2023-08-24 Stormwater Permit Exempt App - 196 Cooke Ave with Cover Letter
4 Allen Place, Northampton, MA 01060 (413) 582-7000 bdg@berkshiredesign.com
Berkshire
Design
Group
August 24, 2023
Doug McDonald
Northampton Department of Public Works
125 Locust St
Northampton, MA 01060
RE: Stormwater Permit Exemption Request
196 Cooke Ave
On behalf of the Applicant, the City of Northampton Office of Planning & Sustainability, we respectfully request
that DPW find that a stormwater permit is not required for the proposed construction of two parking lots and
four houses at 196 Cooke Ave, Parcel ID 18-022.
The proposed project includes construction of four houses, a parking area for the houses, a parking area for the
Broad Brook Greenway, utilities, and associated site work. The enclosed plan demonstrates that the proposed
work can be constructed with a maximum of 40,100 sq. ft. of land disturbance.
I certify that the proposed project will disturb less than one acre of land, if constructed in accordance with the
enclosed plan.
Sincerely,
Berkshire Design Group
Christopher Chamberland, P.E.
Principal Civil Engineer
1. Project / Site / Owner Information
Project / Site Name:
Project Street / Location: Assessor’s Map/Parcel(s):
Owner’s Name: Owner’s Phone:
Owner’s Address:
Applicant’s Name: Applicant’s Phone:
Applicant’s Address:
Total Lot Size (ft2): Estimated Area to be Disturbed (ft2):
2. Exemption Type
The project described above is exempt from meeting the stormwater performance standards as
outlined in the Northampton Stormwater Management Ordinance (Chapter 281.2.3) for the
following reason (please check one):
Construction activities on lot(s) with an overall area greater than one acre and a proposed area of
disturbance greater than 35,000 square feet with a written certification by a registered professional engineer
or a registered land surveyor that the construction activity will be less than one acre (43,560 square feet).
Attach a site plan that specifies the limit of the area of disturbance and the calculated size of the area of
disturbance for the project and certification by a registered professional engineer or a registered land
surveyor;
Any agricultural activity which is consistent with an approved soil conservation plan prepared or approved
by the Natural Resource Conservation Service;
Any logging activity which is carried out in accordance with a Forest Cutting Plan approved by the
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation under the Forest Cutting Practices Act;
Maintenance and improvement of land in agricultural use, as defined by the Massachusetts Wetlands
Protection Act regulation 310 CMR 10.04;
Construction of fencing that will not substantially alter existing terrain or drainage patterns;
Construction of utilities other than drainage (gas, water, electric, telephone, etc.) that will not alter terrain,
ground cover, or drainage patterns or result in discharge of sediment or other pollutants to the MS4 or to a
Watercourse or Waters of the Commonwealth;
Any emergency activity that is immediately necessary for the protection of life, property or the
environment, as determined by the Department of Public Works, the Board of Health or Police or Fire
Department personnel;
Redevelopment activities that are exclusively limited to maintenance and improvement of existing
sidewalks or roadways (including widening less than a single lane, adding shoulders, correcting
substandard intersections, improving existing drainage systems, and repaving projects), provided that they
improve existing conditions unless infeasible;
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PERMIT
APPLICATION for EXEMPTION
City of Northampton
Department of Public Works
Repair or upgrade of existing septic systems when required by the Board of Health for the protection of
public health;
4. Certification
I hereby certify that the information contained herein including all attachments is true,
accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.
Owner’s Signature Date Applicant’s Signature Date
8.24.23 8.24.23