Seney Wton Road 50 Ft Buffer Narrative and Sketch 8-8-19.pdf James A. Gracia, PE
99 Glendale Street, Easthampton, MA 01027
August 8, 2019
Revisions to Original Plan Set:
NOI filed on behalf of Timothy J. Seney for 1087 Westhampton Road
In regard to work proposed within the 50’ Buffer Zone, the proposed driveway design has
been revised in order to minimize the disturbance within 50’ of the wetland boundaries.
The driveway alignment has been modified slightly in order to keep the driveway surface
proper out of the 50’ Buffer Zone. In addition, the two riprap drainage swales have also
been modified and have been realigned to keep them outside of the 50’ Buffer Zone.
As described earlier, the driveway profile had to be raised slightly at the beginning
section of driveway and then transition into a cut as it traversed up a steep incline. The
revised alignment moved the driveway approximately 5’ closer to the easterly abutter’s
property line, while still maintaining a sufficient amount of room along the property line
without impacting the abutting property.
There are still four separate incidences of disturbance within the 50’ Buffer Zone, but
they have been greatly reduced from the original proposal. As can be seen on the
attached cut from Sheet 2 of the work plans, the first disturbance consists of 610 SF
within the 50’ Buffer, as compared to the original 1864 SF of disturbance. The driveway
surface itself has been kept out of the 50’ Buffer. In addition to modifying the alignment,
the proposed grading along the initial fill section of driveway has been tightened up and
the erosion control barrier (= limit of work line) moved closer to the driveway, which will
result in less area disturbed.
The second area of disturbance now consists of 481 SF of disturbance, as opposed to the
original 2692 SF in area. This reduction in disturbance is due to moving the stormwater
drainage swale and settling pool outside of the 50’ Buffer.
The next disturbance now consists of 2352 SF, as opposed to the original 2887 SF. This
area could not be reduced as significantly as the first two areas due to the amount of fill
required along the easterly side of the driveway as it transitions up the slope. The
reduction was accomplished by pulling the erosion control barrier and limit of work line
closer to the bottom of the proposed filled slope. There were not many options available
to reduce this disturbance any further.
The final area of disturbance within the 50’ Buffer now consists of 775 SF, as opposed to
the original 2730 SF. This was accomplished by moving the drainage swale and settling
pool outside of the 50’ Buffer area. As mentioned previously, this disturbance comes
into play due to the small Isolated Vegetated Wetland, 598 SF in area. The original
wetland delineation, performed by Emily Stockman in June 2015, did not include this
small area of wetland. Evidently, she did not consider it to be a regulated wetland, for
whatever reason. The person doing the updated wetland delineation did consider it to be
regulated and flagged it as such. This small seasonal depression is the sole reason for the
last area of disturbance within the 50’ Buffer Zone.