HomeMy WebLinkAbout20251108 Crescent Ave & Jefferson St Site Plan Modification Response to Review Comments
December 4, 2025
Susan Barden, AICP
Saratoga Springs Planning Board
City of Saratoga Springs
474 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
RE: Response to Review Comments
LaBella Project No. 2224112
Dear Ms. Barden:
We have received the comments below from Barton & Loguidice, and offer the following point-by-point
responses:
Comments from Barton & Loguidice, dated March 22, 2024
General
1. Comment: Response letter indicated revised survey with GC 29 is pending. Please submit
when available.
Response: The revised survey with NGVD 29 datum has been provided. The provided site plans
have also been updated to the NGVD 29 datum.
2. Comment: Response letter indicated ACOE and NYSDEC permits are still pending. Please
submit when available.
Response: The NYSDEC freshwater wetlands permit obtained for the project has been
included. An ACOE permit is not required for the project as there is no proposed disturbance
within the regulated wetland and the USACOE does not regulate a buffer area. A letter of No
Permit Required for the project from USACOE has been provided.
3. Comment: For next submission please have a PE review and sign the Water Flow Test Analysis
from M/E Engineering as well as the Labella response letter. Do the head computations
include head losses in meter and typically significant losses through backflow prevention
devices regarding fire flow demand calculations.
Response: The Water Flow Test Analysis prepared by M/E Engineering is a preliminary analysis
intended to determine the capacity of the City water system to serve the building domestic and
fire protection requirements. For the purpose of site plan review, the available fire flow can
be calculated using the hydrant flow test data provided by the City with equation 4.10.1.2 in
NFPA 291. As shown on the hydrant test log, the theoretical available fire flow is 2,010-gpm
at 20-psi residual. This information will be considered during the design of the building fire
protection systems and advanced as part of the building permit application. The comment
response letter has been signed by a PE.
4. Comment: Coordinate with the City of Saratoga Springs Water Department regarding
ownership of complete internal water distribution system and who will maintain and flush
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hydrants. Confirm backflow prevention requirements with City Engineering and water
departments. No easements are shown thus assumption is this will be privately owned. Pipe
size labeling for water main needs to be added to plans in numerous areas and where changes
in size for hydrant leads and related. Ensure water main serving all hydrant leads are 8-inch
minimum. What is the status of fire sprinkler design and computations?
Response: The City Engineering Dept and DPW were consulted and confirmed that the on-site
water distribution system inclusive of the hydrants shall be owned and maintained by Liberty
Affordable Housing, Inc. including periodic hydrant flushing.
Metering and backflow prevention will be provided inside the buildings. The design of the
building plumbing and fire protection systems will be advanced as part of the building permit
application and in coordination with the City Engineering office and water department.
Additional pipe size labels have been provided on sheet C160. All water mains serving hydrant
leads are 8”.
5. Comment: Please provide SCSD review comments and approval letter once they have verified
all requirements of SCSD rules and regulations have been met.
Response: SCSD approval letter has been included with this submission.
6. Comment: Water meter will be inside building. Provide City staff with details of layout and
meter type and how it will be read. See general comment 4 above.
Response: The design of the building plumbing and fire protection systems will be advanced
as part of the building permit application and in coordination with the City Engineering office
and water department.
7. Comment: Provide signed agreement for sidewalk on Racino property that also cover Liberty
Housing maintaining all new sidewalk along Bunny Lane.
Response: A draft of the easement agreement between Liberty Affordable Housing and the
Racino has been provided. The current project property owner is BMHD Inc. & Saratoga
Harness Racing, Inc., upon transfer of ownership, the easement will be executed by both
parties.
8. Comment: Supplement legend(s) to include meaning of DT and FH (falling head) regarding
soils investigations.
Response: The DT (deep test pit) and FH (falling head infiltration test) symbols have been
added to the symbols legend on sheet G002.
Plans
Sheets C140 and C160
1. Comment: Provide notes on discharge areas of stormwater piping at open discharge points to
include rip-rap and reference detail that could not be located contrary to response letter. Flared
end sections have been added. Add rip-rap area(s) to detail.
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Response: Riprap erosion protection (stone lined aprons) are provided at all pipe end sections.
Refer to sheet C150 for location of all stone lined aprons. Refer to detail 3 sheet C550 for
stone lined apron detail.
2. Comment: Add water main sizes for all water piping. Avoid water main 6 or 4-inch piping until
after hydrant locations are served with an 8-inch main. Show reducers and clarify water main
sizes as hydrants must receive flow from 8-inch mains minimum per 10 state standards.
Response: Water main sizes have been clarified. See sheet C160.
3. Comment: Adjust top of berm elevation of detention basin to achieve at least 12-inches of
freeboard during 100 year event. We recommend widening the overflow weirs to 16’ to
decrease the depth of spillway overflow and peak elevation. Adding spot elevations at center
of berm at top to higher than 306.25 would also help achieve desired freeboard.
Response: The detention basin design has been revised to provide 1’ of freeboard between
the 100-year storm peak elevation and the top of the berm.
Sheet C540
1. Comment: Widen overflow width as discussed above at detention basin.
Response: The detention basin design has been revised to provide 1’ of freeboard between
the 100-year storm peak elevation and the top of the berm, widening of the overflow is not
necessary to achieve this goal.
2. Comment: Consider deeper stone reservoir course for permeable pavement detail for PP-1
(0.806 acres tributary) and PP-3 (0.633 acres tributary) as peak elevations are above surface
and above stone reservoir course. If close to a drainage structure or adjacent permeable
pavement area with much lower runoff area this load could be shared. Deepening the stone
could alleviate “surcharge” for these areas.
Response: The porous pavement stone reservoir depth has been globally increased from 12”
to 18”, refer to detail 11, sheet C540. PP-1 and PP-3 peak elevations are only above the
surface and the stone reservoir course in the 100-year storm event. The peak elevation of PP-
1 exceeds the surface by less than 3” and PP-3 exceeds the surface elevation by less than
1.5”. Additionally, both of these areas have methods of overflow at the low points in the form
of catch basins or curb cuts to manage stormwater which exceeds the surface of the porous
asphalt.
Sheet C560
1. Comment: Water Main notes discuss the option of PVC C900 pipe. Supplement thrust restraint
notes to cover PVC application if option is desired. Notes currently address ductile iron pipe
only. Confirm with City Water Department pipe type.
Response: Option for PVC C900 pipe has been removed from the plans. It is intended that all
water lines be constructed with cement lined CL 52 ductile iron pipe. The City water
department has confirmed that the proposed pipe type is acceptable.
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SWPPP
1. Comment: Appendix G-Maintenance in section 1 (iii) discusses use of sand as a de-icing
material which is not recommended in porous pavement area or really any area on site as it
likely ends up clogging porous pavement where tracked or mixing with runoff. We recommend
use of salt or other soluble de-icing agent.
Response: The language in section 1.g.iii has been revised to require soluble products to be
used and disallow the use of sand as a deicing material.
2. Comment: We recommend vacuuming for dirt and grit accumulations of porous pavement in
Appendix G-2.C instead of sweeping as that can push it into the porous pavement. Blowing is
an option.
Response: The language of part 2.c.i has been revised to require vacuuming of porous
pavement and disallow sweeping.
3. Comment: Supplement Appendix G-4.g to include “unless warranted for more frequently” at
the end.
Response: The requested language has been added to part 4.g.
4. Comment: Add sediment removals from detention basin, planted depressions and structures
in description of construction stages as a separate item to ensure it occurs after stabilization
of surfaces.
Response: The description of Stage G on the Construction Sequencing Plan has been revised
to require the removal of accumulated sediment from the detention basin, planted
depressions and stormwater structures following final site stabilization.
5. Comment: The stormwater modeling for pond node DB-1 (Detention basin) shows less than 1’
of freeboard from the top of the berm and the 100 year storm event. We recommend widening
the spillway from 10-16’+ to lower flood elevation and adding spot elevations in middle of
berm to achieve 1’ of freeboard. Current 100 year flood elevation is 305.67 and top of berm
equals 306.25 resulting in 7” of freeboard. Top of berm could be a bit higher. Please clarify.
Response: The detention basin design has been revised to provide 1’ of freeboard between
the 100-year storm peak elevation and the top of the berm.
If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me at
wkubow@labellapc.com or at (518) 266-7336.
Respectfully submitted,
LaBella Associates, D.P.C.
Walter Kubow, PE
Senior Civil Engineer, Team Leader
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cc: Randell Denton – Liberty Affordable Housing, Inc.
Elizabeth Baker – Liberty Affordable Housing, Inc.
Stephanie Ferradino, Esq. – Ferradino Firm, PLLC
Steven Dodds, AIA – Phinney Design Group
Michael Phinney, AIA – Phinney design Group
Sara Drury, EIT – LaBella Associates
Courtney Davis, PE – LaBella Associates