Response DPW Comments-Village Hill_20120410April 10, 2012
Mr. James R. Laurila, P.E.
City Engineer
City of Northampton DPW
125 Locust Street
Northampton, MA 01060
RE: Response to Northampton DPW comments: Site Plan Permit Application and Subdivision Definitive Amendment Village Hill, Moser Street
Fuss & O’Neill Reference No. 20110084.A10
Dear Gentlemen:
Fuss & O’Neill offers the following responses to comments provided by Northampton Engineering Department Staff in a review letter dated March 21, 2012, regarding the Major Site Plan
application submitted on February 22, 2012. Original comments have been provided and are followed by our responses in bold italic.
Curb, Driveway and Sidewalk
The two proposed relocated curb cuts will disturb recently installed final paving in a street that has not yet been accepted by the City. Acceptance of this street will require that
the DPW policy regarding a 5 year moratorium on cuts in newly paved roads be adhered to. The DPW policy is that cuts made within this time require milling and overlay for the full width
of the road and 20' wide each way from centerline of the cut(s) as well as backfill with flowable fill in all trenches.
Response: It is the intention of Pecoy Development to have City acceptance of the road delayed until all curb cut relocations have been made. No existing roadway pavement within the
curbs will be disturbed. All sawcuts will be made at the gutter line with concrete being placed at and under the disturbed edge. Notes and details have been added to the plans for
clarification. All work will take place from the building lot side of the roadway.
The proposed common drive at lots A21 and A2 has a throat that is approximately 25 feet wide at the sidewalk with perpendicular, individual drives. Is this a safe configuration for pedestrians
and vehicles?
Response: For Lots A21 and A2, the proposed driveway width at the sidewalk is required to allow for adequate access to each individual portion of the common driveway. This will not
pose a problem with the safety of pedestrians or passenger vehicle flow. The shared driveway is accessible to both lots and this layout reduces conflicts in the driveway.
At all proposed new curb cuts the concrete sidewalk shall be rebuilt the nearest panel that is included in the driveway limits and shall meet the DPW standards of: 8-inch, compacted
gravel base, 6-inch thick, 4,000 psi concrete with 6"x6"x 10110 WWF and 3/8" filler w/joint sealant and retainer ring.
Response: The plans have been revised to show the concrete sidewalk matching DPW standards. It has also been noted on the plans that the sidewalk will be replaced at all relocated
driveways to the next panel joint.
Please provide a detail for setting granite curb.
Response: A granite curb detail has been added to the Sheet C3.01.
Sewer
Existing sewer stubs may fall near or within the limits of proposed new driveway locations. Sewer cleanouts near or within vehicular trafficked areas shall be protected within an access
box that is flush with the surrounding grade.
Response: A note has been added to the plans indicating that an access box set flush to grade will be installed for all sewer cleanouts within or near a proposed driveway.
Sewer cleanouts shall be placed as close to the property line as practicable.
Response: Sewer cleanouts shown on the plans are existing and were installed with the completion of the roadway. Locations were determined by an As-Built provided by the MassDevelopment
and their Contractor, Caracas Construction.
Drainage:
The Northampton DPW issued a Stormwater Management Permit to TCB Hospital Hill LLC on July 19, 2007, which included potential development consistent with the proposed project. However,
the Stormwater Management Permit included conditions which must be met for the proposed project including the following (see Stormwater Management Permit for Village Hill Phase 2 for
more information):
This project will be required to submit one or more Notice of Intent (NO I) to the U.S. EPA for coverage under the NPDES Stormwater Construction General Permit. A copy of the final NOI
and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) shall be submitted to the Northampton DPW for approval prior to the start of construction and prior to issuance of a building permit.
Response: After a phasing schedule and purchasing schedule is complete. A final NOI and SWPPP will be submitted to the Northampton DPW prior to the start of construction and prior
to issuance of a building permit if so required. The building lots may be
purchased in four lot increments resulting in less than one acre of disturbance which would not require a NPDES general permit. In any event the erosion and sediment control as shown
on the plans will be implemented.
The plans and specifications approved by this Permit include roadways and conceptual impervious surface areas for site development. During the Site Plan approval, 40R site approval,
or any other permitting for each lot, the applicant must submit documentation to the Northampton DPW of the proposed drainage system for the site, the impervious surface footprint of
the site, and a revised summary of impervious surface areas built, proposed, and available for future construction for the sub-watershed drainage area where the proposed lot development
is taking place. The DPW requests that this information be submitted and approved by the DPW prior to issuance of a building permit.
Response: Included in the submission package was a letter addressed to Mr. Doug McDonald with an attached memorandum containing an explanation and typical calculations for the proposed
drainage of each western lot and each interior lot. This memo has been revised to also show non-building impervious areas per Northampton DPW request. The memo demonstrates that the
non-building impervious area proposed as part of this development is 3,900 SF less than what was originally approved for the drainage areas analyzed. Also, as shown on sheet C 1.01
the typical maximum building area for the western lots is 1,325 square feet and 1,354 square feet for each of the interior lots. All of the homes to be offered are under these maximum
building areas. Based on our follow-up conversation with Mr. Doug MacDonald, we understand that individual lot review or approval will not be required unless there are changes to the
approved maximum building area.
Sheet Cl.30 of the Site Plans specify 1- CULTEC Recharge 330 XLHD Chamber (TYP.) for each proposed house. The Memo from Dan Delany, P.E., Fuss & O'Neill, dated February 21, 2012 to
Doug McDonald, City of Northampton, regarding Village Hill Drainage Summary includes calculations that specify 2 CULTEC 330 XLHD infiltration units per lot. The Plans should be corrected
to be consistent with the calculations specified in the Memo.
Response: Sheet C1.30 has been corrected to include 2-CULTEC Recharge 330 XLHD Chambers for each proposed house.
General Comments
It is understood that this is an “urban development” with already completed street infrastructure. The developer will be accessing the lots from either end of the development and phasing
the building so that they protect the existing infrastructure. Temporary curb crossing and mountings will be made with either sand fill and steel plate or a temporary asphalt berm separated
by paper.
Attached is revised a revised set of plan addressing any required changes as a result of the DPW’s comments and Fuss & O’Neill’s responses. Please contact our office should you have
any question or require any additional information.
Sincerely,
Daniel F. DeLany, P.E. Eric M. Bernardin, P.E., LEED AP
Project Manager Senior Associate
/hrc
c: Mr. David K. Veleta. P.E., Senior Civil Engineer – City of Northampton DPW
Mr. Doug MacDonald, Stormwater Coordinator