HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200735 Excelsior Ave. Apartments Chazen second review letter TH� CAPITAL DISTRICT OFFICE
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Mr. Michael 6. Veitch
Business Manager
City of Saratoga Springs
474 Broadway Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
April 26, 2021
Delivered via email: michael.veitch�sarato�a-sprin�s.or�
Re: City Designated Engineer Services for Site Plan application and SWPPP Review—2nd 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:
� Comment Response Letter, prepared by The LA Group dated April 14t", 2021.
� Site Plan application package containing:
o Water Service Connection Agreement dated April 14t", 2021.
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
and revised April 14t", 2021.
� Engineering Report prepared by the LA Group dated October 14th, 2020 and revised April 14t", 2021.
� Site Drawings entitled "Excelsior Park Apartments", dated October 14th, 2020 and revised April 14tn,
2021, 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 S-2 Subdivision Map
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-3.2 Site Accessibility Plan
o L-4.0 Site Uti I ities Pla n
o L-5.0 Site La ndsca pe & Lighti ng Pla n
o L-6.0 Site Details
o L-6.1 Site Details
o L-6.2 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—2nd Submittal Review
Apri126t",2021
Page 2 of 5
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.
Site Plans:
7. Please provide a signed and sealed copy of the boundary, topographic and utility survey.
The applicant has responded that they will provide the signed and sealed copy upon final site plan
approval.
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.
Additional easement information has been added to the site plans. However,the easement limits are still
not clearly identified on all sheets;please revise. In addition,there appears to still be work shown outside
of the easement limits (for example,the stone dust walkway on the southwest corner of the site. Please
revise.
11. The Subdivision Map for Beacon Communities is shown at a scale of 1ll - �OO'. The required minimum
scale for subdivisions per the City code is 1" = 50'. Please provide a subdivision map at the required
minimum scale.
The applicant has responded that they will provide an updated subdivision map upon final site plan
approval.
13. Please provide a signed and sealed copy of the Subdivision Map.
The applicant has responded that they will provide a signed and sealed subdivision map upon final site
plan approval.
19. Please provide top and bottom wall elevations for all proposed segmental block retaining walls.
Excelsior Avenue Apartments—PB#20200735,20200736—2nd Submittal Review
Apri126t",2021
Page 3 of 5
The applicant has provided top and bottom wall elevations for the segmental block retaining wall next to
the southern playground, but not for the segmental retaining wall on the northeast corner of the site;
please provide.
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.
The applicant has stated that at the time of the survey the road was under construction, and only a
gravel subbase had been placed.The applicant will submit a new survey as well as updated plans once
the road has been paved. Please submit the new survey to the City for review when available.
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.
The applicant has adjusted the grading plan to direct runoff to CB-10. The 291' contour will need to
be drawn after the road survey is complete;see Comment 21.
25. Will the proposed sidewalk on the south side of Lot 6 be extended easterly across Lot 5 to Excelsior
Avenue?
The applicant has stated that a connection from Lot 6 to Excelsior Avenue via Lot 5 is not proposed at
this time.The City should indicate if a pedestrian connection between lot 5 of lot 6 is desired.
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.
The applicant proposes to use Excelsior Ave as the aerial fire apparatus access road to service the
project site, and the City Fire Code Official has confirmed that this is acceptable. The applicant shall
verify that the buildings on the southern portion of the site will be less than 30' in height and not
require separate aerial access.
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.
Excelsior Avenue Apartments—PB#20200735,20200736—2nd Submittal Review
Apri126t",2021
Page 4 of 5
The applicant has indicated that lighting has been designed to City standards with respect to style and
spacing and has not provided light intensities. However, we believe that the City does not specify
spacing. Please provide the light intensity as requested, or the reference to the City requirement for
spacing.
31. Several of the proposed details appear to deviate from the City Standards; please revise:
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.
The applicant has indicated that the hydrant will be relocated and service extended. The hydrant is
still shown with a connection to the existing water main which should be detailed; please revise.
SWPPP:
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.
The applicant has performed 1 additional test pit within the bounds of proposed SMP-1.In accordance
with Table D-1, two infiltration tests need to be performed within the stormwater management
practice. Please provide one additional test. As a condition of site plan approval, the City may allow
the additional testing to be completed during construction.
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.
The applicant has stated that CB-10 will receive less runoff than originally expected per the design of
the existing practices and therefore the sizing of those practices should not be an issue.Please provide
documentation and/or verification of the design of the existing infiltrators so that the sizing can be
reviewed.
Excelsior Avenue Apartments—PB#20200735,20200736—2nd Submittal Review
Apri126t",2021
Page 5 of 5
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
Z:\projects\32000-32099\32004.xx C Saratoga Springs Master\32004-05_ExcelsiorAveApartments_PB-20200735-20200736\Submittal-2\SENT\32004-05_ExcelsiorAveApts_PB20200735-
20200736 Submittal2 2021-04-30.docx