DPW CommentsTO:
FR:
DA:
MEMORANDUM
George Kohout, Chair, Plannin
David K. Veleta, P.E., City E
March 1 7, 2023
-~
RE: File: 31 Chapel Street -3-Story Apartment Building and 2-story Business Building
-Major Site Plan
CC:
Map ID: 38A-011 & 12
file
The Department of Public Works has reviewed the above referenced application for the following items:
Traffic: Utilities:
_x_ Volume & Impact on City Street
_x_ Roadway Capacity
_x_ Sanitary Sewer
_x_Water
_x_ Adequacy of City Road Construction
_x_ Site Distances
_x_ Drainage Into City Stormwater System
_x_ Capacity of Stormwater Line
_x_Parking _x_ Northampton Stormwater Permit
_x_ Driveway Openings _ NPDES Phase II Compliance
_L Other:
The Department of Public Works has the following comments:
__ No Concerns, project will not have an impact on any items reviewed
__ Traffic Study is required
__ Roadway does not have adequate capacity to handle the additional traffic
__ Roadway is not adequately constructed to handle proposed increase in traffic
__ Site Distances are not adequate for proposed project
__ Parking spaces do not meet minimum requirements
__ Parking spaces are too close to driveway opening
__ Driveway openings are not adequate for proposed use
__ Sanitary Sewer line is not adequately sized for proposed use
__ Sewer line connection is not properly shown
__ Waterline is not adequately sized for proposed use
__ Waterline connection is not properly shown
__ City stormwater system is not adequate to handle increase in drainage
__ Stormwater system does not meet minimum requirements for reduction of Total
Suspended Solids (TSS)
__ Northampton Stormwater Management Permit has not been approved or conditions for
approved permit have not been met
_x_ Other Comments:
General
• These review comments are based on the following:
o A Permit application and supporting materials dated February 9, 2023;
o Site permit review set, consisting of 15 sheets, dated February 9 , 2023, Rev. A
0031 Chapel Street_Major Site_PB.doc Page I of4
dated March 6, 2023, prepared by R. Levesque Associates. Sheet 2 is stamped by
Mark E. Shute, PLS; sheets 3-7 are stamped by Robert M. Levesque, RLA; sheets
8 and 12-15 stamped by Felipe J. Cravo, a Massachusetts Registered P .E.
• Based on the comments below and any conditions required by a Planning permit
approval, the applicant shall submit revised final construction plans, signed and sealed by
a Massachusetts registered P .E., to the DPW for review and approval at least 15 days
prior to the issuance of any City building or construction permits.
Cover
• Parcel 38A-011 is 31 Chapel Street; parcel 38A-012 has no assigned address; and parcel
38A-013 is 33 Chapel Street. There is no proposed work at 33 Chapel Street shown on
the plans. Please remove this parcel and address from the final plans.
• The address for the proposed project will be 31 Chapel Street. Coordinate with the DPW
regarding approval of sub-addressing within the parcel for the apartment units and the
office building.
General
• Plan sheets C-3 through C-7 should reference relevant details on sheets D-1 through D-6.
Sheet C-2, Construction Notes
• Site Utility #12 indicates warning tape 2 feet below finish grade but Trench Detail on D-3
indicates 1 foot above pipe. Please revise to be consistent with the detail on D-3 .
Sheet C-3, Demolition & Removal Plan
• Show existing double yellow centerline on Prince Street and indicate removal for 10 feet
to accommodate proposed crosswalk.
Sheet C-4, Layout
• The crosswalk location and connection relative to the existing conditions on the north
side of Prince Street needs to be clarified.
• Provide an ADA compliant ramp and tactile warning pad on the north side of Prince
Street.
• Crosswalk markings shall be thermoplastic, 10 feet long, and 2 feet wide at 4 feet on
center with pedestrian crossing signage per DPW standards. Provide a detail based on
DPW sample.
• Remove proposed crosswalk markings across the proposed curb cut.
• Please identify the location and extents of bituminous curb.
• The intent of the proposed steel bollards at the east end of the site is unclear with no
information on C-7 as indicated.
• The proposed 4-foot wide paved apron for trash/recycling pickup with pedestrian access
appears to be contiguous with an existing curb cut for 33 Chapel Street. More detail is
needed here:
o Is this a proposed third curb cut?
o There is no sidewalk along Chapel Street. How is this for pedestrian access?
o The reconfigured driveway for 33 Chapel Street needs to be resolved, and granite
curbing provided.
0031 Chapel Street_Major Site_pB.doc Page 2 of 4
o If the trash/recycling apron is allowed, provide loam and seed in any remaining
space between it and the 33 Chapel Street driveway.
Sheet C-5, Grading
• The proposed 6-foot wide by 24-foot long panel at the sidewalk west of northerly curb cut
that incorporates both detectable warning panels is flush with the roadway. Provide
additional grading detail demonstrating that this area will have positive drainage.
• The Construction Period Erosion Control Plan in Appendix E of the Stormwater Drainage
Report includes control measures such as straw bales, filter sock and temporary sediment
basins that are not shown on Sheet C-5. Additional information regarding when and
where these measures may be required should be included in the plans and documents.
Sheet C-6, Utilities
• The Proposed Drain Manhole 1 (PDMH-1) located in the City roadway layout is specified
as nyloplast. The plans should be revised to specify this structure as a standard precast
concrete manhole or alternatively the nyloplast structure can be moved outside of the City
layout.
• Provide one water service tap for fire for the apartment building that is a minimum of 10
feet from the existing domestic service tap for the business building. Provide a valve at
the property line for fire service and branch the domestic service downstream with a
separate valve. Revise pipe sizes as needed. Provide DI pipe for 4" or greater lines.
Sheet C-7, Landscaping
• Heritage River Birch trees east of northern curb cut are too close to the existing storm
water infiltration trench and will compromise its integrity. Plant only shrubs in this area.
Sheets D-1 through D-6, Details
• Bituminous Concrete Paving -Provide 2 .5" base and 1.5" top courses for driveway
entrances within the right of way.
• Provide pedestrian crossing sign details in accordance with DPW standards.
• Provide a crosswalk detail in accordance with DPW standards.
• Provide a bollard detail if applicable.
• Provide a detail for the trash/recycling enclosure
• Standard Sewer Manhole -Provide brick invert as shown on the Precast Concrete
Manhole detail. Clarify the difference between sewer and drain manholes.
• The Inlet Control Structure (PICS-1) detail on Sheet D-5 specifies invert elevation of the
12" Inlet at 207.75' which is incorrect. The elevation should be consistent with the PICS-
1 invert elevation specified in the Subsurface Infiltration Basin Detail on Sheet D-5 and
on Sheet C-6.
Stormwater Management
• The Stormwater Drainage Report includes general NRCS soils information indicating
Hinckley loamy sand. The Soil Boring/Well logs confirm fine sand and a remark that the
soil was moist at 9.5 ', however the seasonal high groundwater elevation has not been
determined. Prior to construction, a test pit must be completed in the location of the
proposed subsurface infiltration basin to confirm that the estimated seasonal high
0031 Chapel Street_Major Site_PB.doc Page 3 of4
groundwater elevation is at least two feet below the bottom of the proposed infiltration
system. The results of the test pit and any changes to the design of the stormwater system
must be submitted to the DPW for review and approval.
• The property owner(s) must inspect and maintain the proposed stormwater management
system to ensure that the system continues to function according to design and in good
working condition. The final Long-Term Operation & Maintenance Plan as approved by
the Northampton DPW must be recorded at the Registry of Deeds.
• The Stormwater Drainage Report includes Appendix I: Northampton DPW Inspection
Schedule Checklist. This inspection checklist is not necessary. Please note that the
Northampton DPW is not responsible or required to inspect the site under the proposed
schedule. The owner of the property and their engineers and contractors are responsible
for inspecting, maintaining and constructing the erosion and sediment control measures
and stormwater management system in accordance with the approved plans and
documents.
0031 Chapel Street Major Site PB.doc Page 4 of4