NEW SMITH form-aab-variancePage 1 of 6 Rev, 01/10
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Public Safety
Architectural Access Board
One Ashburton Place, Room 1310
Boston Massachusetts 02108-1618
Phone: 617-727-0660
Fax: 617-727-0665
www.mass.gov/dps
Docket Number
____________
(Office Use Only)
APPLICATION FOR VARIANCE
In accordance with M.G.L., c.22, § 13A, I hereby apply for modification of or substitution for the
rules and regulations of the Architectural Access Board as they apply to the building/facility
described below on the grounds that literal compliance with the Board's regulations is
impracticable in my case.
PLEASE ENCLOSE:
1) A filing fee of $50.00 (Check/Money Order) made payable to the “Commonwealth of
Massachusetts” and all supporting documentation (e.g. plans in 11” x 17” format,
photographs, etc.). In addition, the complete package (including plans and
photographs) must be submitted via one compact disc.
2) If you are a tenant seeking variance(s), a letter from the owner of the building
authorizing you to apply on his or her behalf is required.
3) The completed “Service Notice” form provided at the end of this application certifying
that a copy of your complete application has been received by the Local Building
Inspector, Local Disability Commission (if applicable), and Local Independent Living
Center for the city/town that the property in question resides in. A list of the local
entities can be found by calling the Architectural Access Board Office or the Local
City/Town Clerk. For a list of the Local Independent Living Centers you can either call
the Architectural Access Board Office or visit the Massachusetts Statewide
Independent Living Council website at http://www.masilc.org/membership/cils.
1. State the name and address of the owner of the building/facility:
Smith College
c/o Peter Gagnon, Capital Construction Director
Facilities Management
126 West Street
Northampton, MA 01063
E-mail: pgagnon@smith.edu
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Telephone 413-585-2406
2. State the name and address of the building/facility:
Dewey House – Smith College
4 Neilson Drive
Northampton, MA 01063
3. Describe the facility (i.e. number of floors, type of functions, use, etc.):
3-story mixed use: primarily faculty offices with two seminar rooms
4. Total square footage of the building: 8,290 SF Per floor: 3,493 SF first floor, 3,276 SF
second floor, 1,520 third floor, full basement is limited to mechanical uses.
a. total square footage of tenant space (if applicable): not applicable
5. Check the work performed or to be performed:
___ New Construction __x_ Addition
_x__ Reconstruction/Remodeling/Alteration ___ Change of Use
6. Briefly describe the extent and nature of the work performed or to be performed (use
additional sheets if necessary):
1) The primary purpose of the project is to address critical maintenance items and
extremely deficient mechanical and electrical systems. At least 47% of the work
qualifies for the exempted work listed in section 3.3.1.
2) The secondary purpose of the project is to address access issues that are
important to the college and required by your code for this level of work. Variances
for some of this "full compliance" work are being sought.
3) There is no proposed re-programming of the interior spaces for “change of use”.
Any changes in the floor plan are strictly a result of maintenance, modernization, or
access work.
7. State each section of the Architectural Access Board's Regulations for which a variance is
being requested:
7a. Check appropriate regulations:
_____1996 Regulations _____ 2002 Regulations _____2006 Regulations
SECTION NUMBER LOCATION OR DESCRIPTION
26.0 Doors: 26.5 width, 26.6.3 pull side clearance, 26.6.4 push side
clearance 26.10.1 thresholds
27.0 Stairs: 27.1 treads and risers and 27.4 Handrails for historic curved
stair and replacement stair in tight location
28.0 Elevators: 28.1 General (access to all levels) 28.12.1 Vertical
Wheelchair Lift: Circumstances where allowed
30.0 Public Toilet Rooms: third floor toilet room only
34 Storage: 34.2 Clear floor space, existing closets to remain
8. Is the building historically significant? __x__yes _____no. If no, go to number 9.
8a. If yes, check one of the following and indicate date of listing:
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____________ National Historic Landmark
____________ Listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places
____________ Located in registered historic district
____________ Listed in the State Register of Historic Places
_1/20/12_________Eligible for listing
8b. If you checked any of the above and your variance request is based upon the
historical significance of the building, you must provide a letter of determination from the
Massachusetts Historical Commission, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125.
Attached and sent by Massachusetts Historical Commission
9. For each variance requested, state in detail the reasons why compliance with the Board’s
regulations is impracticable (use additional sheets if necessary), including but not limited
to: the necessary cost of the work required to achieve compliance with the regulations (i.e.
written cost estimates); and plans justifying the cost of compliance.
Please see attached.
10. Has a building permit been applied for? Not yet
Has a building permit been issued? ___________________________________________
10a. If a building permit has been issued, what date was it issued? _________________
10b. If work has been completed, state the date the building permit was issued for said
work: ___________________________________________________________________
11. State the estimated cost of construction as stated on the above building permit:
________________________________________________________________________
11a. If a building permit has not been issued, state the anticipated construction cost:
$2,600,000
12. Have any other building permits been issued within the past 36 months? No.
12a. If yes, state the dates that permits were issued and the estimated cost of
construction for each permit: ________________________________________________
13. Has a certificate of occupancy been issued for the facility? Previously for this building,
but not for this project.
If yes, state the date: _____________________________
14. To the best of your knowledge, has a complaint ever been filed on this building relative to
accessibility? _____ yes _____no
15. State the actual assessed valuation of the BUILDING ONLY, as recorded in the
Assessor's Office of the municipality in which the building is located: $1,037,630 (town of
Northampton. Note: since they are tax exempt, the city does not keep current with
the actual value. The college’s insurance carrier lists the building value at
$2,949,427
Is the assessment at 100%? not applicable – see note above
If not, what is the town's current assessment ratio?_______________
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16. State the phase of design or construction of the facility as of the date of this application:
Design Development
17. State the name and address of the architectural or engineering firm, including the name of
the individual architect or engineer responsible for preparing drawings of the facility:
Kraus-Fitch Architest
110 Pulpit Hill Rd., Amherst, MA 01002
Project Architect: Laura Fitch, AIA
E-mail: lfitch@krausfitch.com
Telephone: 413-549-5799
18. State the name and address of the building inspector responsible for overseeing this
project:
Louis Hasbrouck, Building Commissioner
Office of the Building Commissioner
Puchalski Municipal Building
212 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
E-mail lhasbrouck@northamptonma.gov
Telephone: 413.587.1240
Date:________________ ___________________________________________
Signature of owner or authorized agent
PLEASE PRINT:
Peter Gagnon, Capital Construction Director
Name
Smith College, Facilities Management
Address
126 West Street
Northampton MA 01063
City/Town State Zip Code
pgagnon@smith.edu
E-mail
413-585-2406
Telephone
Page 5 of 6 Rev, 01/10
ARCHITECTURAL ACCESS BOARD VARIANCE APPLICATION
SERVICE NOTICE
I, Laura Fitch, as Architect for the Petitioner Smith College submit a variance application filed with
the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board on 2/3/2012, revised 2/14/2012 to include this form.
HEREBY CERTIFY UNDER THE PAINS AND PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT I SERVED OR
CAUSED TO BE SERVED, A COPY OF THIS VARIANCE APPLICATION ON THE FOLLOWING
PERSON(S) IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:
NAME AND ADDRESS OF PERSON OR AGENCY
SERVED
METHOD OF SERVICE DATE OF
SERVICE
1
Local Building Inspector
Louis Hasbrouck, Building
Commissioner
Office of the Building Commissioner
Puchalski Municipal Building
212 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
413.587.1240
Email of all PDF
documents included in
submittal form and
revised application
2/14/2012
2
Local Disbility Commission
Laura Rauscher
Disability Services Director
Smith College
College Hall Room - 104
Northampton, Massachusetts 01063
(413) 627-1916
AND
Patty Shaughnessy
Committee on Disabilities, Northampton, MA
(413) 587-1228
Email of all PDF
documents included in
submittal form and
revised application
2/14/2012
3
Local Independent Living Center
Jim Kruidenier, Executive Director
STAVROS
210 Old Farm Road
Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 256-0190
Email of all PDF
documents included in
submittal form and
revised application
2/14/2012
AND CERTIFY UNDER THE PAINS AND PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE ABOVE
STATEMENTS TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE ARE TRUE AND ACCURATE.
________________________________________________________________________________
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Signature: Appellant or Petitioner
On the _____________________ Day of ___________________________ 20 ________________
PERSONALLY APPEARED BEFORE ME THE ABOVE NAMED
________________________________________________________________________________
(Type or Print the Name of the Appellant)
________________________________ _______________________________
NOTARY PUBLIC MY COMMISSION EXPIRES