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18C-180 Project Narrative The project parcel is proposed to be subdivided into four lots which comply with zoning district dimensional, setback and area lot requirements in accordance with Attachment 7:1 of the Zoning Ordinance. Three of the lots have frontage on Bridge Road and one lot will have frontage on Hatfield Street. The proposed project involves the construction of single family residences on two lots, one with a barn and duplex residences on two lots which are allowed by right in the URB District. The single family house with lot frontage on Hatfield Street will be setback from street approximately 130’ which accommodates the looped common driveway access to the garages, storm drainage and utility services. All of the residential units will have a single car garage and driveway area for parking as well. There are currently sidewalks along Bridge Road and the easterly side of Hatfield Street. Vehicular access to the garages and residential units will be serviced by a fifteen foot wide looped, paved driveway from Hatfield Street. The driveway will be constructed in accordance with Attachment 8.8.R of the Zoning Ordinance and is subject to review and approval by the Planning Board as requested herein. Directional signage will be installed on Hatfield Street to direct traffic one way around the driveway loop. The entrance sign will list the Bridge Road and Hatfield Street addresses as well. The paved shared or common driveway will be increased six feet in width in areas as shown on the site plan to accommodate occasional guest parking, access to unit mail boxes and passing if needed. The single family and two family residences are architecturally designed in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance Design Standards in Attachment 7 and are included in the site plan package for review. The proposed residences along Bridge Road are designed to have the attached garages face internally to the site for driveway access and to minimize conflicts with exiting cars and traffic flow. Additionally, the orientation of the garage entrances will not detract from the architectural treatment of the building front facade and, along with entrance sidewalks, will enhance the pedestrian-scale design along Bridge Road. The landscaping for the proposed project is intended to enhance the proposed building locations as well as establish a street presence in general. Plantings around buildings will blend with surrounding neighborhood single family residences. New, native to the region street trees will be planted along Bridge Road, and Hatfield Street. Trees will be planted along the proposed driveway loop to create a garage court feeling. Proposed hedge plantings along Bridge Road, Hatfield Street and along internal property lines are designed to provide a buffer and yard privacy. The hedges will be maintained at a three foot height. A rain garden will be constructed inside the proposed driveway loop and planted with native grasses and meadow flowers. The naturalistic plantings of the rain garden will add visual interest and create a sense of a unified garage court space. Management of the Site Storm Water Run-off: The concept for addressing the storm water run-off or ‘storm water chain’ involves the following: 1. In order to minimize surface run-off collection, roof gutters and down spouts will be installed on the buildings and directed to underground infiltration areas with a roof drain system. 2. Retention of the site run-off into a rain garden located with-in the looped driveway area. The rain garden will be constructed and graded so that it will temporarily store run- off for infiltration and evaporation. 3. Off-site release of storm water is minimized due to the high percolation rate of the well-drained soils at the project site. The soil types are listed on the plans and have been incorporated into the storm drainage calculations. 4. Conveyance techniques, such as grassed swales, have been incorporated into the site design. The swales, located adjacent to the buildings, will collect and slowly convey run- off to the rain garden for infiltration and evaporation. The bioretention capabilities of the planted rain garden will improve storm water quality as well. The plantings will remove mineral nutrients and metal contaminants. The collected run-off will be allowed to infiltrate through the native soils for further removal of contaminants. A Storm Water Management Permit application will be submitted to the City Department of Public Works which details the components of the storm water system and is shown on the site plans. In addition, a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) in accordance with EPA requirements for sites over 1 acre will be submitted to the City Department of Public Works. New Sanitary Sewer Service: All units will be connected to a new 6” sanitary sewer to be constructed on-site with a new manhole. The new service will be connected to the existing 8” sanitary sewer in Hatfield Street with a new manhole. The new manhole will be constructed over the existing sewer and will not interrupt the services within the neighborhood. New Water Service: All units will be serviced by a new 4”, Class 52, ductile iron water service to be constructed on-site. It will be connected to the existing 10” water main in Hatfield Street with a new tapping sleeve and gate valve. The connection will be in accordance with City of Northampton DPW requirements. New Gas Service: All units will be serviced by an underground gas line in accordance with the local gas company requirements. The gas service and new gate valve will be connected to the existing gas main in Hatfield Street. New Electrical Service: All units will be provided with electrical power and connected to the existing service on Hatfield Street in accordance with local utility requirements. New Site Lighting: The proposed driveway loop will be illuminated with 35 watt LED solar powered fixtures mounted on 6’ height wood poles. The fixtures, as shown on the detail plans, will have a solid hood for dark sky compliance. The trash service and pick-up will be provided by a private vending service for wheeled trash bin collection. There are no fence enclosures for dumpsters needed for this project. Winter maintenance for snow plowing will occur on an as needed basis and will be performed by a private vendor. There are sufficient areas along the side of the shared driveway, garage driveways and parking areas for snow storage. No snow storage will occur in the rain garden located inside of the driveway loop. The new shrub and tree planting maintenance and lawn mowing will be performed by a private vending service on a regular basis to maintain a neat and orderly landscape appearance. The applicant has discussed the project with the immediate neighbors & it was pointed out that the parcel is subdivided into four lots which are compliant with the URB zone district. The proposed lots will accommodate single and multifamily buildings which are allowed by right.