the terrain is flat which de- ' creases the engine's pulling requirements. Under those conditions, decibel ratings should be from 10 to 12 decibels lower than 92dBA. 13 See appendix for specific details on'sound and noise characteristics. 1 . - 59 - Notes: Noise Pollution (continued) 14 Source: Hankel, Keith M. "Sound Transmission and Absorption," Pollution Engineering Magazine Environmental Handbook Series, pp. 7 -8. This decrease is due primarily to the spherical spreading of energy'and to a lesser degree air absorption of the energy. 15 Actual noise levels in these residential areas would be lower due to the fact that noise is filtering through a non -free field. 16 Statement predicated on recent noise studies by Environmental Protection Agency, Report No. 5500 -0072 "Physical and Psychological Effects of Noise Pollution ", U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. (Aug. 1972) 17 Beaton and Bourget, op. cit ., pp. 1 -10. 18 See for example, Hillquist, R.K., "Objective and Subjective Measurement of Truck Noise ", Sound and Vibration April, 1967. 19 Noise levels in these areas would be equivalent to the noise level in an unoccupied bedroom, library or living room. (40 to 20 decibel range) 20 Source: Retlinger, M., "Noise Level Reduction of Barriers ", Noise Control (per.) September, 1957. - 60 - M Waste Disposal Solid Waste Generally speaking, there will be three types of solid waste generated in this operation: 1) Paper and other waste from the office, 2) Small amounts of garbage, paper, and refuse from the employees' eating facilities, and 3) Paper, corrugated, boards and dunnage from incoming shipments and repacking operations. The first two items will not constitute a major problem as far as volume and disposability is concerned. Besides the usual waste basketd scattered around the offices and lunch rooms, 50 gallon barrels and a supply of large boxes will be located at various strategic places around the warehouse. It is estimated that this type of refuse, plus sweepings off the warehouse floors will total about 10 barrels and perhaps 10 of the large boxes per week. These will be hauled in the company's own trucks to the County Land Fill at Mica. The company has been assured that this amount of refuse will not create an unusual impact on the capacity of the County's Land Fill. As to the third item, present plans are as follows: the company will continue its present contract with an independent party to repair and maintain its wooden pallets in the warehouse. This contractor will dispose of the wood scrap from the pallets, as well as the wood used in crating and dunnage from incoming shipments. As to the paper and corrugated, it will be handled in one of two ways: one is to install conveyor belts around the warehouse on which will be placed all paper and corrugated that can be recycled. This will be carried to a central compactor - bailer, which will automatically compact this recyclable material into.800 lb. bales. These will then be sold and shipped to paper mills in Washington, Oregon, California, Canada, or Japan. It appears that there is an unlimited demand at the present time for paper material for recycling. If the company decides not to compact and bail its own recyclable material, there are independent contractors, such as Waste Paper Service Company, who will pick up the material for compacting and selling.4 1 ' 61 - Sewage Disposal As was referred to under the section "Water - Pollution," a Smith and Loveless Engineering system of primary and secondary sewage treat- ment will be installed under specifications and regulations of the Spokane County Environmental Health Department. This will be a "packaged" plant for complete mixing, extended aeration, activated sludge process, and effluent which is stable and also aesthetically acceptable, particularly for dispersion through the sand and gravel drainfield as will be used in this installation. It has been estimated that this plant will remove 85 to 95 per cent of the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), 80 to 95 per cent suspended solids, and 90 to 98 per cent of the bacteria (coliform). Provision is being made for doubling the size of the plant at a later date if needed. There will be no industrial wastes to enter the system, as this operation does no manufacturing or processing. Likewise, there .are. little, if any, phosphates or nitrate to be treated. Other Liquid Disposal Rain and melted snow will flow to catch basins and dry -wells constructed and maintained according to standards set by the County Engineer. These will.be of a capacity to handle a "20- minute, 20- year" storm. There will be no industrial liquid waste from the project as the operation is a redistribution function of products manufactured or processed by suppliers at other locations. The small amount of liquid waste from the truck maintenance operation will flow into catch basins and dry - wells. In such cleanup operations, biodegradable 6 and non - phosphorus type of soap and cleaners will be used. - 62- Notes: Waste Disposal l Source: County Engineer's Office. The present land -fill at Mica has an etimated life of another 15 years. It handles about 1000 yards of uncompacted refuse during the peak dumping season, and 700 yards during slack season. The Roundup operation will contribute less than one per cent additional. 2 Source: Warehouse Manager, Roundup Company 3 Source: Ibid 4 Source: Ibid 5 Source: Smith and Loveless Engineering Company 6 Source: Warehouse Manager, Roundup Company i� -63- Pesticides and Herbicides Except for a few years after 1960; this plot of land has not been in agricultural production or in any other use which required the application of pesticides. Information as to the exact use of the land is not now available, but it probably had no applications of pesticides in those early years. After 1960, about sixteen (16) acres in the northwest corner of the property was used for growing grass seed, but pesticides were not used. It may be concluded that from the present evidence, there are no residual, toxic chemicals from the use of pesticides present in the ground surface. The plans of the Roundup Company are for rather extensive landscaping, including trees, shrubs, flowers, and lawn. It is expected that little, if any, use of pesticides will be necessary; however, their use must necessarily conform with all existing govern- mental environmental procedures and should avoid those control elements which are considered potentially dangerous. Notes: Pesticides and Herbicides 'Source: Jacklin Seed Company 2 Source: Ibid 3 Source: Ibid 2 64 Congestive Factors ' In this section several primary areas will be given consideration: Traffic Flow, Schools, Police, and Fire Department a. ' Traffic Flow ' There are two primary road systems and one major highway inter- change through which traffic will flow to the proposed warehouse loca- tion. The two primary road systems are (1) Valley Freeway (Interstate 90) to the Pines Road Interchange, and (2) Pines Road to the same inter- ' change. A secondary road system consisting of the new county arterial from the Pines Road - Freeway Interchange to the site will receive medium ' to heavy traffic during peak inbound and outbound periods. The Pines Road Interchange is approximately 1' miles east of the site. For location of road systems, see map on next page., Car Traffic:- Interstate 90 It has been estimated by Roundup officials that out of the possible 300 employees that will be working at the warehouse, 292 will use the Valley Freeway to reach their work place. Approximately 3 employees will be'coming'from the east via Trent to Pines Road, to the new arterial; and 5 employees will come from the west via Trent to University. The move - ment of these employees will have no noticeable impact on the connecting and feeder routes to the development. Existing road systems can ade- quately handle this small number of vehicles. Assuming that about 292 employees would use the Valley Freeway as the most practical and economical route of reaching their work place, the beat estimate of automobiles used to transport the worker in any 24 -hour period would range between 250 and 300 . vehicl 1 Since the work- ours and shifts are staggered, the traffic volume increase on the Valley Free- way will be spread out over the 24 -hours period. It is estimated that about 125 vehicles will be using the Freeway be- tween the hours. of 6:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.; and about 120 vehicles between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Interstate Freeway system can adequately handle this small increase in road traffic, and is within manageable limits. 7 WALKER - MCGO - FOLTZ - LYEPLA ARCM-ENO - 66- I This small increase is not expected to create additional traffic con- gestion on the Freeway. Recent traffic studies by the Spokane County Engineers Office, Traffic Department, and the Washington State Department of Highways, indi- cate that combined east and westbound traffic passing through the western side of the Pines Road Interchange is approximately 27,300 cars per day. Figures were not available for individual lane traffic in both directions. The 1970 traffic figures show that on the average 4,950 vehicles per day were using the eastbound exit ramp the Pines Road Interchange. Using the figures presented earlier,'of 300 additional vehicles using the Freeway in a 24 -hour period, ramp exit car traffic will by about 6.1 per cent and highway car traffic by about 1.1 per cent. Given the fact that this increased car traffic will be staggered according to the three work shifts, no adverse impact is anticipated. The small increase in Freeway car traffic is minimal and within control- lable limits. Diesel Truck Traffic - Interstate 90 Roundup is a wholesale distributor and will use a fleet of 57 diesel trucks in its distributing operations. Arriving and leaving truck traffic will be using the Freeway and the Pines Road Interchange. The total number of diesel trucks arriving and leaving in a 24 -hour period is estimated at about 114114 v�•4 Truck traffic will be dis- tributed over the work day. This figure also includes service vehicles, auto - freight, and other semi- trailer units that do business with Roundup. A survey of truck traffic movement is provided on the following page. The heaviest truck traffic period is between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., with ap- proximately 24 trucks leaving, about 4 per hour; and 17 trucks arriving, about 3 per hour. This traffic will be during the early morning hours when traffic is very light and congestive factors are not considered to be significant. About the only traffic in this area will be incoming and outgoing delivery vehicles. Truck arrivals and departures will be spread out during each hour. It is important i to note, that between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. when local car and truck traffic is at a peak, inbound and outbound truck traffic at Roundup will be at a minimum, with a total of 13 trucks coming and going,, about 4 per hour in the 3 -hour period. 0 HOURS 1214 1A.M. 2 3 4 5 6 7 a o in 11 1 I iv V 1) a ' rn V i RUUNDUY UUiHYANY Survey of Truck Movement- Daily'Average 12 -20 -72 15 14 13 12 11 10 T H 9 w O x 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 TOTAL--> rn V i RUUNDUY UUiHYANY Survey of Truck Movement- Daily'Average 12 -20 -72 I T T TR CKS IVING TRU KS LEAVING ' I I i I I ( �- T - 1 I — 1 ENV - I 3 4 4 67 5 12 7 3 3 4 4 5 5 7 7 5 4 3 3 rn V i RUUNDUY UUiHYANY Survey of Truck Movement- Daily'Average 12 -20 -72 9F.T.10 Truck traffic between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.♦will be light. Afternoon truck traffic will not have an appreciable impact on peak hour car traffic between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. A total of fourteen trucks will be leaving and arriving during these two hours, about 7 trucks per hour. Be- tween 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.•a total of approximately 17 trucks will be arriving and leaving. Truck traffic will be arriving from both the east and west and will be using the Pines Road Interchange to arrive at the site area. Since the truck traffic is well spread out during the day and night hours, the traffic impaction onthe_Freeway system is not excessive. Also, truck traffic arrivals and departures will be at.their lowest levels during peak Freeway car traffic movements, and this should help alleviate any additional traffic congestion that presently exists during these hours. Interchange Traffic Congestion - Pines Road and Interstate 90 0 The most critical area of traffic congestion concerns the Pines Road Interchange. There are several design features of this Interchange that create traffic congestion and potential road hazards. Two -way entrance and exit ramps off Pines Road can cause serious road accidents. Such physical designs often confuse and misdirect tourists and drivers who are unfamiliar with the interchange. There are two major intersections through which traffic to and from the warehouse would flow, as there is one major arterial.and Pines Road leading from the development with only Pines Road crossing two intersections. The map on the following page shows the relationship of the two inter- sections and the interchange involved. Car and truck traffic flowing through the interchange at Pines Road from the proposed development will not only come from one direction; but from both east and west, with the majority of traffic coming from the west. In order to arrive at some reasonable conclusions regarding present traffic flow and the increase that might be expected from the traffic in and out of the Roundup Warehouse development, Spokane County and State of Washington traffic counts were utilized. These percentages are based on the latest figures available. The figures available are for total volume of traffic flowing straight r New Access Arterial North South I. I� 1 o. 1 � 1 CRITICAL INTERSECTIONS AT PINES ROAD AND INTERSTATE 90 FREEWAY fl - 70 - ' through the intersections in a north and south direction. Traffic counts for right or left turns made preceding through the interchange were not ' available. The summary of traffic flow on the next few pages shows only the total flow, so as not to confuse the overall conclusions regarding the impact of the Roundup development present traffic conditions. Indi- vidual east - west and north - south lane traffic totals were unavailable. The combined totals have been halved in order to simulate lane traffic in both directions. ' Roundup Traffic Generation Pattern Number of Vehicles x Trips /Day Total' 300 Automobiles 2.0 600 ' 57 Trucks 2.0' 114 1 Total Trips /Day 714 + About 97.0 per cent of the incoming and outgoing car traffic genera- ' ted from the development will use the new arterial access road and the ' Valley Freeway. It has been estimated that approximately 98.0 per cent ' of the total car trips will occur at the peak a.m. and p.m. hours used in this survey. Only 11.4 per cent, of the total truck trips will occur in ' the a.m. peak traffic period, of which 46.2 per cent, or 6 will be inbound, 58.3 7 be and per cent, or will outbound. Likewise 15.0 per cent of the total truck trips are made in the afternoon, of which 64.7 per cent, or ' 11 will be inbound, and 35.3 per cent, or 6 will be outbound. Approximately 26.4 per cent of all truck traffic will occur during the peak a.m. and ' p.m. traffic hours. i On the basis of the above figures, these trips are computed as a ' per cent of the total present traffic flow at the interchange and inter- sections. This then gives a good estimate of the impact on present traffic flow the additional traffic from the development would create. ' Since peak hour traffic flows were unavailable from State or County offices, daily averages are used to compute the expected per cent increases. t fl I T (.J M M Ln W W M -1 -7,067 - County Access Arterial I 300 , I 1,069 i 13,650 O M ! 13,650 4,950 y q 0 6. w I ac ,110 V O � rn O ^ 15,900 PINES ROAD AND INTERSTATE 90 INTERCHANGE Traffic Counts- Average Per Day 7,350 - 72- Effect of Roundup Warehouse Average Additional Percentage Interchange 6 Intersections Traffic Flow . Roundup Increase Eastbound land - western side Eastbound exit - ramp - western side Westbound entrance ramp - western side Westbound lane- western side Eastbound entrance ramp- eastern side Westbound exit ramp - eastern side East 6 westbound - western side 13,650 403 2.95 4,950 403 8.14 5,300 390 7.35 13450 403 2.95 1,110 11 0.99 1 11 1.02 combined total 27,300 806 Pines Road -north 7,910 403 Pines Road - south - beyond intersection, No effect No effect Pines Road - north - beyond intersection No effect No effect 2.95 5.09 Inspection of the foregoing resulting traffic increases shows that the additional total traffic flow increases are not excessive. Since the in- cresse in total flow is small, the impact on traffic flow and congestion is not considered unmanageable. It should be further noted that Roundup's proposed access arterial to the site has been designed and engineered by the Spokane County Engineering Department to provide the safe, adequate traffic flow the County stan- dards require for both the residents and business travelers in the area. .See artist's sketch on next page. Rail Traffic South of the proposed warehouse development, and adjacent to the southern property line are two sets of railroad trunk lines. Union Pacific and Burlington Northern each operate one set of tracks for freight hauling. Union Pacific freight traffic will be increased by 8 cars average a day to the site, with projection of increases to 15 a day in the future. 1 b ERY - 74 - Union Pacific presently operates 6 trains a day with 3 trains each way. The breakdown of tail traffic is as follows: Average 100 cars on long -train -- one each day -- each way " 30 cars on second long -train -- one each day -- each way 20 cars on third long -train -- one each day -- each way Total 150 300 cars per day, both ways Burlington Northern operates 1 local each way per day with 12 to 15 cars each. The demand for rail cars for Roundup's operations will result in a very small increase in total units now presently moving on the tracks. The additional 16 cars per day coming and going represent a 5.3 per cent increase in the total rail traffic movements. There will be little if any rail traffic congestion developed by the additional number of rail cars needed by Roundup. It should be further mentioned, that Union Pacific has agreed to finance and construct rail signals at the Wilbur Street crossing, because of the increased road traffic that will be generated by the arterial. Currently the rail crossing is not signaled; and it has been a potentially hazardous area both for pedestrian and vehicle traffic. This major im- provement will make the crossing a much safer and useful intersection. Parking Facilities The purposed warehouse development will have a functional and well - designed parking area for visitors, employees, and service vehicles. The current parking area facilitates smooth, rapid exit and entrance move- ments. The number of parking units available are;-as follows: other parking 162, executive and customer parking 46, and warehouse parking 216. The parking area is not expected to be filled to capacity. The area is large enough to accomodate any future increase in employee population and /or future economic growth. one additional factor of the parking area in- cludes an elevated pedestrian walkway from the parking lot to the main building. This will prevent pedestrian traffic from using the truck loading zone, and will provide maximum safety and convenience for employ- ees and visitors.. 1 it 1 - 75 - School Impaction The purposed development will have no immediate new student negative impact on the school district within the area. Almost 100 per cent of the employees have residences outside of the project.area, and the East Valley School District is not expected to experience a change or increase in en- rollment. Considering the long -range effect, it is not likely that em- ployees would choose to move closer to their work place, for this would mean selling and purchasing a new home, and disrupting established social friendships, and breaking the continuity of their children's educational training. If some Roundup families or their employees do elect to move into the East Valley School District., the small increase should not cause an undue burden on the school system. Because the present employees of Roundup most likely reside outside of the East Valley School District, the project will provide a net increase in tax revenues without a cor- responding increase in student enrollment. (The positive economic im- pact on the school district is outlined in greater detail in the Economic Impact Section.) There is no recognizable adverse impact that the pur- 1 posed development will have on the East Valley School District. Spokane County Sheriff's Office The proposed development is anticipated to have little impact on the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, according to Captain Edward W. Braune. He stressed the point that no extra manpower or equipment is needed to pro- vide patroling and surveillance activities.' Roundup will be operating 24 hours a day, so only routine day and night patroling by the County Sheriff's personnel will be necessary. It is anticipated that Roundup will provide safety and theft deterring equipment on -its premises, which will potentially include an automatic Burglar Alarm System and a security force of dndetermined size. Fire Department Facilities The Roundup'Warehouse development is located within the Spokane County Fire Protection District O1. The firehouse is situated on Broadway " 76 " and Sullivan. In contacting Mr. James B. Kearney, Fire Marshall, he stated that the additional service extended to Roundup would.not require new personnel or equipment. The project may increase the potential service load of the District, but no major capital outlays are needed.- The Fire Marshall will have the full cooperation of Roundup in supplying information as to fire hydrants, sprinkler systems, warehouse inspections, and fire code regulations. The proposed project's new well can be operated, if need be, at its maximum pumping capacity of 2500 gallons per minute. Also, the 500,000 gallon reservoir with its two pump systems can supply a full stream of water into the sprinkler system in the office and warehouse sections for two hours. This new water system will provide the Irvin Water District with a substantial investment value, without cost to the District's users'. It will also improve the District's water pressure for the area and perhaps reduce fire insurance costs. (See Appendix for copy of memo from the Irvin Water District.) ' General Congestive Safety At an earlier stage in the proposed project, it was planned that the main arterial access road to and from Pines Road and the new warehouse would be on Mansfield Avenue. There was considerable citizen concern that Mansfield would be totally inadequate to safely handle the increased amount of traffic, especially the large diesel trucks. The concern centered around the access to and from Mansfield'. Avenue and Pines Road. At this point, south bound traffic at Pines Road would be approaching the intersection at Mansfield at a relatively high speed, coming downhill and around a small curve. It was felt that the slow moving diesel trucks could be involved in accidents at this point. Another concern was the potential danger of the moving trucks with school children walking along Mansfield and /or waiting for school buses at Mansfield or Pines. In answer to their safety concerns, and in order to provide the better direct and less disruptable access to the warehouse, the I r 1 C 77 - previously mentioned new arterial access was planned for implementation. It is felt that this access, effectively moving dross -Pines Road traffic to a point further south and away from Mansfield, and taking any arterial reliance off Mansfield, solves the above two concerns from a physical plan standpoint. Imponderable factors such as driver mishaps, childrens' "horseplay ", etc., always provides an element of potential safety problems in any situation where a traffic flow is invmlved. Notes: Congestive Factors l In order that the number of cars tnaveling to the site is not under- entimated,'the inflated figure.of 300 automobiles will be used. This assumes that every employee will use his own car (one employee per car). Z Conclusion drawn by Haworth and Anderson from available data. 3 Traffic counts were for Pines Road and Valley Freeway Interchange only. 4 I has been further estimated that approximately 90% of the trucks, or 103, will be moving on the Freeway west of the Interchange, and approximately 10%, or 11 trucks, will be moving to or from the East to the Pines Road Interchange. 1 I 1 I - 78 - ' Public Utilities (Except Water and Sewer) I Electricity The Roundup warehouse will receive electrical service from Inland Power & Light Company. The electrical service will enter the site area via underground cables at the southeast corner.of the development. Mr. Arnold Brauff Operations Manager for Inland Power & Light p g g (see personal letter in appendix), has stated that the power to the site will be trans- ' mitted from either the Valley Way Substation or a proposed substation in the design phase in the Pleasant Prairie area. In fact, they plan to have power also available from another alternative substation in case of emer- gency. The electrical power will be transmitted to the site via overhead ' cable line to the property, then going underground to the necessary transformers. Inland Power & Light Company hopes to be.able.to remove ' the overhead line that presently runs along the railroad tracks. As is the present trend in locating utilities underground, this electrical ' line service will also be underground. Exact line location and line sizes must of necessity wait for more definite specifications. However, there will ' be no problem in obtaining the required electric service,when needed:. Gas Natural gas lines are also readily available. An 8 -inch underground ' line now exists at the corner of Bowdish Road and Jackson Avenue. Plans call for a 6 -inch connector line from Bowdish, west down Jackson Avenue ' and then coming into the site at the west end of the parking lot. Mr. Robert Taylor at the Washington Water Power Company has estimated Roundup's industrial natural gas consumption rate at 14,000,000 to 20,000,000 B.T.U. per day. It is interesting to note, that if the Roundup property were zoned for residential use,residential natural gas consumption would average ' about 25,000,000 B.T.U. per day, depending on number and type of housing units per acre. The proposed land use zone change tofi�estricted Industrial ' would conserve natural resources, as compared to Residential zoning. The8- inch'' main line on Bowdish Road is of adequate size to serve the proposed de- velopment. 79 - Telephone i The present telephone service via the property is underground. The Pacific Northwest Bell line comes in at the southwest corner of the property. Exact location of the lines from outside the property cannot be determined until more specific details are known, such as number of lines, exchanges, and type of communication systems. It is estimated that the project trunk facilities would handle this additional load without adverse service problems to the other areas presently being serviced. 0 Notes: Public Utilities 1 Source: Inland Power & Light Company, Mr. Arnold Brauff, Operations Manager 2 Source: Washington Water Power Company, Mr. Robert Taylor, Industrial Sales Manager 3 Source: Pacific Northwest Bell, Mrs: Mary Lu Kunze, Commercial Service - 80 - ' . Housing Patterns and Effect. 1 There are three fairly compact clusters of residential developments ' within the study area: the Sunny Valley Acres Subdivision; the Fairacres Subdivision; and the Mirabeau Ranch Subdivision. A less compact group of homes and a mobile home park exist along Mansfield Avenue between Bowdish and Pines Road. Other significant land uses include a shopping center to the west about a mile, a group of homes along Jackson and Argonne, an auto wrecking yard at University and the Freeway, a contractor's yard at Uni- versity and Grace, and another at Bowdish and Mansfield, an elementary school on Pines near Trent Road, and a scattering of homes along Montgomery and Bowdish Road. The Mirabeau Ranch Shbdivision is located northeast of the Roundup Warehouse. From the center point of the proposed warehouse development ' to the approximate center of the Mirabeau Ranch Subdivision is a distance of over 3,300 feet, measured over a slight rise which separates the two. The Fairacres Subdivision is located approximately 1,300 feet north of the center point of the site. Sunny Valley Acres is located 1,600 feet east of the center point of the proposed site. Mirabeau Ranch is located on a .low plateau and only a few residents will have a direct optical and /or noise exposure path to the Roundup site. For a detailed graphic de- ' scription of the areas in question, consult the map on the next page. The majority of the residential units in the subdivisions mentioned above are of rather recent origin and are of overall good construction, attractive in appearance and well -kept. Homes in the Fairacres Subdivi -, f sion range in price from $15,000 to $30,000 and are essentially middle income housing units. Homes in the Mirabeau Ranch development vary in ' price from $20,000 to $40,000 and are, generally speaking, classified as upper income homes. Sunny Valley Acres is a United States Department of Housing and Urban Development "235" low income housing group; however, ' these homes are quite new and add a much needed building contrast to the ' area. Homes in this complex range in price from $17,000 to $21,000. The for the most older eight residential units along Jackson Avenue are, part, low income homes, unattractive, deteriorating, and depreciating both physically and economically at a rapid rate. Many of the homes in this section seem to have reached their useful economic life expectancy and 1 1 -81- ., SEC.9 T25N.R.44E MAP OF HOUSING AREAS [1 r 1 L . �J - 82 - and are now at a point of diminishing returns. The Fairacres Subdivision has not been fully developed, with approxi- mately 35 home sites completed, with about 30 single- family residential lots still undeveloped. The Mirabeau Ranch Subdivision is compact and presently nearing full development on all existing land area. Existing housing patterns will remain relatively fixed and lot vacancies will continue to be developed in the subdivisions. No tangible change in housing patterns is expected, due to the general trend of development of the area to light industrial. Most Roundup employees will come from the surrounding metropolitan area with established residence outside of the site development project. As Roundup continues to grow and expand its product market, some new employees or present employees may elect to move closer to their place of work, but this will have no immediate impact. The long -range effect on:existing housing patterns is estimated to be minimal. The three photographs on the next page show some of the housing patterns and land uses at the present time. The top picture was taken looking west over the property and shows the scattering of houses east of the site. The second photograph was taken south of the property, looking over the Freeway, then'over the automotive wrecking yard just south of,the railroad tracks which lie between the yard and the site, and then above that and a little to the right center is the site itself. The third photograph was taken looking east along Jackson Avenue, north of the property, just a few feet east of University Road. Notes: Housing Patterns and Effect l On-sight inspection by staff of Haworth and Anderson, and personal consultation with real estate firm-of Brockman- Rothrock, Inc. i � 0 0 a 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 • � ( ✓.... 4 dr. ' _ .. .. a... .y ✓ L � l - 84 - Demographic Characteristics and Change Roundup currently employs about 300 people. Since almost 100 per cent of the employees for the proposed warehouse development will come mostly from the City and the Valley, where they have their established residence) no significant changes will result from the shift of em- ployment. It therefore appears that the demographic information for the area would remain practically the same as before. Future economic growth of the firm and a subsequent increase in employee population may create additional demand for housing and public services in the Spokane Valley if these employees choose to live close to their work place. However, such trends in future population char- acteristics and increased economic growth are difficult to predict. n Notes: Demographic Characteristics and Change I Source: Records of Roundup Company i n Notes: Demographic Characteristics and Change I Source: Records of Roundup Company - 85 - Economic Impact Consideration of the economic impact of the proposed project includes 1) Property values of a) the subject site, and b) the surrounding area, 2) Property taxes, 3) Employment, and 4) Income. Much of this, revolves around the type of zoning, and subsequent development, that will be eventually decided upon, not only for the subject property, but also for that of certain acreage in the same area, particularly along the railroad right -of -ways. For instance, the subject site,..ias well as other property along the railroads has been proposed as most economically and practically suited for Restricted Industrial zoning in the Generalized Compre- hensive Plan for the area.l In the opinion of some of the residents in the area, the subject site should remain zoned "Agri- cultural" or "Residential. " The arguments concerning these view- points are given below. 1) a. Property Value - Prpposed Project 3 The estimated final value of the proposed project is as ■ follows: Land and Improvements . . . . . . . $ 500,000 ' Building and Equipment. . . . . 5,500,000 Total $6,000,000 ' Land improvements include, among other things, that of a new arterial street, as pointed out in previous sections. The cost to 1 Roundup Company is estimated at $110,000. Also included in the total value is the cost of a new water system, the net result of which will be a valuable addition to the Irvin Water District, supplying their ' users with badly needed additional water and additional pressure. Several suggestions have been made as to alternative uses of ' the proposed site, all of them having economic connotations. One of the inferences has been that there is much land nearby which is ' already zoned "Restricted Industrial" which Roundup Company could use. Much, if not most, of the acreage so zoned and appearing vacant in this area is, on inspection, found to be small parcels, or is held for expansion of existing firms, or is held by the railroads for development of rail users. None appear to have all of the J CK-1-M advantages for Roundup's type of operation as does the subject site. Another suggestion has been that the subject site remain zoned "Agricultural." The.,;history of the site is that the soil, being of about Class III composition, is not generally suited or adaptable for most agricultural production. It has been used lately for the purpose of grazing, though the present grass is rather sparse. If seems evident, judging by the closeness of the subject site to the railroad tracks, by the unsightly view of a large automobile wrecking yard across the tracks, and by the closeness of a con- tractor's equipment storage yard, barns, and older housing, plus the nearness of the Interstate 90 Freeway with its traffic noise, that the subject property, at best, would be developed "Residential" only for low- income housing or trailer courts. It is estimated that the development of the 50+ acres of this site as "Residential" might, at most, generate an additional value for tax purposes of perhaps $4,000,000 as compared with the proposed project of $6,000,000. It is important to note that residential use of this land would most certainly result in a higher "service" cost to the governmental entities involved than would proposed use as a warehouse. Demands for such services as new school classroom space, law enforcement, fire protection, etc. would be greater. There remains one additional alternative, that of using the site as "open space" for the use of the community. From an aesthetic viewpoint, this is probably desirable. But it means that the area residents would have to purchase the property at "fair market value" which in'this case is the price that can be obtained for use in a "Restricted Industrial" development. All things considered, the subject property is very well suited to light industrial use because of its level topography, availability to rail and truck service, readily accessible utilities, and nearby Interstate 90 Freeway. Thus, rezoning the property to Restricted Industrial would have the greatest economic benefit for the property. ' - 87- 1)b.P rooerty Value- Surrounding Area ' The present zoning of the immediate area surrounding the proposed site is shown on the zoning map under the section entitled "Land Use:" ' Restricted Industrial is seen within about 800 feet to the west of the site. Single - Family and Multi- Family Resident Zoning is established at varying distances from the site as well as for trailer housing. Most of the land within approximately 1000 feet of the subject property has not been used for recent residential development except ' for low- income housing trailer courts, and older housing. Since there is presently limited residential land use and ' development in the immediate area (1000 feet radius) and long - range planning calls for increased commercial and restricted ' industrial use along both the Union Pacific - Burlington Northern right -of -way (which goes by the south edge of the property) and e the main line of the Burlington Northern about a mile north of the property,(near the north boundary of the Mirabeau Ranch housing), it appears that housing patterns will remain fairly stable unless ' major population increases occur in the area and /or major industry locates in the zoned areas nearby. Thus, due to quite probable ' increased industrial use of the land areas.along the railroad tracks, the economic impact implies that further residential develop- ' ment in this immediate area is an unattractive economic investment. This does not necessarily mean that there will be an immediate ' decrease in property values in such housing areas as the Mirabeau Ranch. However, regardless of-whether or not the Roundup Company ' project is completed, the long -range affect of adjacent railways Freeways and will be that of restricting residential development and encouraging commercial and restricted industrial use. 1 � 2) Property Taxes ' The present millage tax for the district in which this subject property is located is shown below, as well as the amount of tax that 502 of true value will generate (rate times 502 of $6,000,000): ' 4) Income ' The payrolls and purchasing of supplies and other expense items at the Valley location will not have an immediate effect on the area around the new warehouse location. Here again, however, as ' employees move to the Valley to be closer to their work, their - 88 Tax Recipient Millage Amount of Tax t State 4.818 $14,454 County 4.449 13,347 ' Library 1.205 3,615 Roads 5 000 15,000 Fire District O1 4.847 14,541 ' Schools 18.545 55,635 ' Total Tax $116,592 ' In another section entitled "Congestive Factors," it has been estimated that there will be no immediate increase in school children, and no immediate increase in men or equipment in the Fire ' Protection and Sheriff's Departments.. The new arterial street is also to be financed by the Roundup Company. Altogether, it would ' appear that there will be a substantial increase in the tax base of this district, with a minimum of additional public services. 1 3) Employment ' Most of the present employees now working in the various Spokane warehouse and office locations of Roundup Company will be commuting ' to the new location, if and when the project is completed. The Company's present total employment is about 300, although they estimate ' a slight reduction if the new operation proves to be as efficient as they hope. However, if the volume of business done by the Round- up Company continues to expand, as they anticipate, then some addi- ' tional hiring will be'done at the Valley location. ' 4) Income ' The payrolls and purchasing of supplies and other expense items at the Valley location will not have an immediate effect on the area around the new warehouse location. Here again, however, as ' employees move to the Valley to be closer to their work, their - 89= .1 1 , l incomes will be spent more in the Valley. Thus, eventually, there will be a positive economic impact on business in the Valley. In contrast to this, there will be a temporary negative economic impact in areas around the present Roundup warehouses and offices in the City, at least until another operation takes over their buildings. Roundup plans on continuing part of their operations (Cash & Carry) in their present location, and there have already been inquiries regarding the future availability of their buildings which will be vacated. In brief summary as to Economic Impact, the development of the proposed project would lead to increased economic land values of the site itself, as well as the immediately adjacent property; it would definitely increase the tax base for the district, with little adverse impact or cost to the district; the employment and income impact for the immediate future for the area would be negligible, but has the possibility of increased employment and income in the long -run. Notes: Economic Impact Source: Generalized Comprehensive Plan, Spokane Metropolitan Area, as proposed by Spokane Regional Planning Conference, revised and approved, October 22, 1968. 2 Source: Hearings before County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners. 3 Source: Roundup Company's project plans 4 Source: Hearings, op, cit. 5 Source: On -sight inspection and evaluation of staff of Haworth & Anderson, and consultation with staff of Broderick- Rothrock, Inc. 6 Source: Ibid. Source: Ibid. 8 Source: Spokane County Tax Records. 9 Source: Records of Roundup Company. 0 f I General Summary of Categorical Environmental Impact Analysis ' The various categories of environmental areas covered in this ' section of the Impact Statement can be briefly summarized under two headings: 1) Natural Environment - i.e., physical or natural setting:"': 2) Man-Made Environment - i.e., social, economic, aesthetic These two headings may seem oversimplified but they do point a up the interaction between man and man, and between man and his natural environment. In the case of the project proposed by the Roundup Company for the new office - warehouse development in.the Spokane Valley, the following comments are significant: 1) The impact on the physical or natural environment seems to this study to be minimal - - both positive and negative. The use of the land at the site from an agricultural standpoint seems to be neither practical or economical; in fact, it is not being used for any significant purpose at the moment, gradually growing up in natural grasses, weeds and brush. The positive impact of the completed project would be the landscaping of open spaces into trees, shrubs, lawn and flowers. 2) The impact on man's social, economic, and aesthetic environment appears to be balanced in favor of the positive, recognizing that there are also some negative or undesirable aspects resulting from the implementation of the project. These ' negative impacts, however, are to be counteracted in several ways by positive measures in the plans for the development. ' One of the important positive steps is in the nature of the design of the buildings and grounds, to give an appearance as aesthetically pleasing as possible. Another is the improvement in traffic patterns in the area, diverting heavy traffic away from 1 1 - 90 I General Summary of Categorical Environmental Impact Analysis ' The various categories of environmental areas covered in this ' section of the Impact Statement can be briefly summarized under two headings: 1) Natural Environment - i.e., physical or natural setting:"': 2) Man-Made Environment - i.e., social, economic, aesthetic These two headings may seem oversimplified but they do point a up the interaction between man and man, and between man and his natural environment. In the case of the project proposed by the Roundup Company for the new office - warehouse development in.the Spokane Valley, the following comments are significant: 1) The impact on the physical or natural environment seems to this study to be minimal - - both positive and negative. The use of the land at the site from an agricultural standpoint seems to be neither practical or economical; in fact, it is not being used for any significant purpose at the moment, gradually growing up in natural grasses, weeds and brush. The positive impact of the completed project would be the landscaping of open spaces into trees, shrubs, lawn and flowers. 2) The impact on man's social, economic, and aesthetic environment appears to be balanced in favor of the positive, recognizing that there are also some negative or undesirable aspects resulting from the implementation of the project. These ' negative impacts, however, are to be counteracted in several ways by positive measures in the plans for the development. ' One of the important positive steps is in the nature of the design of the buildings and grounds, to give an appearance as aesthetically pleasing as possible. Another is the improvement in traffic patterns in the area, diverting heavy traffic away from 1 1 I I I . 1 1 \ I 1 - 91 - the residential areas by means of a new arterial road. And again, • positive constructive addition to the immediate area, both from • practical as well as economic standpoint, is the new water system. Finally, the completed project supplies the district with a very substantial increase in tax base, benefiting such sectors of public services as schools, libraries, fire district, and police services. The negative aspect falls in the realm of potential impact to man's well -being from air and noise pollution, traffic congestion, and a questionable drain on public utilities, i.e., electricity, gas, telephones. The economic impact has several aides to it, concerned as it is with the most beneficial use of not only this site but other property along the railroads and near the Freeway. This is in contrast to the potential decrease in property values in the nearby residential areas (which perhaps should never have been developed in this area in the first place, i.e., near railroads, etc.) and /or the overall economic development of the entire Spokane Valley as covered by the Generalized Comprehensive Plan of the Spokane Regional Planning Conference. While the total environmental situation must be taken into c—c-sideration in coming to a final decision with respect to this proposed project, the objective analysis must also be examined in its separate parts; this has been done in the previous section entitled "CATEGORICAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS." This type of categorical analysis then becomes the foundation for answering the questions in the following section entitled "TOPICAL QUESTIONS AND STATEMENT." - 92 - I 0 TOPICAL QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS The following section is a composite of the specific questions asked by the State of Washington Environmental Policy Act of 1971, and relate to those specific issues which the County of Spokane should con- sider in it's overall environmental review of a project. The answers to each of these are in summary form and brief due to the fact that the detailed information and data that is relevant to each is found in the preceding section, the Categorical Environmental Impact Analysis. 9 I - 93 O Summary of any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided if the proposal is implemented. 1. There will be a disruption of existing flora and fauna. However, since there is vacantland on the sdies of the development, most of the wild life will find sanctuary there. 2. The present land contours will be reshaped through grading, but be- cause the terrain is relatively flat, the disruption of the surface land will be minimum. 1 3. The natural state or agricultural use of the land will be altered, 1 to light industrial land use. If the land area is ever returned back to its natural state (i.e. agricultural use), the land preparation will not ' be extensive because of the flat terrain and limited disruption of the soil. 4. There will be a minimal, but necessary increased demand on public utilities and services. 5. There will be the generation of 1 to 8 per cent more traffic flow at certain nearby arterial intersections, and 3 per cent increase in traffic flow on the Valley Freeway. 6. Noise levels in surrounding residential areas will increase above present levels during peak inbound and outbound car, truck movements. 7. There will be increased road and pedestrian hazards caused by the introduction of more than the existant vehicles (car, truck and trains) ' in the area. This will be minimized by better traffic control features, especially at the Railroad crossing at Wilbur Road. 8. There may be a very nominal discharge of emidsions into the atmos- phere by vehicles operated by employees of the development. The total 1' effect in each pollutant category, given the worst conditions, will be approximately 490 lbs. of carbon monoxide per day, 84 lbs. of hydrocarbon, and 193 lbs. oxide of nitrogen per day. This is not an excessive amount of pollutantfor.:a vehicule:oriented development. 94 - 9. Although the sewage treatment plant designed for the development will adequately treat the liquid waste products, some of the released water in the drain field may contain certain small amounts of untreated wastes, such as negligible portions of phosphates and nitrates. 10. A greater volume of solid waste will be developed than if the land were to remain in its natural state. 11. There will be as increased use of financial resources and men and equipment that could have been used for other projects. 12. The proposed change in the land use to light industrial will have a dampening effect on residential housing development in the area. I a a 6 B i B 1 1 - 95 - 11 Alternatives to the Proposed Action or Project: 11 There are several other possible alternative uses that might be 11 developed on this site. These are: 1. Leave in the existent state. 11 2. Develop another commercial or industrial use. 3. Develop into a residential use. 4. Develop into an agricultural use. l� 5. Open space or parks. I' Existent State 1 � One quite obvious alternative is to leave the site in its present state. As compared to the present state, the economic benefit which will be derived from the proposed project are quite substantial. Also, there are a number of physical upgrading factors, such as the addition to the Irvin Water District pumping capacity, the new County arterial access road with a controlled rail crossing, and the potential speeding up of the improvement schedule for the Pines Road - I -90 interchange which are of ' substantial community benefits. From a physical aesthetic standpoint, many X people would say that leaving it in its present state would be desirable t to any improvement. However, this particular project has taken into con- e sideration strong architectural design and aesthetic improvement points ' which would have many individuals agreeing that this will be an improvement over the present state. This latter point of physical aesthetics is,quite ' obviously, a matter of personal taste. Commercial or Industrial Use Whili from a strict revenue standpoint to the County and the property owner, an activity such as a major commercial center or large industrial or manufacturing (of some "heavy" nature, such as an oil refinery, lumber ' mill, etc.) would seem to be a logical alternative, other factors such as inappropriate location, lack of existing demand for such facilities, and ' relative incompatibility with adjacent present agricultural, residential, light industry and other uses would suggest that this type of use (or uses) would not be appropriate or needed at the present time. It should also be 96 ' noted that the site area has been tentatively zoned for light industrial use ' in the Generalized Comprehensive Plan for the metropolitan area and not for ' commercial or heavy industry. r i� Residential Use An alternative use for any land area is to turn it into a housing J ' project or subdivision. Since the future planned land use of this area is for light industrial use, residential developments would be inconsistent with the overall objectives and goals of the Regional Comprehensive Plan. The site area borders the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern truck lines and is also relatively close to the Valley Freeway, and a car wrecking yard. The site area does not appear to be a potentially attractive residential land area, due to the close proximity to there aforementioned uses. If this land were to be put into residential use, it is likely that. the overall economic, aesthetic, social and physical environmental impact would be more severe. Agricultural Use Although the present land is zoned for agricultural use, the topsoil is considered third class soil which is not highly suitable for agricultural use. Past'hisfory of land development in the area indicates that it has not been economically feasible to use this type of land for agricultural purposes. Irrigation water is not available for seasonal growth cycles and the nutrient value of the soil is of marginal quality. These various factors seem to indicate that using this area for agricultural use would be a poor investment of physical and economic resources. Open Space or Park While most land would be desirable as either open space or park lands, economics dictate that communities set priorities on what land areas should be set aside for this purpose in a manner affordable by the community. In this instance, the County Recreation Plan Element has not set aside land in this area for these purposes. Even though this is the case, this type of use could be potentially possible if the County of Spokane were willing to pay the cost for the market value of the land. -97- This would seem to be an unfeasible economic move due to the fact that a parks program would require a cost (purchase, development, and upkeep) while the programmed development will supposedly provide economic benefits to the County. Also, at the present time, there are two existing 1 County rparks very near the proposed site area: the Mirabeau Park and the Valley Mission Park. The new Spokane Zoo is located in this immediate vicinity, too. i 1 1 I Mitigating Measures Proposed to Minimize Any Potential Adverse Impact: ' If the project were to be adopted as proposed, there are certain categorical areas where potential adverse impact could occur. The following ' measures are 'presented as possible mitigating suggestions to help in the 1 planning and implementation of this project. * Careful consideration should be paid to the natural flora and fauna ' during grading and construction so as to assist in saving as much natural growth as possible. Equipment and vehicle traffic on the ' land site should be kept to a minimum so as to prevent additional scarring of land surface. ' * Careful attention should be paid to the planning and placing of the landscaping. If possible, strategic placing of trees and shrubs would aid the aesthetic value of screening out freight loading and ' truck parking zone. * It'is recommended that the water supply source (well) be moved in an ' easterly direction away from the service and maintenance building. Possible contamination of the domestic water supply may occur from ' the infiltration and seepage of residual diesel oil fuels and waste water from the truck service area into the ground water.. * The Roundup Company plans to eventually replace all its older diesel truck units with newer units which incorporate and meet existing air quality and noise emission standards.' It has to date replaced.10 of its older units with engines that include the latest anti - pollution devices.' This policy should be continued. ' * It is recommended that the Pines Road interchange be considered for possible design changes, regardless of whether this development occurs ' or not. The two -way exit and entrance ramps should be eliminated for greater operational efficiency and safety. ' * Care should be exercised during grading and construction to minimize all dust (suspended particulates) escaping into the atmosphere. ' * A detailed map of the location of fire hydrants should be given to the Fire District together information with on the maintenance program proposed for these hydrants. 1 ' - 99 - * All attempts possible should be made to keep construction noise at a minimum. * It is recommended that only "safe ".garden and household type pesti- cides and herbicides be utilized on thee.landscaped' area of the de- velopment. * It is also strongly recommended that Roundup officials insist that their employees only use the new access arterial when arriving and leaving their place of work. This should also apply to all service vehicles and truck traffic. * It is suggested that truck departures and arrivals not be allowed during peak local car traffic movements between 7:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. This would minimize any further traffic congestion on the Pines Road InterchagBe during the morning hours. * It is further recommended that between the peak afternoon traffic hours of 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., no incoming truck traffic be permitted to use the eastbound entrance ramp of the Interstate Freeway at Pines Road. This would facilitate a smoother and less congested flow of car traffic coming into the interchange from City of Spokane, during the peak afternoon traffic period. 1 100 - a groups. Disruption of the existing flora and fauna of the site, with the consequent introduction of new species of flora. I j� The long -term productivity of this project, a concept which is very {� difficult to relate to short -term uses, might have as a partial list the j following items: i * Providing a new, modern and efficient warehouse for long -term em- ployment; and increased economic returns. I * Developing a potentially more visually attractive site area than the present flat and undeveloped grass land. E , * Supporting the long -term growth in wholesale distributing, which is ' an integral secondary economic activity in Spokane County. * With the increased mechanization and reduction of hand labor, the new warehouse provides an orderly and efficient way to train and upgrade warehouse employees to better and satisfying employment. t1 !U a What is the relationship between local short -term uses of man's en- vironment and the maintenance and enhancement of long -term productivity? The short -term uses of man's environment which are potentially j involved in the new warehouse development are summarized as follows: The use of public utilities, both in terms of availability (i.e. { electric power, natural gas and water supply), but also in terms 1� of unused line or systems capacity (i.e. added solid waste, etc.). * The use of air by the employees' cars and the warehouse trucks. * Utilization of the land area for a use different than that of the i existing state, that of an open, undeveloped parcel. The utilization of the men and equipment to build this project. This is a short -term opportunity cost "relative to their potential 1 availability for other projects ". * The use of financial measures to construct this project. This involves the use of the various services and facilitiessin the community which might otherwise be unused or available to other groups. Disruption of the existing flora and fauna of the site, with the consequent introduction of new species of flora. I j� The long -term productivity of this project, a concept which is very {� difficult to relate to short -term uses, might have as a partial list the j following items: i * Providing a new, modern and efficient warehouse for long -term em- ployment; and increased economic returns. I * Developing a potentially more visually attractive site area than the present flat and undeveloped grass land. E , * Supporting the long -term growth in wholesale distributing, which is ' an integral secondary economic activity in Spokane County. * With the increased mechanization and reduction of hand labor, the new warehouse provides an orderly and efficient way to train and upgrade warehouse employees to better and satisfying employment. t1 !U a 1 1 - 101 - a Are there any irreversible environmental changes which would be in- volved in the proposed action should it be implemented? a Placed in the perspective of a long -range time frame, there is no commitment of resources that is either irreplaceable or irreversible. In a shorter time frame (i.e. the life expectancy of this particular project of the Roundup warehouse) there is the commitment of land re- source and other aspects of the physical environment. a Concerning the land, the present state - the 50.4 acres - will be changed from a relatively unproductive agricultural use to a more viable light industrial use. With the change from "natural state to a useful a state", there will also be changes in respect to the soils and some basic topographical substances. Obviously, some of the existent flora will be removed, and some of the existent fauna (i.e. gophers, field mice, etc.) will move to other adjacent fields. In both cases, it is questionable as to whether any . irreversible harm will come from this replacement or movement. The species of flora and fauna found on this land area appear to be quite common to the Spokane Valley and are found in large numbers elsewhere, as well as immediately adjacent to the site. There have been no endangered species identified as indigenous to this area. Water and aid are utilized daily by the people who will work at this plant. However, through the life cycle processes and with proper re- cycling, those resources are made available for use again. The form which this short -term commitment of the Roundup Warehouse project proposes to take will possibly detract from the open space ' quality of the land in the area. However it will substantially add to the aesthetic quality in relationship to other potential industrial, ' commercial and /or residential areas and to its return to a more productive use than is presently existent. 1 1 I - 102 - a What is the consistency of the proposed project to the presently adopted policies, standards, and general plans of the Spokane County Compre- hensive Plan? 1 General Plan Policy The County of Spokane adopted a Comprehensive Plan, as amended a March 26, 1970, which is incorporated with the Regional Comprehensive 27, 1968. Plan last revised and approved October The County Plan includes a land use element, a neighborhood and community plan, a circulation element, and a recreation element. Augmenting this document is the Zoning Ordinance of Spokane,County. The development site area is presently zoned for agricultural use. In the Generalized Comprehensive Plan for the Spokane Metropolitan Area, the development area is shown as a future location for light industrial development. The Spokane County Comprehensive Plan specifies that in- dustrial areas should be considered in respect to level land with good drainage; land which is not broken up by many ownerships or other uses; easy access to transportation - primarily rail and highways; availability of power, water and sewage disposal; and immediate or potential labor supply, and proximity to market. n This proposed project has been planned to meet the policies and Ii standards of the County planning document as well as to augment and en- hance the economic livelihood and wellbeing of the general populace of Spokane Counpy. The location has been carefully thought out to reduce traffic impaction to a minimal level, to help reduce noise pollution, and at the same time produce a better finished product at an increased economic ' return to the County and its citizens. The proposed warehouse development is consistent with the existing County Comprehensive Plan and the Generalized Comprehensive Plan of the ' Spokane Metropolitan Area, and ih an orderly, compatible use of the land. 1 - 103 - CONCLUDING STATEMENT 0 In the final environmental analysis of this proposed Roundup Warehouse, one must look at the total environmental picture which includes not only the effect on the physical, biotic environment, but also that of the abiotic, non - physical arenas - the social, economic and aesthetic factors. There are environmental categories of this development which will be disturbed, such as the flora and fauna, the natural, or rather more accurately, the present undeveloped grassland, the small increased demand in utilities and services, and the need and use of air and water resources. There are also other factors which must be considered, in terms of the potential economic benefit of this particular project, the new arterial access road, and the adequacy of this development proposal relative to other alternative uses. The project's potential adverse conditions, such as increased diesel truck air pollution emissions must be equally considered with the positive aspects of the projects new water supply facility. In any case, an environmental impact analysis such as this should be utilitzed to view the whole picture of the project, its effect, the context of what it,will mean, and the overall setting of the area in which it is to be placed. The preceeding objective analysis has attempted to present this "total environmental picture," and it is recommended that consideration be given to all environmental categories and interactions, not just one or two areas to the exclusion of the rest. Roundup Company is aware of the various potential problem areas which exist and have given recognization to the fact that various steps have and will be taken to minimize potential adverse effects. Overall, this development appears to be well - balanced and more than adequately planned. The potential environmental effects which this development.faces is not at all unique to the Spokane Valley region. In conclusion, it appears that if development of some type is ' desired and will be allowed in the Spokane Valley, this project has many less harmful overall environmental effects than alternative, possibly more unappropriate, uses. The many benefits to the County 0 a o a and to the residents of the area in terms of increased tax revenues, and greater service potentials, offset the mostly minor adverse and potentially adverse problems. Given the implementation of measures a to minimize the already difficult traffic congestion during certain hours, this project should be duly considered as being appropriate for this area. in final perspective, and considering all factors, it appears not to be unduly harmful,and is in fact favorable, to the environment. Man living and in the above case working in his environment has historically caused a compromise of the "natural" non -man order of the physical, biotic and abiotic world. As man has become more aware of how his activities affect the order of life and this "natural" world, improvements in the environment have been occuring. The total environment is an interfacing, interacting entity, with man playing . a role within this dynamically changing stage. As long as man is a part of this total, and as long as he is in need of activities to sustain himself, there will hopefully be the continual evaluation of whether certain activities should occur, and if they should, where and how they should take place. This Roundup warehouse project is an activity and project of man, proposed to take place in an area of the environment presently used and altered by man, and projected (by man) to be used in the future. The continued use of this land and environment, especially in a form to minimize potential adverse effects, seems much more. ' appropriate than forcing this activity of man to find a more environ- mentally unfavorable location. i 1 a ' t a a A P P E N D I X i. r r i i. 1 1 - 106 - APPENDIX A The following are facts concerning the proposed annexation and its effect on the Irvin Water District. Roundup Grocery will furnish and install a well or wells and pumping equipment to supply 2500 gallons per minute. This will almost double the pumping capacity of the district. This operation will be entering at a point which is presently low on pressure. Roundup will pay the entire costs of annexation and improvement and then turn the pumping plant over to the district for operation. Due to the recent growth in the district, this additional well and pump were part of the long range program for the district. Board of Commissioners IRVIN WATER DISTRICT #6 WATER SAMPLE INF)kUiATION FOR CNEMICAL ANALYSES - 107 - Sl'SiF' ?I I, D, NIRINF.R , EEL= (Slot ) l mg /1 6,00 (. 3 Bicarbonate APPENDIX B -1 l mg /1 202,52 2 mc /1 3,32 Aluminum (Al) SYSTEM 1,VIF. (CO)) - COUNTY oln:TY Nn. COLLECTED DY Arvin Water Dist. 6 Spokane 3 12 1 Byram DATE COLLECTED TIME COLLECTED i pin DATE LAST SAMPLE TAKEN npmp DFAUCET 0MIER (Spaelfe) Sulfate ( IT 11.6 FROM STOMCE TANK t1YDMr? SOURCE (Name) QUA EXwELL No.1 QaTI¢R (Specify) SAMPLE COLLECTED FROM PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM AT NEk NE'k NW'k 9 -25 -44 S'fMEAN Sulfite SPRING NW Corner Fredrick & Bowdifj'j.) FIELD pit 7FNPEMTURL ALKALINITY TIIIS WATER IS O FILTERED REMARKS TESTS Chloride (Cl) ,Z3DNTREATED O orim PREATNENf SEND REPORT TO: Spokane County Health District North 819 Jefferson Street Spokane Washington 99201 (City) g P State of Washington Department of Social and Dcalth Services DIVISION OF HEALTH Smith Tower Seattle, Washington 98104 Silica (Slot ) l mg /1 6,00 a we /1 3 Bicarbonate (HCO3) l mg /1 202,52 2 mc /1 3,32 Aluminum (Al) Carbonate (CO)) - Iron (Fe) ,02 )trnpn..Ae pin .015 Sulfate ( IT 11.6 .2 Sulfite (SO)) Chloride (Cl) None Calciva (Ca) 31.2 1.56 Fluoride (F) .143 .08 Negne atom (H P) 25,75 2.11 Nitrate (103) as Nitrogen (N) 1.66 .12 Sodium (N.) 3 ,17 Nitrite (NO as Nitrogen (N) ,014 Potassium (17 1.88 .05 Phosphate (POs) .045 TOTAL 3.89 TOTAL 3.76 Mr /1 pit. Lab 7.1 a.prud.d Solidi ,e wen neeanea (Xicromho A /cn, 2Y C) 256 Dissolved Solids — Y'oto — So Turbidity (JTD ) 5 4 Total Solids 122 Celor (unit&) 5 Total Ilardncea (CaW)) 184 Odor (chre&hold dilution factor) None Alkalinity (CaW)) 16 Taste (threshold dilution factor) 4 Noncarbonate hardness (Ca00)) 118 4 Free 001 (.g /I) 34.0 4 Cale Ape hardness (C.(03) 78 4 NApnealem hard ... • (C&OD)) 106 ' 4 Calculated hardness '(CaW)) 184 DATB RECEIV):0 8 -3 -71 DATE QUIPLIJED sm 8 -4 -71 JCCKPLETKD BY JS OW DS LAB NO. )0)= 164 1 . ' mg /1 . ppu (parts per million) 2 ma /1 . spa (equivalents per million) HEA -TWA (R-1) "I. 3 convo ted to OOi when calculating total solids ' 4 Calculated values .. WATER SAMPLE INFORMATION'FOR CHEMICAL ANALYSES - 108 - tiV.%T'141 T.D. NIRIBER 3 6 1 0 5 0 O:CO3) APPENDIX B -2 SYSTEM NAME Altaeir. COUNTY ole:TV FO- COLLECTED BY Irvin Water Dist. # 6 Spokane 3 2 Dennie L. Byram DATE COLLECTED TIME COLLECTED DATE UST SAMPLE TAKEN OrtrF O rtucrr O on¢a (5vacifl 9 -22 -71 3:45 "''"g FROM 0STOMCETANK 0RYDPANT SOURCE (Name) OIwKE � ®WELL lr 2 OOTNER (Specify)NE' SAHPLG COLLECTED FROM PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM AT SE_' SFi'!. NW 9-25-4 (so. ) 15.6 SW Corner Jackson of Bowdish SPRING FIELD PH TDIPERATORE ALKALINITY THIS WATER IS O rILTERED REMARKS TESTS 0VNfREATCD 0 arNat YRLATNENr SEND REPORT Tot Spokane Count Health District North 819 Jefferson Street Spokane, Washington 99201 (city) E P State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services DIVISION OF HEA1.T11 Smith Tower Seattle, Washington 98104 ) mE /1 Z me /1 l mg /1 Silica (Sio> ) 3,00 3 Bicarbonate O:CO3) 251.32 2 mc /1 4.12 Altaeir. (A 1) Carbonate (COs) Iran (Fc) None "''"g CH.) None Sulfate (so. ) 15.6 .32 Sulfite' (SOS) Chloride (Cl) 6.0 .17 Calcltsa (Ch) 37.6 1.88 Ftuuride (F) .09 .01 Hagnesitsn (MC) 31.58 2.60 Nitrate MO as Nitrogen (I1) ,80 .06 Soditse (Na) . 3 5 15 Nitrite (NO as Nitrogen (N) .033 Potassium (10 2. 05 05 Phosphate (PO.) .13 TOTAL 4.68 rornt� 4.68 1 n/ 1 pii, Lab 7.6 Suspr.,ded Solldn pee is conductance M.LcromLos /cm, 2S C) 280 Disaalved Solids Total o e Turbidity (JTU) 4 total Solids fnlor (units) Total hardness (Ca OD S) Odor (threshold dilution factor) Alkalinity (Ca EQ S) Taste (threshold dilutlon factor) 4 Noncerbonate hardness 4 Celcitua hardness (CO W >) (Caws) 4 Pree tilt (ng /I) 15.5 4 hagnesi,ea hardness (Ca COS) 30 4 Calculated hardness (CaO)l) 224 DATE RECEIVED 9 -29 -71 DATE COMPLETED 10 -1 -71 COMPLETED BY JS' OW LAB N0. 502 ' 1 m9/1 . ppm (parts per million) - ' 2 sue /l . cps (equivalent, per million) HEA- 17$-A (R -1) 6-71. 3 Converted to Cos vhan calculating total solids �' 4 Calculated value, WATER SAMPLE INFORMATION FOR CUF.MICAL ANALYSES - 109 - tiYSTCM I.D. NIMOER ' i� I, i [] -_F �(� T T V C 3 Btcarbonate APPENDIX B -3 I mg /1 202.52 2 "/1 3.32 ` f I SYS -1EII NAIIE (CO)) COUNTY etas Nn COLLECTED BY Srvin Water Dist. 6 Spokane ; 3 2 Byram DATE COLLECCED TIME COLLECTED C DATE UST SAMPLE TAKEN pr pump (D FAUCET OMER (Speetf, 8 -2 -71 2.15 (so') 7.0 FROM C] STORAGE TANK 0WORAPT SOURCE (Name) ❑LeEE �: $AMPLE COLLECTED FROM PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM AT ®WELL No. 3 DOTTIER (specif NW'k SE'k SE'y SE'k 4 -25 -44 ❑STREAK nSPRING W. of Pineq )Zc {End ''D Sulfite (SO)) C FIELD pll TEMPERATURE ALKALINITY THIS WATER I$ O FILTERED REMARKS TESTS ®UNTREATED OOTHLR T REATMENT SAID REPORT Tot Spokane County Health District North 819 Jefferson Street Spokane Washington 99201 (city) (zip State of WamhfnR[on Department of Social and lien lth Services DIVISION OF HEALTH Smith Toner Seattle, Washington 98104 I mg /1 Silt'. (Sio: ) 2. 50 2 mm /1 3 Btcarbonate (1ICO)) I mg /1 202.52 2 "/1 3.32 Almsinms (Al) Carbonate (CO)) Iron (Fe) None Manganese C .009 Sulfate (so') 7.0 .15 Sulfite (SO)) Chloride (Cl) 4.0 .11 Calcium (Ca) 36.8 1.84 Fluoride (F) .092 .01 Magnesium (Mg) 15.55 1.28 Nitrate (NOD) as Nitrogen (11) 1.48 .11 Sodium (Na) 4.1 .18 Nltrite (Nol) as Nitrogen (N) .01 Potaaaims (10 1 .95 ,05 Phosphate (PO 4) .045 TOTAL 3.35 TOTAL 3.70 IM&4 PH, Lab 7 a 8 Suspended Solids S pecific conductance M•lcromhoa /cm, 7SC) 268 Dissolved Solids T otal S.1id. Turbidity (JTU) . 45 4 Total Solids 173 Color (units) ) r Total hardness (GW)) 156 Odor (threshold dilution factor) None Alkalinity (Ca GO3) 166 Tuts (threshold dilution factor) 4 Noncarbonate hardness 4 Calclmn hardness (Coco)) (CaW)) 92 4 Frem (Dt (m6/1) 7.0 4 Magnesium hardness (Cs CO)) (� 4 Calculated hardness (C. OD') 156 DATE RECEIVED 8 -3 -71 DATA COMPLETED CCMPLETF.D BY JS OW . DS LAB NO. 166 I mg /1 . ppm (parts per million) 2 me /1 . cps (equivalents per sillLon) REA- 175-A (R -1) $41. 3 Converted to COJ when Calculating total solids 4 Calculated values 0 a DEC 1 p 1972 APPENDIX C INLAND POWER & LIGHT COMPANY VINCENT P. SLATT, MANAGER 110 LEO THAMS 0..ud.,, E. A. BURGESS DONALD LENHARD GALE BOY a a a a 1 1 APPENDIX D -1 NOTES ON NOISE POLLUTION Definition of Noise Sound as defined in a purely physical sense is ". . . an organized movement of molecules caused by a vibrating body in some medium -- water, air, rock or whatever." Sound moves through the air somewhat like waves move in the ocean. In sound, the waves are alternate rings of compressed, and then rarefied air moving away from a central source at a constant speed. As each wave -- first a compression, then a rarefaction -- en- counters an object, it exerts a force -- a push, then a pull on the object. Sound is also a physiological sensation. For humans, sound has two significant characteristics: pitch and loudness. In terms of affecting people, pitch is generally an annoyance. Pitch is the height or depth of a tone or sound depending on the rela- tive rapidity of the vibrations by which it is produced. Pitch is the number of complete vibrations, or cycles per second of a wave. Loudness, which is the strength of a sound usually measured by the amplitude'of its wave, can affect our ability to hear. It is the in- tensity of the sound waves combined with the reception characteristics of the ear. In terms of sound's affect, intensity is how hard a sound wave hits,an object, a characteristic which can be measured precisely with instruments. The Measurement of Sound Intensity, which the brain perceives as loudness, is measured in decibels (dBA). To measure the relative intensity of different sounds, scientists (audiologists) have worked out the ratios of loud sounds to softer ones. The zero onthe decibel scale is based on the lowest sound level that the healthy, unimpaired human ear can detect. Decibels are not linear units like miles or pounds., Rather, they are representative points on a sharply rising curve. i 112 - APPENDIX D -2 In order that one may get a certain appreciation for the magnitude Thus,' while 10 decibels is 10 times more intense than one decibel, 20 decibels is 100 times more intense (10x10); 30 decibels is 1,000 times more intense (10x10x10). One hundred decibels, therefore, is 10 billion times as intense (that is, represents 10 billion times as much acoustic energy) as one decibel. Because of physical laws, the scale human increases as the square of the change. Thus, so soft a sound as breathing!is about 10 times greater than zero decibel. The scale is in logarithmic form. The decibel measure gives a rough connection.. be- tween the physical intensity of sound and the subjective loudness it a causes. Sound levels are measured at their source; thus their decibel rating decreases as the distance from that source increases. Noise is dissipated exponentially with the distance from the source. For a single point source, sound level decays approximately six decibels for each doubling of distance from the source. If noise is produced by a line source, such as a crowded highway, the sound will decrease three decibels for each doubling of distance. The Psychological and Physiological Effects of Unwanted Sound �. Human hearing begins to be damaged by prolonged exposure to more It than.85 decibels. The effects of noise are by no means selective. effects our entire system. Loud, prolonged noise of over 80 decibels ' can increase body tensions which can affect the blood pressure, the functions'of the heart, and the nervous system. For extended periods ' of loud noise exposure of 90 decibels and above, there is permanent cell damage. A sound level of 190 decibels on the A -Scale (decibel) ' will rupture the ear drum and permanently damage the "organ of corti" within the inner ear. The noise problem is widespread and generally is more concentrated ' within our,.cities than in the outlying residential areas. Today the level of noise.to whichthe average urban American is exposed is more than twice what it was in 1955. Environmental sound levels within our high density urban regions are doubling every 10 years. Suburban areas ' are not experiencing such a significant increase in noise levels be- . cause of their distance from major noise sources. In order that one may get a certain appreciation for the magnitude - 113 - ' APPENDIX D -3 ' of the noise pollution problem, the following graph is supplied to il- lustrate sound levels generated by certain instruments or noise sources. ' All of the measurements were obtained with a General Radio Sound Level Meter which meets existing Federal and State noise level metering requirements. ' Citizen awareness of noise as an environmental pollutant is just now materializing and is reaching a level of action necessary to bring ' this problem under control. It is hoped that the preceding information has at least clarified some of the problems associated with noise pol- lution. Urgent action, planning and new design techniques are needed ' in order to reverse the present trend toward an increasingly noisy environment. 11 1 MEASURED NOISE LEVELS IN DECIBELS DECIBEL ' Rock Band . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 120* Jet Takeoff. . . . . . . . . . . . . 120* Jet Flyover -- at 1,000 feet . . . . . . 103* ' Jack Hammer. 97* Heavy Traffic -- at 25 feet. 90* Motorcycle -- at 25 feet ... 9.0* Diesel Truck -- at 25 feet . . . . . . . 88* ' Diesel Truck -- at 50 feet 84* Diesel Truck -- at 100 feet. . . . . . . 80 ' Food Blender .... .... . ... . . . . . . . Power Lawnmower -- at 20 feet. 88 80 Passenger Car -- at 25 feet. . . . . . . 80 Garbage Disposal 80 ' Clothes Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Vacuum Cleaner 77 Dishwasher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Air Conditioner -- at 50 feet. . . . . 62 ' Conversation . 62 * Denotes an unacceptable and harmful if exposure is for extended periods noise level of time. ' The Need For Control ' Citizen awareness of noise as an environmental pollutant is just now materializing and is reaching a level of action necessary to bring ' this problem under control. It is hoped that the preceding information has at least clarified some of the problems associated with noise pol- lution. Urgent action, planning and new design techniques are needed ' in order to reverse the present trend toward an increasingly noisy environment. 11 1 114 - APPENDIX D -4 t 1 REFERENCES Baron, Robert Alex. The Tyranny of Noise New York: St. Martin Press, 1970. ' Stevens, S.S. and Warshafsky, Fred. Sound and Hearing Time -Life Books: Life Science Library Series, New York, 1971. ' Acton, W.I. "A Review of Hearing Damage Risk Criteria," Annals of Oc - cupational'Hygiene, Vol. 10 (1967), pp. 143 -153. Beranck, Leo L. "Noise ", Scientific American (December 1966) pp. 132 -136. Schofer, Joseph L. "A System Analyst's View of Noise and Urban Planning ", ASCE Journal Wol. 96 (October 1970), pp. 153 -158. ' Thiessen, J.G. "Survey of the Traffic Noise Problem ", Journal of the Acoustical Society of America Vol. 37, No. 6 (June 1965), pp. 19 -31. Congressional Record "Report On Noise ", Vol. 118 (February 29, 1972) pp. 1509 -1548. Report of the Panel on Noise Abatement "The Noise Around Us: Findings and Recommendations," U. S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. ' Environmental Protection Agency "Report to the President and Congress on Noise," EPA Report No. NCR 800.1, U.S. Government Printing ' Office, Washington, D. C. (1972). - 115 APPENDIX E Excerpt from County Planning Records I ZONE CHANGE ZE -32 -62 - AGRICULTURAL TO RESTRICTED INDUSTRIAL: POSTELL Planning Commission Recommendation: Approve, subject to the filing of of industrial tracts consistent with the site plan submitted by the a 1_. u-4-- r, ri,c fnl lnwino renditions: Conditions: 1. That the dedicatory language prohibit access to Jackson Avenue from 11 11 any tract in the plat. 2. That a 20 -foot strip of land along Jackson Avenue be reserved in the ' dedication as a planting strip; and that tree and ground cover planting be accomplished by the sponsor prior to the filing of the final plat; or that, in lieu of such prior planting, a bond be furnished Spokane ' County in an amount adequate, in the estimation of the County Engineer, and to cover the expense of such planting; that the variety, number location of such planting be approved by the Director of Planning and ' the County Engineer.. 3. That a 20 -foot radius be shown at street corners. ' 4. That appropriate street names be indicated. 5. That' streets by improved to standards established by Spokane County, ' or a bond to cover the cost of such improvements be furnished the by the County Engineer. County Engineer in the amount as determined 6. That profiles of streets, proposed grades, and drainage plan be sub- ' mitted and approved by the County before the final plat is drawn. The County Engineer may require that design of drainage improvements be made by a registered civil engineer. ' 7. Cond I itional approval of the plat is given subject to a written approval of the road system from the County Engineer. The subdivider is not ' authorized to have the final plat drawn until this written approval is obtained. 8. That a statement be placed in the dedication to the effect that water will be provided each lot prior to sale. 9. That the sponsor make appropriate arrangements with the Iriking Water ' District for the provision of water to each tract. -9 -A- (contd.) 11 11 ' b) The study area is bisected by the parallel tracks of the Union Pacific and the Spokane international railroads which run along the South boundary of the subject property. ' -10- (cont d.) - 116 - ZE -32 -62 - AGRICULTURAL TO RESTRICTED INDUSTRIAL (contd.) ' 10. That a name be indicated before the final plot is filed, such name to be approved by the County Assessor. ll.' That a certificate of title be furnished the Planning Commission prior ' to the'filing of the final plat. ' 12. That the preliminary plat be given conditional approval for one year. Findings: 1. At the initial hearing held on this proposal August 30, 1962, the Planning Commission postponed action and directed the staff to make a special study of the general area enclosed by Argonne and Pines, the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks and the Valley Freeway. The results of this study were presented to the Planning Commission at a second hearing on this proposal September 27, 1962. Included in this report was a description. ' of the topography of the study area, existing land use and zoning land use developments since 1957, existing and proposed arterials, existing utilities, and existing and proposed schools and recreation areas within the study area. Two alternate land development plans were presented by the staff, one of which proposed residential development of the subject property, ' while the second plan included the subject property within an industrial corridor along the Spokane International Railroad tracks. Significant ' findings of that study include the following: a) There are three fairly compact clusters of residential developments within the study area: the Locust View and Shannon Acres Sub- divisions; the Fairacres Subdivision; and the Mirabeau Ranch Sub- ' division. A less compact group of homes and a mobile home court exist along Mansfield Avenue between Bowdish and Pines Road. Other significant land uses include a shopping center and group of ' homes along Argonne, an auto wrecking yard at University and the Freeway, a contractor's yard at University and Grace, and another at Bowdish and Mansfield, an elementary school on Pines near t Trent Road, and a scattering of homes along Montgomery and Jack- son. ' b) The study area is bisected by the parallel tracks of the Union Pacific and the Spokane international railroads which run along the South boundary of the subject property. ' -10- (cont d.) - 117 - ZE -32 -62 - AGRICULTURAL TO RESTRICTED INDUSTRIAL (contd.) I c) The topography of the subject site is generally quite flat with a gentle slope south. One of the major residential developments, Mirabeau Ranch, is separated from the subject property by a sharp rise in topography. The Shannon Acres Subdivision is one -half mile from the subject property at the closest point. d) Land alond the Spokane International right -of -way is presently zones Restricted Industrial to within approximately 800 feet of subject property. e) The Irvin Water District which serves most of the study area reported that it could presently serve the subject property with either domestic or industrial supplies of water unless the industries were abnormal water users. Gas and power lines exist, in the area and could easily serve the subject property. f) The location of present elementary schools is such that if the residential alternate plan presented by the staff were chosen, portions of three rather than two neighborhoods would be the logical development pattern in the study area. Thus an additional' elementary school in the study area would be needed. Land presently zoned Restricted Industrial would be planned for resi- dential use and property with existing industrial uses would be planned for redevlopment to residential use under this plan. g) Investigation by the staff and the County Engineer indicates that a truck route from subject properties to the Pines interchange would be feasible via Bowdish and Indiana provided a grade crossing can be obtained at Bowdish. 2. 'At a previous hearing on this matter the applicant presented his views as to!the need for industrial land of the type he will be prepared to offer. The staff presented acreage figures on land presently zoned and used for industrial purposes in the Spokane Valley. From the manager of the Spokane Industrial Park, figures as to the amount of floor space available within that development were made available. 3. At this hearing the applicant presented a proposed preliminary plat of industrial tracts which would front on an interior road and a road paralleling the railroad tracks. Access to Jackson Avenue from these tracts would be prohibited; tracts abutting Jackson would not be served by a railroad spur; and a 20 foot wide strip along Jackson would be reserved and developed as a landscaped strip. The interior road would' connect University and Bowdish. (contd.) I - 118 - ZE -32 -62 - AGRICULTURAL TO RESTRICTED INDUSTRIAL (Cohtd.) B. Reasons: 1. Of the two development plans presented by the staff for this general area we feel that the plan incorporating an industrial corridor along the Spokane International tracks is more in harmony with adopted and previously proposed elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the Metro- politan area. We note that the alternate plan presented by the staff which suggests residential use for..this property would indicate an additional residential neighborhood requiring an elementary school and playground which have not been contemplated in the recreation and public buildings elements of the Comprehensive Plan. 2. We believe that the subject property by reason of level topography, availability of rail service and utilities, and nearby access to the Freeway is admirably suited to industrial use. We believe, on the contrary, that by reason of being adjacent to main tracks of two major railroads, a large unscreened wrecking yard, and a contractor's yard, that the subject property is unsuited and unlikely to develop as resi- dential property. 3. Restricted Industrial zoning has already been established along the ' Spokane International Railroad tracks less than 800 feet west of this property. We feel that its extension onto this property is logical and in accordance with an overall development plan for the general area. 4. Present use of land within the study area indicates that agricultural use as a primary economic use of theland has all but disappeared. In this area as.in other urbanizing areas of the County, the purpose of the Agricultural zone is to prevent completely unrestricted use of the land until .the character of the area becomes established. Thus property zoned Agricultural is usually zoned Agricultural Suburban as it is platted into residential lots. Conversely, as land that is planned for industrial use is platted or developed, a zone change to an industrial classification becomes appropriate.; As agriculture is no longer a feasible use of this property, and since we feel that industrial use is appropriate and an industrial plat is proposed, we feel that this is an appropriate time to change the-zoning. b. We are well aware of and appreciate the fears of residents in this general area that industrial use of this property might reduce the resi- dential amenity of their properties and constitute a threat to the value of their properties. We note, however, that the Mirabeau Ranch development is separated from this,property by a sharp change in topography and that this property cannot even be seen from most of the -12- (contd.) - 119 - ' ZE -32 -62 - AGRICULTURAL TO RESTRICTED INDUSTRIAL (contd.) residences in that development. We feel that the provisions of the Restricted Industrial Zone together with the conditions recommended ' for approval of the proposed industrial plat will be adequate to protect residential properties in the general area. ' 6. As to ;a need for industrial land - while we have evidence of vacant land already zoned industrially, we do not believe that the addition of this property to that supply would be excessive. We feel that an ade- quate surplus must be maintained to encourage competitive land prices and to provide a variety of choice. We know that much of the zoned acreage appearing vacant is held for expansion of existing firms, held by railroads for development by rail users, or available only in small ' parcels. ' C. General Data: 1. Location: Section 9, Township 25 N., Range 44, E.W.M. ' The S 1/2 of the S 1/2 of the NW 1/4, except the E 1/2 and the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4. Also that portion of the N 1/2 of the SW 1/4 lying north of the Spokane Inter- ' national•Railroad, except the easy 135 feet of the South 361.3 feet.. i Z. Applicant: S. A. Postell W. 1001 Ide Avenue Spokane, Washington i ' 3. Site Size: Approximately 65 acres I 4. Existing Zoning:;_ Agricultural, established April 24, 1942 5.. Prpposed Zoning: Restricted Industrial?. ' 6. Proposed Use of Property: Industrial Park 7. Application of Zoning Provision: Chapter 4.21, Section 4.21.040- 4.21.000 ' -13- 1 ' i 1 i 120 ZONE CHANGE ' ZE -50 -72 - AGRICULTURAL TO RESTRICTED INDUSTRIAL: .BROCKMAN ROTHROCK INC. ' Staff Recommendation: Approve -that portion of the advertised property lying south of Jackson- Mansfield Avenue realigned'to, the Restricted Industrial Zone, subject to the following conditions: 1) Location and Orientation of Structures. The advertised property shall be developed in substantial conformance ' with the approved development plan; i.e., the warehouse - transfer building shall be located in the southern portion of the project, the truck maintenance facilities and parking areas shall be located in the southcentral portion of the project, and the office building and employee parking areas shall be situated in the northeast quadrant of the proposal. 2) Dedication and Improvement of R /W. Mansfield shall be dedicated to a width.of 60' from Wilbur to its inter- section with Jackson in an alignment acceptable to the County Engineer and shall be paved and curbed to County specifications at the owner's or ' applicant's expense. Jackson Avenue R/W shall be widened to the south by 20' from University to its intersection with the newly dedicated Mansfield., Improvement to Jackson shall include curbing and paving to ' existing oil. University Road shall be widened as indicated on the approved development plan and shall be improved by the installation of curb and paving. A good and sufficient bond to cover the cost of required roadway improvements and landscaping as,specified in the approved ' landscape plan described below shall be,required in an amount to be approved by the County Engineer and Planning Director prior to approval of the Zon�ing Resolution. 3) Landscaping and Site Development Plan Prior to approval of the Zoning Resolution by the Board of County Commis- sioners, a landscape and site development plan shall be approved by the ' Director of Planning. The plan shall specify the variety, number and location of turfed areas, trees, shrubs', and other plants; design.and specifications of parking areas and internal roadways; access points to. ' adjoining public roads; exterior lighting and signing. The plan shall provide at!a minimum: i ' a) For a obscuring screen along'Jackson Avenue. b) 'For appropriate turf and shrubbery around the office building and truck maintenance shop. c) For paving of all parking areas and internal roadways. ' d) ;That exterior lighting and signing'be designed and located in such a manner as to not produce a glare upon adjacent properties. I , ' 4) Utilities and Sewage Disposal As's condition of the issuance of building permits upon the site, the applicants shall install a mechanical sewage treatment plant satisfactory in design to the County Health District and shall -6- n (contd.) ,1 i - 121 - ZE -50 -72 - AGRICULTURAL TO RESTRICTED INDUSTRIAL (contd.) ' install fire hydrants at such locations as may be required by the Valley Fire Marshal together with adequate water mains to supply such hydrants. Background: This property has along history of applications. In 1959 an application to the Manufacturing Zone was denied because the proposal was not in harmony ' with the then existing Comprehensive Plan for the Valley, among other reasons. Between 1959 and 1961 the Planning Commission completed land . use, neighborhood studies, and other elements of the Comprehensive Plan. In the Plan for the:Spokane Valley an industrial corridor was contemplated along both' sides of the railroad tracks from Trent Road to Pines Road. In August 1962, the property was proposed as an industrial plat and Restricted Industrial zoning was requested.. After considerable study of alternatives to the Comprehensive Plan and a series of public hearings, the Planning Commiss'ission recommended approval to ' the Board of County Commissioners in December, 1962. The Board after holding its own hearing concluded that there was ample unused acreage zoned Restricted Industrial in the vicinity, and further that there was not good arterial access to.this property from the Freeway nor (at that time) realistic prospects for obtaining good arterial access. In 1969 the proposal was heard again, and the Commission recommended denial ' ..hecause_ there was; still no feasible plan for arterial access to the property. It was also noted ..that the then - preposed Bowdish- Indiana route while perhaps .tliie' -most feasible, would present traffic problems at the Pines Interchange. In 1969,, the applicants proposed an industrial park complete with a road network, restrictive covenants, and a landscape screen along Jackson Avenue. Although the Planning Commission was of the opinion that the proposal offered appropriate safeguards for proper' development, the Board of County Commis- sioners denied the application because there was considerable industrial acreage in'the immediate vicinity which was zoned in an industrial classifica- tion!and substantially unused for industry. The Commissioners also noted that the property did not have good arterial access from the Freeway via Pines Road and the difficulties of securing a satisfactory arterial route from Argonne Road to the project appeared to be insurmountable. I Analysis The 50 -acre parcel lies west of University Road between Jackson Avenue and the Spokane International Railway R /W. The applicants have proposed that the ownership be utilized for a warehouse - redistribution center for food products. The site would have a large warehouse building, truck service facilities, and an office building. The staff is of the opinion that the advertised property in conjunction with the specific warehouse - redistribution center proposal is appropriate for Restricted IndustriallZoning because: j i contd. - 122 - 2E- 50 -72'= AGRICULTURAL TO'RESTRICTED INDUSTRIAL (contd.) 1) The staff is of the opinion that arterial access from Pines Road to the project via Mansfield Avenue would adequately serve the project without disrupting surrounding residential neighborhoods. The proposed facility would be a relatively low generator of employee -- oriented traffic. The staff notes that the proposed warehousing facility would have a much smaller ratio of employees per square foot of floor area than a similar industrial fabrication or general manufacturing plant. Although the redistribution portion of the operation would generate truck traffic, the staff notes that such traffic could be requred through company policy to utilize . the proposed Mansfield arterial route rather than allowing such traffic to filter through the adjoining residential neighborhoods. 2) The nature of the proposed operation requires considerable land area as evidenced by-the submitted site plan. The.applicants have also indicated that the operation requires reasonable proximity to the Freeway because of the redistribution operation. The staff is of the opinion, that there are -very few- zoned' industrial sites in the Metropolitan Area which can meet the stated cri'teri'a for such an operation. 3) The staff is of the opinion that the redesign of the Jackson- Mansfield arterial in conjunction with the required planting strips along Jackson Ayenue would help preserve the integrity of the residential neighborhood to' the ' north. Access controls would be imposed to insure the least disruption to -the- adjoining- residential neighborhood. The staff notes that future applications for industrial zoning in the corridor between Jackson - 19ansfi?eld and the Spokane International Ry. would be analyzed in accordance with the traffic generating potential of the proposed uses.' i i -7-A- ��1 t. a- .. 1 S ,. �� _ r "t ��1 t. a- .. 1 it � S i lt, it � ,, _ __