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Mr. Michael 6. Veitch
Business Manager
City of Saratoga Springs
474 Broadway Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
November 17, 2020
Delivered via email: michael.veitch�sarato�a-sprin�s.or�
Re: City Designated Engineer Services for Site Plan application and SWPPP Review—1St Submittal
Excelsior Avenue Apartments
Excelsior Avenue., City of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, New York
City Project No. PB#20200735, 20200736
Chazen Project No. 32004.05
Dear Michael:
The Chazen Companies (Chazen) have completed our review of the following materials received:
� Cover Letter prepared by The LA Group dated October 14th, 2020.
� Subdivision application package containing:
o Application for Subdivision Review dated October 5th, 2020.
o Subdivision Checklist dated October 14th, 2020.
� Site Plan application package containing:
o Application for Site Plan Review(including PUD) dated October 5th, 2020.
o Site Plan Review Submittal Checklist dated October 14th, 2020.
o Complete Streets Checklist dated October 14th, 2020.
o Water Service Connection Agreement dated October 5th, 2020.
o Cost Estimate for Letter of Credit dated October 14th, 2020.
� Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) prepared by the LA Group, dated October 14th, 2020.
� Engineering Report prepared by the LA Group dated October 14th, 2020.
� Site Drawings entitled "Excelsior Park Apartments", dated October 14th, 2020, prepared by the LA
Group unless noted otherwise, consisting of the following 15 sheets:
o Cover Sheet
o S-1 Survey prepared by Thompson Fleming, Land Surveyors, P.C. dated September 16,
2020.
o L-1.0 Site Preparation, Erosion &Sediment Control Plan
o L-2.0 Site Layout& Materials Plan
o L-3.0 Site Grading Plan
o L-3.1 Site Drainage Plan
o L-4.0 Site Utilities Plan
o L-5.0 Site La ndsca pe & Lighti ng Pla n
o L-6.0 Site Details
o L-6.1 Site Details
HUDSON VALLEY•CAPITAL DISTRICT• NORTH COUNTRY•WESTCHESTER • NASHVILLE,TN
Chazen Engineering, Land Surveying& Landscape Architecture Co., D.P.C. (New York)
Chazen Engineering Consultants, LLC(Tennessee)
Excelsior Avenue Apartments—PB#20200735,20200736-1St Submittal Review
November 17t",2020
Page 2 of 6
o L-6.2 Site Details
o L-6.3 Site Utility Details
o L-6.4 Site Utility Details
o L-6.5 Site Utility Details
Note that there were no SEQR Materials received with the application materials.
Following are our observations/comments:
General:
1. The City's project numbers of 20200735 and 20200736 should be added to all site plan application and
all supporting documents.
2. The applicant states that bicycle-safe catch basin grates will be installed onsite, however,the provided
details do not specify the grates to be bicycle-safe. Please clarify.
Water/Sewer En�ineerin�Report:
3. The applicant has submitted hydrant flow testing throughout the Excelsior Avenue area performed from
1991 to 2014. Please perform hydrant testing at the hydrants nearest to the project site and submit
results to the City to confirm current available pressures and flows to support the basis of design.
Typically, hydrant flow testing shall be no older than six (6) months unless it has been deemed that no
changes to the supply or transmission of water within that area have occurred since the test was
performed.
4. The Engineering Report calculates the anticipated wastewater generated by the proposed apartments
as 58 bedrooms x 110 gpd / bedroom, yielding 6,380 gpd. However, the narrative and submitted
application materials indicate that 58 apartment units are proposed,which will be a mix of one-, two-,
and three-bedroom units. Please clarify the total number of bedrooms proposed and update the
wastewater calculations and Engineering Report accordingly.
5. The Water Service Connection Agreement lists the anticipated water demand as 679,250 cubic feet of
water per year (5.08 million gallons). The Engineering Report lists the anticipated water demand as
6,660 gallons per day(2.43 million gallons). Please clarify the proposed water demands and update the
Engineering Report and Water Service Connection Agreement accordingly.
Project Cost Estimate:
6. The applicant proposes an 18" HDPE storm sewer going to the isolator row in SMP-2 as shown in Detail
2, Sheet L-6.5 and the utility plan which is omitted from the Cost Estimate for Letter of Credit. Please
revise.
Site Plans:
7. Please provide a signed and sealed copy of the boundary, topographic and utility survey.
Excelsior Avenue Apartments—PB#20200735,20200736-1St Submittal Review
November 17t",2020
Page 3 of 6
8. The site plans show work to be performed south of the project site near Lot 4, owned by Excelsior Park
Condominiums, including erosion control measures, paving, sidewalk installation, a new catch basin,
and grading. It is unclear if all of this work is located fully within the cross-lot and parking easement
identified between existing Lot 4 and proposed Lot 6 as shown on Sheet S-1, or if additional easements
will be necessary to complete the work as shown. Please show the cross-lot easement on all sheets to
verify its boundaries with respect to proposed work and identify if additional easements will be
necessa ry.
9. The applicant shows the sanitary sewer connection to an existing sanitary sewer main southeast of the
site. Sheet L-4.0 shows an existing sewer main extending northwest from an existing manhole to
proposed SMH#1.This pipe is not shown on the survey. Please clarify if this pipe is existing or proposed.
If existing, is there an existing manhole in the location of proposed SMH#1?
10. Sheet L-2.0 identifies a proposed Trash Room at the southwest corner of the proposed mixed-use
building. Please identify how vehicular access is provided to the trash room to accommodate trash
re m ova I.
11. The Subdivision Map for Beacon Communities is shown at a scale of 1" = 100'. The required minimum
scale for subdivisions per the City code is 1" = SO'. Please provide a subdivision map at the required
minimum scale.
12. The parcel street address, including existing and proposed postal addresses associated with the
subdivision, are not included on the site plans. Please provide.
13. Please provide a signed and sealed copy of the Subdivision Map.
14. Silt fence is shown outside the limits of work on Sheet L-1.0. Please revise.
15. Please quantify the limits of disturbance on Sheet L-1.0 and ensure that this quantity is consistent with
that listed in the SWPPP and N01.
16. The proposed accessible ramp on the north side of the parcel has a rise of 36", which exceeds the
maximum rise of 30" permitted by ANSI 117.1—Section 405 without a landing. Please provide additional
spot elevations and detail to show compliance with ADA requirements.
17. Please identify all ADA ramps and provide same level of information (as requested in Comment 16) for
all accessible ramps on the site.
18. Please provide additional grading detail (spot elevations) around the playground.
19. Please provide top and bottom wall elevations for all proposed segmental block retaining walls.
20. Please provide spot elevations around the exterior of the proposed buildings, top and bottom of stair
elevations, and additional top/bottom of curb elevations throughout the parking areas.
21. Please provide elevations along the limits of paving proposed for Lot 6 where pavement will tie into
pavement being installed by the developer of Lot 4.
Excelsior Avenue Apartments—PB#20200735,20200736-1St Submittal Review
November 17t",2020
Page 4 of 6
22. It appears that a low point will be created on the south side of the site near CB-4 and contour 291' is
missing. Please revise accordingly and provide sufficient detail.
23. It appears that portions of the proposed roads and sidewalks are in excess of 5% slope. Please identify
the ADA accessible routes throughout the site.
24. It is recommended that a crosswalk be installed at the entrance to the site from Excelsior Avenue.
25. Will the proposed sidewalk on the south side of Lot 6 be extended easterly across Lot 5 to Excelsior
Avenue?
26. Section D105.1 of the 2015 Fire Code states "Where the vertical distance between the grade plane and
the highest roof surface exceeds 30 feet (9144 mm), approved aerial fire apparatus access roads shall
be provided."Section D105.2 of the 2015 Fire Code states"Aerial fire apparatus access roads shall have
a minimum unobstructed width of 26 feet(7925 mm), exclusive of shoulders, in the immediate vicinity
of the building or portion thereof." The cover sheet indicates the building will be 4-stories and 50 feet
high. The side of the building on which the aerial fire apparatus access road is positioned shall be
approved by the fire code official. The Applicant to indicate which side of the building is proposed for
use as an aerial fire apparatus access road in coordination with the fire code official. Conformance to
the Fire Code will be reviewed once an answer is provided.
27. The Applicant shall provide the plans and engineering report to the Fire Department for review and
comment. Please submit for the record a letter from the Fire Department indicating that they can
adequately service the proposed use.
28. The provided Site Landscape & Lighting Plan does not provide illumination intensity for the two
proposed Decorative Street Light Fixtures on the west side of the site. Please update the Site Landscape
& Lighting Plan to include intensities from all proposed fixtures.
29. In Detail 1 on Sheet L-6.3 (water service connection), the applicant refers to a splice detail which is not
included. Please provide.
30. The applicant has not provided a detail for the pavement sawcut; please provide.
31. Several of the proposed details appear to deviate from the City Standards; please revise:
a. In Detail 7, Sheet L-6.0 (asphalt pavement detail), the applicant proposes a single requirement
for layer thickness for both the parking lot and roadway. City Standards require different layer
thicknesses for these types of pavement.
b. Detail 9 on Sheet L-6.1 (decorative streetlight) shows a 64 WATT dimmable driver; the City
Standard is 67 WATT.This detail also shows a tapered pole constructed from 6063-T6 structural
grade aluminum.The City Standard is made form 6061-T6 structural grade aluminum.This detail
further shows a 5 AMP fuse with a Ferraz Shawmut FEB-21-21 1P 600V fuse holder. The City
Standard requires a 10 AMP fuse with a Bussmann HEB-AA in-line fuse holder.
c. Please update Detail 3 on Sheet L-6.3 (pipe trench) to conform with the City's standard detail
requirements and specifications for pipe zone bedding, pipe zone backfill, and trench backfill.
Excelsior Avenue Apartments—PB#20200735,20200736-1St Submittal Review
November 17t",2020
Page 5 of 6
d. Please modify Detail 9 on Sheet L-6.3 (fire hydrant) to show the connection of the fire hydrant
to the water main per City Standards.
e. In Detail 2, Sheet L-6.4 the applicant proposes a catch basin with exterior dimensions of 3'-6"
square.The City's standard catch basin detail is a minimum of 3'-6" by 5'-0" (exterior).
32. Details 1 and 2 on Sheet L-6.5(underground infiltration chambers)are not consistent with the site utility
plans. Please update accordingly.
33. Please add dimensions and size of the rip rap(light,medium,etc.)to the Flared End Section Detail(Detail
1 on Sheet L-6.4) based on the expected discharge velocity in the pipe outlets conforming to the City's
Standards and NYS Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control.
34. The plans identify a length of sanitary sewer main on Sheet L-4.0 where less than 4 feet of cover will be
provided and call out pipe insulation. Please provide a detail for the insulated sewer main.
35. Please revise the design to include gas and electric utilities that are to service the proposed structures.
Drawings should reflect the location of utility lines, points of connection and the location of ineters,
transformers, etc. along with landscape screening.
SWPPP:
36. The bottom of proposed SMP-1 is located at an elevation of 287.12'.Soil testing has not been performed
within the footprint of this practice, but Test Pits 6 and 7 are located northeast of the practice and Test
Pit 5 is located southwest of the practice. At Test Pits 6 and 7 the water table was encountered at an
elevation of around 280'. At Test Pit 5, mottling suggesting the seasonable high-water elevation was
observed at an elevation of 284.5'. According to the NYS Stormwater Management Design Manual, a 4'
separation to groundwater must be maintained for infiltration practices. Please verify that the required
groundwater separation is achieved at SMP-1.
37. Infiltration testing in accordance with Table D-1 and Appendix D of the SMDM must be performed within
each proposed infiltration area. A test pit has not been performed within the limits of SMP-1. The size
of the practices requires that at least two infiltration tests and test pits be performed within each
proposed practice in accordance with Table D-1. Please provide required testing.
38. The SWPPP includes SHPO documentation from 2003 which does not specify that this project was part
of that review. Please verify and provide supporting documentation.
39. The SWPPP includes ETR documentation from 2015 for the Phase 2 project which does not encompass
this lot. Please provide ETR documentation for the project site.
40. We assume that all of the proposed buildings will have flat roofs and interior roof drains that will drain
roof runoff to the proposed storm system as modeled. If this is not the case, the drainage delineation
will need to be updated.
41. It appears that the northwestern portion of the proposed Subcatchment 1(including the sidewalk north
of the entrance road) drains to the access road to the west and should be included with Subcatchment
2. Please clarify.
Excelsior Avenue Apartments—PB#20200735,20200736-1St Submittal Review
November 17t",2020
Page 6 of 6
42. It appears that a small portion of in the southern area of proposed Subcatchment 2 will not drain
towards CB-4 as indicated in the HydroCAD model but will rather drain towards CB-10. CB-10 connects
to an underground infiltration system installed for the Excelsior Park Condominiums project which is
not modeled in the SWPPP for this project. Please confirm if the intent is to provide treatment for a
portion of Subcatchment 2 using this existing practice. If so, please provide:
a. Verification of available capacity in this practice to accept and treat the proposed runoff;
b. Drainage easement permitting the discharge of stormwater to this practice; and
c. An updated SWPPP showing this delineation of stormwater runoff and the appropriate
modeling and calculations.
43. Post-development Subcatchment 7 includes a proposed impervious sidewalk. The HydroCAD model
shows that this entire subcatchment will discharge directly to AP-1 without treatment. The applicant
has designed the stormwater practices for this project in accordance with Chapter 9 of the SMDM
requiring WQv treatment of 100% of new impervious areas and 25% of existing disturbed impervious
areas. The sidewalk is a new impervious area. Please clarify how this runoff from the sidewalk will be
treated.
44. Attachment D in the SWPPP states that the WQv required to be provided by SMP-1 based on its
contributing drainage area is about 1,765 ft3, while the HydroCAD model indicates the actual storage
volume of this practice is 1,518 ft3. Please revise the stormwater design to provide the required WQv
for SMP-1.
In order to expedite and simplify the review of revised materials we would appreciate if the next submission
be accompanied by a response letter that describes the revised materials and how our comments were/were
not integrated.
If you have any comments, questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact this
office at 518-273-0055.
Sincerely,
.
�
Jennifer Nechamen, P.E.
Project Engineer
cc: James J. Connors, P.E. Chazen
Alec Betancourt, Chazen
File
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05_ExcelsiorAveApts_PB20200735-20200736_Submittal 1_2020-11-16.docx