036-068 NFD - advisory opinion request 27 Feb 12Oak Ridge Road, LLC
31 Campus Plaza Road, Hadley, MA 01035 p 413.256.0321 f 413.256.0130
February 27, 2012
Brian Duggan, Fire Chief
Northampton Fire Department
26 Carlon Drive
Northampton, MA 01060-2373
Re: Amendment to Subdivision Approval – Emerson Way
Dear Chief Duggan,
The Emerson Way (formerly known as Oak Ridge Road) subdivision permit was originally approved in 2003. At that time it was assumed, both by the Planning Board and the original applicant,
that the pressure and volume of municipal water on Burts Pit Road was inadequate and would not support conventional firefighting. The applicant, in his haste to secure approval of
the project, offered to make it a condition of approval that each new house in the subdivision would have a residential sprinkler system.
With the cooperation the Northampton Water Department, three separate fire-flow tests have been conducted in the last year. The most recent test was conducted on Friday, February 24,
2012. This test was observed by Dave Sparks from the Water Department, Building Commissioner Louis Hasbrouck and Assistant Fire Chief Duane Nichols. All three tests confirm that improvements
in the municipal water system have resulted in water pressure and volumes much higher than the theoretically derived, assumed values that were used during the original permitting process
in 2003. These fire-flow tests clearly demonstrate that the conventional distribution of hydrants along Emerson Way are robust enough to meet the requirements of your Department and
can be used to fight fire on lots 1-19 and 49-59.
Each of these tests has also confirmed that if the application for subdivision approval were being considered today, the available water volume and pressure would allow the project to
be approved without the applicant offering the additional condition of requiring a residential sprinkler condition in every house.
We would like to apply for an amendment to the original subdivision approval which modifies the condition which requires residential sprinklers in all buildings to limit that requirement
to lots 20-48 inclusive. Lots 20-48 are not served by municipal water but instead will have individual wells.
Because the approval for an amendment to the original permit will require you and your Department’s review and consent, we are seeking a review and advisory, non-binding opinion prior
the formal submission of our application to amend.
Thank you,
Theodore Parker
Manager