HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230773 182 Excelsior Site Plan Engineer Comments
10 Airline Drive, Suite 200, Albany, NY 12205 · Office: 518-218-1801 · Fax: 518-218-1805 · BartonandLoguidice.com
November 3, 2023
Debbie LaBreche, P.E., City Engineer
City of Saratoga Springs
474 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
Re: 182 Excelsior Avenue Apartments
PB# 20230773/PO# 230654
File: 539.070.001
Dear Ms. LaBreche:
Barton & Loguidice, D.P.C. (B&L) has completed a first review of the following reports and information
for the Liberty at Saratoga site plan:
Application for Site Plan Review dated August 30,2023, as prepared by LaBella Associates;
SEQR Short Environmental Assessment Form Parts 1 dated August 30, 2023, as prepared by MJ
Engineering and Surveying;
Full Set of Preliminary Site Plans dated October, 2023, as prepared by MJ Engineering and
Surveying;
Building Perspective View as prepared by Balzer and Tuck Architecture;
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan dated September 9, 2023, as prepared by MJ Engineering
and Surveying;
Geo-technical Report dated August 18, 2023 as prepared by Daniel G. Loucks, PE Geo-technical
Engineering;
Water and Sewer Report dated July 2023, as prepared by MJ Engineering and Surveying;
Complete Streets Checklist dated August 30, 2023, as prepared by MJ Engineering and
Surveying;
Traffic Analysis dated September 6,2023 as prepared by MJ Engineering and Surveying.
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.
General
1. Documents note foundation will be slabs on grade. How will doors function be protected from
freeze/heaving conditions?
Debbie LaBreche, P.E., City Engineer
City of Saratoga Springs
November 3, 2023
2. Are existing building and carriage barn structures being re-located by physically moving them?
Coordinate with existing utility providers for abandonments and comply with prevailing safety
and related requirements.
3. We recommend inviting City engineering staff to pre-construction meeting and a walk-through
at end of project before NOT is submitted to ensure proper vegetation, stabilization and
stormwater management devices are complete.
4. Please submit a cost estimate for letter of credit. One was not included in submission.
5. Please submit NYSSHPO correspondence and include as appendix in the SWPPP.
6. Is the existing wrought iron fence salvageable?
7. Traffic Study review is ongoing and comments will be sent under separate letter next week.
SEQR/SEAF
1. Revise answer in question 17b and there are connections to existing catch basin and site runoff
to Spring Run.
Water and Sewer 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 and required fire flows. Conducted fire flow tests of existing area hydrants indicate
strong capacity in the 6 and 12-inch mains at the site. We believe fire sprinklers will be provided
for this apartment project. Needed fire flow needs to be determined and sized per ISO and NFPA
standards.
Cost Estimate for Letter of Credit
1. It appears one was not submitted. Please develop and submit to the City Engineer’s and
Planning offices.
Plans
C-101-Subdivision Plan
1. What is the significance of the old road R.O.W. lines shown on the plan? Assume these are not
applicable to property ownership with lot lines as shown. What is the status of proposed lot
division?
C-110- Removal Plan
1. What is meant by removal item 32 –unidentified line? Is this an underground utility?
C-120-Material Plan
1. Have picnic tables and/or benches been considered as amenities?
2. Label curbing.
Debbie LaBreche, P.E., City Engineer
City of Saratoga Springs
November 3, 2023
3. Is a facility sign proposed naming the apartment complex? Consider site distance for leaving site
and merging onto city streets.
C-130-Layout Plan
1. Show fire truck ingress and egress route through parking areas.
C-140-Utility Plan
1. Show all pipe sizes for sanitary sewer and water services. Storm sewers seem to be labeled but
confirm all utility pipe sizes are shown and routed to provide 10’ separation from proposed
trees.
2. There is concern for gravity sewer laterals at less than 1.0% slope. Show cleanouts near bends.
3. What is minimum depth of force main piping proposed?
4. Sanitary sewer connection at connection manhole near re-located house is less than 3’. Could
this be deeper and where is it less than 5’ deep?
5. Provide a detail for connecting barn and re-located house sewer laterals to existing sewer on
Excelsior Avenue.
6. Include lengths and slopes for all gravity sanitary sewer and storm sewer piping.
7. Where will sewer force main check valve(s) be? We recommend use of E-1 stainless steel
assembly that includes integral check valve.
C-141- Photometric Plan
1. Does lighting levels include building exterior lighting or just poles? Are lights proposed at
numerous exterior entries/doors?
C-150-Grading Plan
1. Are concrete pads proposed at all doorways? Are they at threshold level or a step down? How
are doors protected by heaving form winter conditions?
2. Are geo-textile slope fabrics proposed just for slopes steeper than 1:3?
3. Provide additional spot elevations at edge of pavement of parking adjacent to central stormwater
basins.
C-160- Erosion and Sediment Control Plan
1. Add note to clean sediments from stormwater basins when site is stabilized and as required. Will
these basins serve as temporary sediment traps during construction?
2. Show temporary practices like sediment traps, stockpile areas and all concrete washout areas
located away from low points of drainage.
3. Reference SWPPP and soil de-compaction criteria.
C-170- landscape Plan
Debbie LaBreche, P.E., City Engineer
City of Saratoga Springs
November 3, 2023
1. Tree CC is shown on plan but not in plant schedule. Please clarify.
2. We recommend a light overlay of utility piping be shown and check to ensure trees are at least
10’ offset from them.
C-500 Typical Site Details
1. We recommend dumpster concrete pad extend at least 2’ outside of enclosure in front where
refuse truck dynamic forces usually destroy asphalt. Add pad dimensions.
2. Add the word compacted to all sub-bases?
3. What are dumpster enclosure wall and door materials?
4. Verify height of collapsed bollard as it may be 3-inches plus?
C-501-Typical Site Details
1. Show sub-base and backfill materials for Quad grinder pump.
2. Recommend a note be added that E-1 Representative check out installation prior to/during
station testing.
3. We recommend use of E-1 stainless steel curb box/stop with integral check valve in lieu of
something intended for water services.
C-503-Typical Site details
1. Are impermeable liners proposed due to groundwater depth?
2. The criteria for the planting soil has been revised via NYSDEC. High silt and clay percentages have
not worked well in favor of a mix of AASTM C-33 sand mixed with compost in a 1:3 ratio. Please
confirm.
3. Show all chamber and pipe inverts in sub-surface stormwater system plan. Only inlet manhole is
so labeled.
4. Provide dimensions and cover model number for inspection port detail.
5. Add note for soil de-compaction to detail 10 regarding topsoil/seed/mulching.
SWPPP
1. Complete Notice of Intent (NOI).
2. There seems to be some discrepancies’ regarding high groundwater, unknown separation to
groundwater and if infiltration is proposed at bio-retention and chamber system. The modeling
shows not infiltration values but section 3.2 and 3.3 discusses shallow groundwater and
infiltration respectively. Please clarify.
3. Separation fabrics or impermeable liners are noted in chamber and bio-retention details are
typically tight and not as permeable as filter fabrics. Neither are conducive to infiltration.
Debbie LaBreche, P.E., City Engineer
City of Saratoga Springs
November 3, 2023
4. Peak elevations for 10 and 100 year storm events for these practices are below the bottom of the
basins for some reason. Does the modeling utilize the SCS Type II distribution for a 24-hr storm?
The modeling indicates storm intensity for a duration of 6 minutes and perhaps under estimating
the total runoff. Please clarify.
A word version of his letter has been provided to assist with the response letter to these comments with
subsequent 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