HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230032 Crescent & Jefferson Site Plan B & L Commetns
10 Airline Drive, Suite 200, Albany, NY 12205 · Office: 518-218-1801 · Fax: 518-218-1805 · BartonandLoguidice.com
March 31, 2023
Debbie LaBreche, P.E., City Engineer
City of Saratoga Springs
474 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
Re: Liberty Housing-Bunny Lake/Crescent Drives
PB# 20230032/PO# 230278
File: 539.068.001
Dear Ms. LaBreche:
Barton & Loguidice, D.P.C. (B&L) has completed a review of the following reports and information for
the Liberty at Saratoga site plan:
Application for Site Plan Review dated January 13, 2023, as prepared by LaBella Associates;
SEQR Environmental Assessment Form Parts 1-3 and resolution dated January 3, 2023, as
prepared by LaBella Associates;
Full Set of Site Plans dated January 13, 2023, as prepared by LaBella Associates;
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan dated January 2023, as prepared by LaBella Associates;
New Water Service Connection Agreement & Application Form dated January 13, 2023 as
prepared by LaBella Associates;
Domestic Water Demand Letter dated January 13, 2023, as prepared by LaBella Associates;
Sewer Loading Calculations Letter dated January 13, 2023, as prepared by Labella Associates;
Complete Streets Checklist dated January 13, 2023, as prepared by LaBella Associates;
Cost Estimate for Letter of Credit dated January 13, 2023, as prepared by LaBella Associates;
NYSDEC and ACOE Wetland Maps dated January 13, 2023, as prepared by Hershberg &
Hershberg;
Exterior Elevations dated January 4, 2023, as prepared by Phinney Design Group;
Renderings dated January 4, 2023, as prepared by Phinney Design Group; and
300ft Property Adjoiners dated January 13, 2023, as prepared by LaBella Associates.
This review was conducted on behalf of the City of Saratoga Springs. The above referenced documents
and information were reviewed only with respect to our scope outlined in our task order/proposal.
Debbie LaBreche, P.E., City Engineer
City of Saratoga Springs
March 31, 2023
General
1. Is there a survey map of the property available? Some survey information is shown on the two
wetland maps, DEC-1 and Corp-2 but do not identify adjacent properties fronting Bunny Lake
Drive and show an un-labeled (easement?) approximately 40’ wide. Please provide survey map
with all adjacent property owners and label 40’ wide linework that turns towards project
property.
2. Provide legends applicable to all plan sheets. The extent of porous pavement should be included
in legend on sheet G0002.
3. Sheet C120 shows trail route and presumed footbridge across wetlands and other linework at
Bunny Lake Drive east of the site property line that is un-clear. What does the short, bolded
linework represent?
4. Show project site on location map on cover sheet please.
5. Two dumpsters are proposed for entire complex and located west of many of the proposed
units. Is a third conceivably needed for the waste stream for the number of units proposed? It is
good they will not be seen from Bunny lake Drive but residents on the east side will have to walk
a good distance to access them, particularly in the winter and snow.
Building Elevations
1. Are roof gutters proposed? If not drip edge stabilization is necessary to limit splattering on
siding at grade level.
SEQR/FEAF
1. On page 3 of the FEAF it notes 9 acres of disturbance and later on indicates a single phase. See
stormwater management comments regarding NYSDEC requirements for 5 acre variance to
disturb more than 5 acres at a time which seems unlikely to be obtainable at this site.
2. On page 5 the value of 35,420 gallons per day (GPD) is not the same as the water report. (34,200
GPD). Please clarify.
3. On page 7.j.v there is discussion of ingress and egress via Bunny Lake Road with an easement for
ingress and egress. The viability of the proposal depends on an easement. What is the status of
obtaining this?
4. On page 7.vii, there is mention of a traffic study with recommendations for clearing of
vegetation for vehicle site distance. Please submit the latest version of this report to the City
and B&L.
5. On Page 8 there is discussion of a proposed 19.88 acre conservation easement. Show metes and
bounds and label this easement. Are walking trails proposed in this easement area?
Site Plan Review checklist
1. No. 13 is checked as not applicable but the private road and conservation easements are
discussed in the FEAF. Is there an existing easement on Bunny Lake Road for another
property(s)? A conservation easement is also proposed. See first general comment.
Debbie LaBreche, P.E., City Engineer
City of Saratoga Springs
March 31, 2023
Water System Demand Report
1. What will the required fire flow demand be for the buildings? Size water service and fire
protection system components based on available system capacity via the municipal water main
system. Conduct fire flow tests of existing area hydrants or obtain recent tests the City has
records of to confirm the system can comfortably provide that needed fire flow and sized per
ISO and NFPA standards. Coordinate with the city engineer’s office and DPW prior to any tests.
Cost Estimate for Letter of Credit
1. Some items have low unit prices that particularly, in the current inflationary environment, that
should be raised substantially as they seem 30-50% low at least. Most however seem fine.
Please review items for all types of asphalt, concrete sidewalks, bike racks (with foundations) 41,
47, 48 (greater depth conceivable) and add in a terminal flushing manhole for the pressure
sewer. Items 19, 11, 25, 47, 48 and 51 are considered low.
Plans
C130-Overall Site Plan/C135 Site Plan
Provide legend or callouts for playground, dumpsters and perhaps other features not covered by legend.
1. Show fire truck and bus routes and turning plan to confirm adequate space is provided for
ladder fire truck and other large trucks accessing the site. Is the intent to have CDTA buses and
school buses pick people up at the bus shelter? Has the City Fire chief reviewed the plan?
2. The center area of parking and pavement has 12’ width in east and west ends. Is this area for
just passenger cars and presumably not for fire or other truck access?
3. Have “isolated wetlands” shown west of Bunny Lake drive and south of proposed buildings
status been confirmed by ACOE?
C136 Offsite Improvements Plan
1. On Jefferson Avenue please show existing sanitary sewer inverts at connection point as well as
internal steps hopefully on west side opposite of force main entry. Verify step location and
notate whether they need to be re-installed away from new force main entry.
2. To avoid excessive splatter and odors show force main entry with bend(s) that direct discharge
to outlet pipe as opposed to perpendicularly inside structure with a simple detail.
3. Is that a proposed fence below the label of silt fence on 4/136? Please label intent and reference
detail.
4. Have “isolated wetlands” shown west of Bunny Lake drive and south of proposed buildings
status been confirmed by ACOE?
Debbie LaBreche, P.E., City Engineer
City of Saratoga Springs
March 31, 2023
C140 Grading and Drainage Plan
1. Label internal contours of two depressed areas in center of project.
2. The western portion of the project near the cul-de-sac and bus shelter should have additional
drainage structures to decrease dependence on sheet runoff over pavement and likely a curb
break to allow runoff to exit paved area and enter practice east of playground. This would help
alleviate concerns for sheet runoff in freezing conditions across large areas of pavement where
vehicle turning movements including buses have to negotiate.
3. Show Yard drain in center of project at drainage pipe junction just west of building.
4. Label width of overflow weir at basin and reference detail for rock lined outlet channel to
downstream toe of slope to protect embankment slopes/integrity from erosion.
5. Are any slope areas scheduled for erosion control blankets coverage or other means of
stabilization?
6. How are sediments being managed if they reach the basins?
7. Show construction sequencing phases that ensure no more than 5 acres of disturbance exists at
one time and progression of stabilization throughout construction.
8. Are curb breaks proposed at dumpsters for truck access?
C150 Erosion & Sediment Control Plan
1. Label silt fencing.
2. Are temporary sediment control basins proposed to limit conveyance from point of origination
and deposition to installed elements of storm drainage system?
3. Add notes to reference to specific details elsewhere in drawing set and construction sequencing
plan. Include stone lining and spillway details.
4. Notate sensitive areas where construction traffic is to avoid damaging pavement sub-base,
bottom of stormwater management practices and need for site soil de-compaction.
5. Label concrete washout station.
6. Show material laydown area and any sacrificial stabilized fill to support construction activity to
protect road sub-base and infiltration areas.
7. What is rectangular hatched area east of stormwater basin near construction entrance on south
end of site?
C160-Utility Plan
1. We recommend an additional fire hydrant in the center area of grass between buildings near
the crosswalk to reduce hose lengths. Show locations of exterior connections to sprinkler
system.
2. Show sizes of existing water main(s) and label water main and valve sizes proposed.
Debbie LaBreche, P.E., City Engineer
City of Saratoga Springs
March 31, 2023
3. Show invert of force main at pump station.
4. Is discharge from CB-1 without stormwater treatment?
5. Provide outlet structure with two discharge pipes within that includes inlet controls at bottom.
6. Are roof gutter proposed? Fall from three story height will likely dirty siding without mitigation
is the form of stone strip.
7. Is water main infrastructure to be owned and maintained by the city or privately owned? If the
former an easement would be required to allow maintenance and routine flushing.
8. Hydrants are shown quite close to curbs and likely to be buried in snow from plowing. We
recommend 6’ back from curb and away from tree plantings.
9. Tree planting should be 10’ minimum from utilities. Remove tree close to sewage force main
downstream of pump station.
10. Show pump station control panel on plan and ensure it is detailed to include vapor blocks that
prevent sewer gases from entering into electronics of control panel via conduits.
C180 Landscaping Plan
1. We recommend trees have a minimum caliper of 2-1/2” to increase survivability and speed of
screening.
2. Remove one of Colorado Blue Spruce trees too close to force main near pump station.
3. Provide a foundation plantings table that allows location and sizes of proposed plantings at
foundations and understory area of trees.
C190 Photometric Plan
1. Are the lighting values shown include lights mounted on buildings?
2. Are additional lights needed at bus stop building?
3. Provide a legend regarding types of lighting fixtures.
C530 Site Details
1. Note crowning of pavement and subgrade to drain to the edges on pavement detail.
C531 Site Details
1. Per recommendations from Tom Baird of our office there have been recommendations to
NYSDEC on installation and cross sections relative to porous pavement that include;
a. 3-inch minimum for porous asphalt top course as 2-inch tends to “squishing” out sides.
b. Choker Course should be 1-inch as deeper depth results in rutting from paving
equipment ahead of asphalt placement. Specify AASHTO 2 not DOT 2 stone.
c. Need specs on pavement on the plans.
Debbie LaBreche, P.E., City Engineer
City of Saratoga Springs
March 31, 2023
d. Greater than 12-inches of reservoir depth is conceivable. Practice and application must
be computed using NYSDEC GI worksheets.
e. De-compaction/scarification of sub-grade is recommended.
C575 Pump Station Details and Notes
1. Many elevations are marked xxx.xx and need to be filled in.
2. What is diameter of wetwell?
3. Typically lift stations have a separate valve vault for the check valves and isolation valves and
avoid submerging check valves.
4. Link seal is recommended for all pipe entries/discharges.
5. Fill in pump station data. Single phase seems unlikely given amount of flow.
6. Vent pipe is typically 6-inch painted steel to better resist sunlight exposure and vandalism.
7. Who will own and maintain pump station?
8. Is there an onsite emergency generator as discussed in note 13?
9. Recommend signage regarding no unauthorized access to pump station area. Is a fenced
enclosure proposed?
SWPPP
1. Performance and storm event peak elevations and ability to infiltrate are unknown since they are
not modeled specifically with Hydrocad pond nodes that utilize these parameters of underground
runoff storage via void areas in the stone and outflow via discharge to the soils via infiltration and
likely some controls via mid media underdrains. A sample pond model node is enclosed that with
a porous pavement application that assesses maximum storage levels at all storm events over
time. The inclusion of 6-8 total pond modes (3-4 per side) dedicated to porous pavement
proportionate to the runoff areas of the model.
2. The method of using large area application of curve number 57 with pond nodes discussed above
is problematic.
3. The proposed application for porous pavement is presumed to be in all areas and unsure if
traditional pavements are also proposed. See comments for plans to delineate features with
legends. Areas at the dumpsters and bus loading areas may not perform well with porous
pavement unless a thicker/three layer designed is proposed. Smaller Areas of traditional
pavement can still have storage value if the same reservoir courses are beneath as in the porous
adjacent pavement areas.
4. There are concerns for porous pavement installation methods as ultimately outlined in the design
plans that, together with a contractor experienced with successful implementations of this green
infrastructure pavement, can result in years of good service. There are nuances of placement that
should be outlined in pavement specifications that need to go on the plans including mix design,
temperatures delivered, rolled and when to stop rolling that are vital to a lasting installation.
Debbie LaBreche, P.E., City Engineer
City of Saratoga Springs
March 31, 2023
Applications with curbed islands, bump-outs and other challenges require different equipment
and more handwork.
5. We recommend increasing porous pavement area curve number to 98 and including pond nodes
for the porous pavement areas as discussed above. See installation and modeling attachments.
6. The infiltration rate for the various nodes could be around 10-inches per hour that represents a
safety factor of two from an average rate of say 20-inches per hour. The 180-inch per hour seems
to be an anomaly and best thrown out as such. Additional permeability testing would seem
prudent given the A/D soil classification in the soil survey.
7. Plan notes should include actions if perched groundwater is encountered in subgrade excavations
for porous pavement. Strategic implementation of weeps/underdrains at catch basins or low
areas can help control groundwater in this porous pavement application. Since water quality
volume is achieved below any embedded underdrain in the reservoir stone it really serves as an
overflow in extreme runoff events. Please utilize the NYSDEC green infrastructure sizing excel
worksheets and include in re-submission.
A word version of his letter has been provided to assist with the response letter to these comments with
responses below cut and pasted comments from herein.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office.
Sincerely,
BARTON & LOGUIDICE, D.P.C.
Bradley D. Grant
Senior Project Manager
BDG/bdg