HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230233 Station Lane Site Plan SEQR CRLL.AN SINC3 ENGINEERING, PC
August 31, 2023
Susan B. Barden, AICP
Principal Planner
City of Saratoga Springs
474 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
RE: Faden — West Avenue Site Plan
City of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, New York
Project #20230233
Dear Ms. Barden:
2452 STATE ROU-FE 9
SUITE 301
MALTA, NY 12020
T (51 B) B99-5243
F (5 1 B) B99-5245
Lansing Engineering is pleased to submit this letter in response to the May 24, 2023 comment letter
prepared by Robert J. Titus, PE, regarding the above noted project. The following summarizes the
comments followed by our response. Please note that this letter addresses those comments that are
relevant to the SEQRA review only. A response to the remaining comments is forthcoming and will be
provided at a later date.
SEC R Long Form, Part 1:
22. Comment: Item B, Government Approvals: Due to the proposed discharge into the wetland at the
southeast corner of the site, the applicant should confirm whether a wetland disturbance permit is
required, including if only the buffer is disturbed.
Response: Horizontal directional drilling will be utilized to install the storm sewer discharge
pipe that traverses the NYSDEC 100' adjacent area, thereby avoiding any impacts to the
NYSDEC 100' adjacent area located on the project parcel. The pipe will daylight within the
previously disturbed Station Lane right-of-way, where some grading and erosion control
measures will be needed. The 100' adjacent area does not extend into the right-of-way since
that area has been previously disturbed. The proposed grading and riprap at the point of
discharge will remain outside of the delineated NYSDEC wetland. Since there are no
anticipated disturbances to the wetland or the 100' adjacent area, a wetland disturbance
permit is not required.
23. Comment: Item D.2.b: if the answer to the previous comment is yes, this item will need to be revised.
Response: There are no anticipated impacts to the NYSDEC wetland or the associated 100'
adjacent area. The answer to Item D.2.b should remain as "No".
24. Comment: Item D.1.b indicates that the total disturbance is 1.45 acres. The table in Item E.1.b
indicates only a total of 1.42 acres. In addition, the SWPPP indicates that 1.44 acres will remain as
Faden — West Avenue Site Plan
August 31, 2023
impervious surface while this table in the EAF indicates 1.24 acres. The applicant should clarify these
discrepancies.
Response: The areas for the impervious, forested, and meadows/grassland covertypes were
incorrectly reported in the Item E.1.b table. The previously reported forested area in the
"Acreage After Project Completion" column included the 0.03 acres of NYSDEC wetland on
the parcel, which resulted in inaccurate calculations for the remaining covertypes. The
covertype areas have been corrected in the revised EAF included with this letter and they
now conform with the 1.45 acres of disturbed area indicated in Item D.1.b. As noted in the
NYSDEC Full EAF Workbook, these areas pertain to the project parcel that is owned or
controlled by the project sponsor and as such do not account for the work proposed in the
right-of-way.
The impervious area indicated in the SWPPP accounts for all new impervious surfaces,
including those areas in the public right-of-way. Since there are new impervious surfaces
proposed in the right-of-way, it is expected that the SWPPP impervious area is greater than
the areas indicated in the Full EAF that pertain to the project parcel only.
25. Comment: Item E.2.p: Due to the forested conditions, the applicant should have a qualified
professional verify that the site is not a roosting area for protected bats. Typically, projects that
include significant tree clearing such as this are required to limit the tree cutting activities to the
portion of the year that does not affect bat habitat. Tree clearing restrictions should be shown on the
plans if deemed relevant.
Response: A habitat assessment will be completed to determine if there are suitable
roosting areas for protected bats present on the project parcel. The habitat assessment will
be completed prior to the September 7, 2023 Planning Board meeting and the results of the
assessment will be reported to the City when they are available. If the assessment indicates
the presence of suitable habitat for protected bats, the plans will be revised to include a
note stating the relevant tree clearing restrictions.
As mentioned, a response to the remaining review comments, along with a revised set of plans, will be
provided under separate cover at a later date. If additional information is required, please contact our office
at your earliest convenience. Thank you.
Sincerely,
LANSING ENGINEERING, RC
Michael T. Vaillant, PE
CC: File