421 North Main St_IncompleteNORTHAMPTON DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
NOTICE OF INCOMPLETE APPLICATION
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PERMIT
Project I Site Name: _V~A'--=-"M=ed=i=ca=l_,Ce=n=te=r ____________________ _
Project Street or Location I Assessor ID: 421 Nonh Main St, Leeds, MA I Map 11. Parcel 001
Applicant Name:_.B'°"'n....,·c=a=n,_,I'""'n""'c _________________________ _
Applicant Address/Phone: 155 State Street, Springfield. MA I 413-737-4515
Owner Name: VA Medical Center
Owner Address/Phone: 421 Nonh Main St. Leeds. MA I
Application Submission Date:__,,3;.L../-<--9'--'/2=0""-"l.,..2 ___________________ _
The Northampton Department of Public Works (DPW) is in receipt of the application for a
Stormwater Management Permit for the above referenced project. The application has been
found to be incomplete. The timeline for application review and final action by the
Northampton DPW will begin once a complete application has been submitted. The
application is incomplete for the following reason(s):
__ The Stormwater Management Permit Application is not complete and/ or signed:
__ The Permit Review and Inspection Fee is not paid.
__ The Operation, Maintenance, and Inspection Agreement was not submitted
and/ or is not complete.
___x__ The Stormwater Management Plan and Erosion and Sediment Control Plan are
not complete. The following information has not been submitted and/ or is not
complete:
• Documentation must be provided detailing how the project will meet the current
Massachusetts Stormwater Management Standards as defined and described by the
current Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook The DPW requests that the applicant
submit a completed "Checklist for Stormwater Report" that is available from the
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's (MA DEP) website as well as
all necessary documentation supponing how the project will meet the MA Stormwater
Management Standards panicularly for the proposed increase of impervious surface.
• There are building and parking lot construction projects that are currently taking place or
have recently been completed at the VA Medical Center that have not been included in
the site plans submitted for this project. The DPW will require that all construction
projects at the VA Medical Center site that will disturb an area and have occurred
recently, are taking place now, or are planned to take place in the next five years should
be included in the plans and documents submitted for this Stormwater Management
Permit application. For example, a large area was cleared and a new building and tank
were recently constructed in the area near the access drive to the southern end of the site
and a park and ride lot is under construction in another area of the site. Any change in
impervious surface or modification to drainage systems from these projects should be
represented in the plans and documents submitted for the Stormwater Management
Permit application.
• Documentation must be provided of Low Impact Development (llD) measures that
were considered for the proposed project as required in the current MA DEP Checklist
for Stormwater Report.
• The drainage system for the VA Medical Center is proposed to be updated with larger
pipes, additional catch basins, and a new detention basin. The drainage calculations only
provide an analysis of drainage flows to the proposed detention basin on the eastern side
of the site and drainage flows from a portion of the western side of the site. The
drainage calculations do not include the main access drivewaywhere drainage
improvements are proposed or the southern and northern portions of the facility. These
calculations do not show overall how the system will function and what the peak flows
will be to drainage points at the property lines or to water bodies. The applicant must
provide drainage calculations that show pre and post construction peak flows for all
portions of drainage system being modified for the 1, 2, 10 and 100 year 24 hour design
storms.
• There has been a recurring problem with flooding during high intensity storm events in
North Main Street (Route 9) in the area of roadway from the VA access drive southeast
approximately 350 feet. During these storm events large flows of water travel down the
eastern side of the access drive and the vegetated area to the east of the access drive and
flows into North Main Street. The City's drainage system in North Main Street is not
sized to convey this flow which results in ponding and a public safety problem in the
roadway. The current capacity of the stormwater system at the VA Medical Center
appears to not have the capacity to convey flows safely to the pond and brook located
near North Main Street. An inspection by the DPW of the VA drainage outfall to this
pond found a 10 inch vitreous clay pipe in poor condition. Reconstruction of the
existing drain line from the proposed DMH at STA 6+71, 40' LT to the outfall has not
been proposed as part of this project. The DPW requests that the applicant confirm that
the capacity of the proposed and existing drain line from the proposed detention basin
to the outfall to the pond is sized to safely convey the proposed flow up to a 100 year
design storm. Additional reconstruction of the existing drainage system from the main
access road down to the pond near Route 9 may be necessary to allow the drainage
systems to function correctly.
• The Plans and other documents that have been submitted specifying the design for the
proposed Detention Basin must be revised to include or correct the following items:
o All dry detention basins must have an emergency spillway capable of bypassing
runoff from large storms without damaging the impounding structure.
o The drainage calculations should analyze the outlet control structure of the
detention basin with discharge to a correctly sized and sloped culvert.
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o The grading of the detention basin and sediment forebays should be clarified
with contour line labels and spot grades.
o Specification for final stabilization of the detention basin and forebays, such as
loam and seed should be added to the plans
o Detail or specifications of the sediment forebays
o Anti-seep color or diaphragm for the outlet pipe
o Detail of the Outlet Control Structure needs invert elevations and other
specifications
o The design of the proposed detention basin must provide and specify an access
route for maintenance.
• The plans and documents submitted do not include specifications or calculations
showing how the proposed project will meet the stormwater recharge requirements as
required by the Massachusetts Stormwater Management Standards.
• TSS removal calculations must be provided documenting TSS removal efficiencies as
required by the Massachusetts Stormwater Management Standards.
• Soils investigation (by a Certified Soil Evaluator or Certified Professional Soil Scientist)
must be conducted and documentation submitted to the DPW including test pits or
other tests in the areas where construction of detention or infiltration practices is
proposed. All detention areas must be constructed with the bottom no deeper than the
elevation of the estimated seasonal high ground water and all infiltration system must be
constructed with at least two feet of separation between the bottom of the structure and
the elevation of the estimated seasonal high ground water.
• A stormwater operation and maintenance schedule for all proposed stormwater
structures on the site must be submitted.
• A detail has not been included for the proposed Oil/Water Separators.
• Snow storage areas must be indicated on the plans.
• The Plans do not clearly specify which structures of the existing drainage system will
remain and which will be removed or plugged and abandoned. Plans must be clarified.
• The proposed DMH at STA 6+71, 40' LT does not specifyan invert out elevation or
size of the discharge drain line.
• An Illicit Discharge Compliance Statement as discussed in the Massachusetts Stormwater
Handbook must be submitted.
• To the extent feasible, the applicant must verify that stormwater flows are connected to
the existing or proposed stormwater system and not to the sanitary sewer system.
Please submit the necessary items to the Northampton Department of Public Works as soon as
possible to start the application review process. For additional information contact Doug McDonald
at 413-587-1582 or e-mail at dmcdonald@nohodpw.org.
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