Narrative Summary of Site Plan Changes 9.8.20 36 Hampden StSummary of Site Plan Changes, 36 Hampden Street, Northampton, MA
36 Hampden Site Plan Review Hearing Continuation, September 10, 2020
Pioneer Development
• Turning radius drawing is added to lower left of Site Plan (labeled “Parking Exit Turns”).
As shown, it is possible to turn around and stay within the property.
• Planting Plan: Added a tree (2” Cornelian Cherry Dogwood) by the trash receptacle, near
where the large Black Locust is being removed. As we are trying to maximize views, we
did not add further trees. We will make a donation as required to the City Tree Fund due
to the removal of the multi-stemmed Black Locust.
• Stormwater Plan and Details: Changed the underground storage size from 5 chambers
to 32 chambers. This mitigates all storms up to and including the 100 year storm to the
levels suggested by DPW in their comments. The control structure was reduced in size,
as well as pipe diameters, since the flows are now so minimal. Added details for
connections of the stormwater, sewer connector, clean out, and a drop structure, which
will allow us to connect to the existing stormwater without exceeding 7% pipe slope.
New HydroCad calcs and drawings submitted to DPW for their review.
• Other: Revised some of the graphic representations on all plans to show the existing
elements as 50% transparent. Increased scale of the Wetland/Delineation Plan. The
scale of the drawings remained the same throughout, because the drawing will not fit
on the max size paper allowed at the next larger "standard" scale.
• We did not address water supply connection details as the size is only estimated at this
point. We assume if the Planning Board can grant approval based on the site plan, that
they can do this conditionally regarding satisfying DPW requirements before we build,
the same as would be done regarding conservation.
• As discussed in the previous hearing, we attempted to preserve a view for 32 Hampden
St. between the buildings, and given the scale of the development (three small one-
story units being added toward the back of the site), we believe a porous design rather
than a full screening approach is most appropriate. As shown, we are able to fit a two-
foot strip of grass along most of the driveway, rather than abutting the entire driveway
directly along the property line. I contacted Claudia last week to ask if she would like us
to add a full privacy fence along this strip, which would fit entirely on our property, or,
alternatively, if she would like a full vegetative screen that straddles the two properties
(this requires more than the two-feet we have available on our property). Both of these
options, of course, will eliminate some views from her property. As a third alternative, I
proposed giving her money for landscaping on her property. I have not received a
response.