HomeMy WebLinkAboutNarrative Response to Engineering Comments10-28-2020 1091 Stoneridge Drive • Bozeman, Montana • Phone (406) 587-1115 • Fax (406) 587-9768
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Civil/Structural Engineering and Surveying
October 30, 2020
Lance Lehigh, P.E.
City of Bozeman
Engineering Department
20 E. Olive Street
Bozeman, MT 59718
RE: Response to Westside Flats Master Site Plan Review Comments Concept Plan Review
Comments (#20224)
Dear Mr. Lehigh:
This letter is to provide a narrative response to the Engineering Review provided on September 2,
2020. Responses to comments are in italics below.
Concurrent Construction
1. Bozeman Municipal Code (BMC) 38.230.100.A.12 - As presented, the phasing plan is difficult
to follow given the complexity and scale of the development. Please provide a detailed phasing
plan accompanied with exhibits that show how the development intends to build out prior to
Master Site Plan approval. The phasing plan should clearly show sanitary sewer, water, storm,
street, buildings, trails, and other critical infrastructure that is needed to support the
development.
C1.1 is now included with the submittal that shows infrastructure to be installed with the
three phases of the site plan. The water and sewer mains will be installed with Phase 1 of the
Development. A 24’ all weather access road will be provided for maintenance through Phases
2 and 3 prior to their construction. The linear trail system along the east side of the property
will also be installed with Phase 1.
Easements
1. Bozeman Municipal Code (BMC) 38.410.060 - Please provide a standalone existing survey,
which identifies all easements, right-of-way, property lines, etc. In addition, provide a separate
exhibit identifying all proposed easements that would be provided with the master site plan (i.e.
utility, public access, public street and utility).
The standalone survey is provided that shows the existing easements on the property. The
proposed easement exhibits are included with easement drafts.
Civil/Structural Engineering and Surveying
2. BMC 38.410.060 - All public easements must be provided with the master site plan submittal
in a clean draft format for review. Easements will be deemed inadequate if they are not in a final
draft format (signatures are not required for the draft review). Easements must be stamped by a
licensed professional surveyor. If for any reason a public easement must be modified based on
review of subsequent site plan submittals, the applicant must request a release and reconvey of
any portion of the dedicated easements.
This item is noted. These Easements for the trail, public access and utility and the utility
easement are included with this submittal. It is our understanding that these easements are
to be provided with the Subdivision Exemption Application for the amended plat for this
project. However, since the easement pertain mostly to the proposed improvements with this
master site plan, we’ve included them with this submittal as well. The applicant understands
that that a release and reconveyance may be necessary during subsequent site plan
submittals.
3.BMC 38.410.040.D Rights-of-way for pedestrians - Thirty foot Public Access easements are
required for the two east/west trails through the property from May Fly Street and the open
space lot between May Fly Street and Dragon Fly Street. The easements may not contain parking
stalls or structures within them. The easements will extend north and south to encompass the
proposed trail.
This item is noted. The thirty‐foot public access easements were updated to encompass the
trails and do not contain any parking stalls or structures.
4. BMC 38.410.060.B.2.b Easements - 10 foot utility easements are required for dry utilities on
the Master Plan submittal. Contact Dylan Swanson with Northwestern Energy for utility
easements – dylan.swanson@northwestern.com, 406-497-3663.
A draft of the proposed 10‐foot utility easement is included for review with the submittal.
Floodplain
1. The West Side Flats Flood Hazard Evaluation report was reviewed. Comments are attached
to the end of this memorandum and must be addressed prior to Master Site Plan approval.
This item is noted. We are updating the flood hazard evaluation to address the attached
comments. The updated flood hazard evaluation report is forthcoming.
2. BMC 38.600.090.B.4.a Requires the flood hazard evaluation be certified by a Professional
Engineer registered in the state of Montana.
This item is noted. The forthcoming report will be certified by a Professional Engineer
registered in the state of Montana.
Lighting
Civil/Structural Engineering and Surveying
1. (DSSP) Section XII Lighting Design Criteria - Designers shall submit to the City a
calculation summary table for each calculation grid and City of Bozeman Standard
Specifications for Lighting Materials and Installation Revision March 2020 include the average
illuminance or luminance, maximum illuminance or luminance, minimum illuminance or
luminance, and Avg:Min ratio. Calculated values may vary from criteria by no more than 10%
above or below.
a. Missing streetlights along Fallon and West Babcock
Lights along Fallon and Babcock have been added to the Master Site Plan to be completed
with Phase 1. The spacing of the lighting was based on the streets local and collector
designations respectively.
Stormwater
1. DSSP II.B. Storm Drainage Plan -The applicant must include a drainage system design and
maintenance plan with the Master Site Plan application given the groundwater complexity
associated with the Site. The City's requirements are contained in the Design Standards and
Specifications Policy and the City modifications to Montana Public Works Standard
Specifications. The drainage plan must also address stormwater comments 2-5.
A stormwater management report is included with the submittal per the City’s requirements.
A draft of the stormwater maintenance plan is also included with this submittal.
2. DSSP Section (A) (4) Water Quality - The applicant must include a drainage plan with
post- construction storm water management controls that are designed to infiltrate,
evapotranspire, and/or capture for reuse the post-construction runoff generated from the first
0.5 inches of rainfall from a 24-hour storm preceded by 48 hours of no measurable
precipitation. For projects that cannot meet 100% of the runoff reduction requirement, the
remainder of the runoff from the first 0.5 inches of rainfall must be either: a. Treated onsite
using post-construction storm water management control(s) expected to remove 80 percent
total suspended solids (TSS); b. Managed offsite within the same sub-watershed using post-
construction storm water management control(s) that are designed to infiltrate, evapotranspire,
and/or capture for reuse; or c. Treated offsite within the same subwatershed using post-
construction storm water management control(s) expected to remove 80 percent TSS.
a. The existing stormwater facility (Detention Pond #4) has standing stagnant
groundwater that does not drain. Please explain how the facility meets the water quality
requirements
The updated stormwater design will not contribute runoff to the existing Detention Pond
with the exception of a small area of open space surrounding the pond. In our discussions
with you regarding this pond it was decided that if the proposed development did not
contribute runoff to the proposed pond then the pond would not need to be upgraded with
this project.
Civil/Structural Engineering and Surveying
The stormwater runoff generated on site will meet the water quality requirement by retaining
all runoff onsite in a series of retention ponds. The facilities are designed to
evapotranspiration and /or infiltrate the entire design storm runoff volume.
3. DSSP Section (C) Water Quantity - The applicant must provide on-site detention with
release rates limited to predevelopment runoff rates. Retention ponds must be sized based on
a 10- year, 2-hour storm intensity.
a. The applicant must confirm that the design satisfies on-site detention with release
rates limited to predevelopment runoff rates. Retention ponds must be sized based on a 10-
year, 2-hour storm intensity. Currently, the existing facility (Detention Pond #4) has standing
water and cannot drain.
The master site plan storm water design report will no longer utilize the existing pond.
The proposed stormwater facilities are all retention ponds. The required release rate no
longer applies.
4. Montana Post-Construction Storm Water BMP Design Guidance Manual Seasonal High
Groundwater - The proposed project is located in an area that is known to have seasonally high
groundwater. Engineering recommends that the applicant confirm that groundwater will not
impact the function or maintenance of the proposed facilities. Industry guidance recommends
a three-foot minimum separation from the bottom of the proposed facility to the underlying
groundwater table.
a. The applicant must confirm groundwater elevations throughout the
development.
b. Existing stormwater infrastructure located throughout the Norton Ranch
Development is significantly impacted to local high groundwater conditions. The applicant
is encouraged to utilized low-impact-development stormwater solutions given the
extremely high groundwater conditions located throughout the development.
The stormwater management report addresses the groundwater concerns. Observations
from projects surrounding West Side Flats are included to show that stormwater facilities
will not be negatively affected by high groundwater. The bottom of all of the retention
facilities are designed to be 1.5’ or less below existing grade to avoid groundwater
inundation.
5. DSSP Section (D) Discharge Structures – Ponds shall be designed so as to avoid long-term
standing water in the pond.
a. The existing facility has long-term standing water which can create water quality
issues such as increases in downstream temperatures as well as an incubator for bacteria
and parasites. The proposed facilities need to be able to drain or an alternative solution
should be proposed.
The proposed retention facilities are designed to infiltrate runoff and will not have a release
or drain component to them. However, as mentioned previously, the proposed facilities are
set above the assumed high groundwater table to avoid inundation with groundwater.
Civil/Structural Engineering and Surveying
6. BMC 40.04.700.A.4.a Requirements. Runoff from untreated snow storage cannot be
discharged offsite. Ensure the snow storage areas slope to areas that are treated.
The snow storage areas are in areas that flow to proposed retention ponds.
Transportation
1. BMC 38.220.080 (A) 2.g Traffic Generation - The applicant must submit a peak hour trip
generation value to the City to determine whether a traffic impact study (TIS) is required prior
to Master Site Plan approval.
Peak hour trip generation numbers were provided the City of Bozeman engineering staff via
email on 3 separate occasions to determine if a TIS would be required for this project. At
the time of this submittal we have not received a response regarding the need for a TIS, or
whether a waiver would be granted.
The Trip generation calculations for the proposed project are provided below. Please review
and let us know if these calculations warrant a TIS for this project, or if a waiver can be
granted.
132 apartment units
Daily trips = 132 x 5.44 = 718
Peak AM Trips = 132 x 0.36 = 48
Peak PM Trips = 132 x 0.44 = 58
2. BMC 38.520.040.C.5 Non-motorized circulation and design. The applicant is advised that
the existing trail/proposed trail network creates a mid-block crossing on West Babcock. The
applicant must install a City approved pedestrian crossing, signs, and curb paint. In addition,
the applicant will need to conduct an analysis either with the TIS (if warranted) or stand- alone
on what type of crossing (RRFB (Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon) or HAWK (High- Intensity
Activated crosswalk) beacon) is needed to provide safe movement across West Babcock. The
crossing must be shown on the Master Site Plan application and completed with Phase 1 of
development.
Sanderson Stewart was contracted to provide a warrant analysis on the pedestrian crossing
at West Babcock Street. Their enclosed analysis determines that a crossing signal is not
warranted at this time.
3. BMC 38.400.080 (A) Sidewalks - A City sidewalk must be constructed along West
Babcock and Fallon Street frontage along with Phase 1 of the development. The minimum
width of a sidewalk is defined in DSSP Section IV.B.3.
The sidewalks are now called out to be constructed with Phase 1 of the development to meet
the minimum width of a sidewalk as defined in DSSP Section IV.B.2.
Civil/Structural Engineering and Surveying
Water
1. DSSP Section (V) (A) Main Size - A water design report must be prepared by a professional
engineer for the proposed project. The water distribution system must be designed to meet
the maximum day demand plus fire flow and the peak hour demand. A water design report was
not provided with the Master Site Plan submittal.
A water design report is included with the submittal.
2. BMC 38.410.070. and 38.230.100.A.12 - Each phase of development must connect to the
water distribution system at a minimum of two points to allow a redundant feed (per City of
Bozeman Engineering DSSP Section V.A. 5).
The water main will be installed with Phase 1 of the project. The water main connects to
existing water main at 3 locations (May Fly Street, Dragon Fly Street, Fallon Street) to
provide redundant feed to the property.
3. Water Riser Room - The applicant is advised to appropriately size the mechanical room to
fit the water service line lay length. See the attached pdf showing the recommended mechanical
room sizes based on pipe size lay lengths. Please contact John Alston (jalston@bozeman.net)
the City’s water and sewer superintendent if additional questions arise.
The water riser rooms are dimensioned on C3.0,C3.1, and C3.2 . The water riser rooms meet
the necessary dimension for the pipe lay lengths.
Water Rights
1. BMC 38.410.130 - Water rights and/or payment of cash-in-lieu of water right is required
prior to Phase 1 site plan approval for the demand on the City’s potable water system. The
applicant is advised to contact Brian Heaston in the City’s Engineering Department to discuss
the required water rights analysis.
The CILWR determination has been confirmed by Brian Heaston. The email
correspondence is included with this submittal.
Wastewater
1. BMC 38.410.070.A - As presented, wastewater generated from the subject property will
flow into the existing Norton Ranch Lift Station. The applicant will need to verify that this lot
was originally allocated capacity at the lift station and that the subject property can be
adequately served by the Norton Ranch Lift Station prior to Master Site Plan approval.
Civil/Structural Engineering and Surveying
a. Norton Ranch Lift Station - The applicant is advised that the Norton Ranch Lift
Station has been designed to be reconfigured to allow for phased development of the
Norton Ranch Subdivision. The exact configuration is dependent on the phase and number
of dwelling units to be served. Currently, there are three pumps at the lift station with a
single principal pump that can operate under different hydraulic conditions that the station
experiences, specifically column separation after pumping cycles.
DEQ Circular 2 requires that multiple pumps must be provided and of the same size. Units
must have capacity such that, with any unit out of service, the remaining units will have
capacity to handle the design peak hour flow.
The Design Report for Proposed Capacity Upgrades to the Existing Norton Ranch Lift
Station completed by C&H Engineering and Surveying, Inc. in July 2020 account for the
Westside Flats project in the flow calculations. The proposed upgrades would provide
adequate capacity and redundancy so that the lift station could serve the proposed Westside
Flats projects.
2. DSSP Section (V) (B) Sanitary Sewer System Design Criteria - The applicant must provide
an estimate of the peak-hour sanitary sewer demand for the different phases certified by a
professional engineer for the proposed project prior to Phase 1 site plan approval. This
information is used to verify downstream sewer capacity as well as keep the City’s wastewater
hydraulic model updated.
The estimate of peak-hour sanitary sewer flow is provided in Appendix C of the water and
sanitary sewer design report.
Recommended Conditions of Approval
1. If not already filed for the subject site, the applicant will need to provide and file with the
County Clerk and Recorder's office executed Waivers of Right to Protest Creation of Special
Improvement Districts (SID’s) for the following:
a. Street improvements to Fallon Street from N Laurel Parkway to N Cottonwood Rd
including paving, curb/gutter, sidewalk, and storm drainage
b. Street improvements to W Babcock Street from N Laurel Parkway to N Cottonwood Rd
including paving, curb/gutter, sidewalk, and storm drainage
c. Intersection improvements to North Cottonwood Road and W Babcock Street
d. Intersection improvements to North Cottonwood Road and Fallon Street
The document filed must specify that in the event an SID is not utilized for the completion of
these improvements, the developer agrees to participate in an alternate financing method for
the completion of said improvements on a fair share, proportionate basis as determined by
square footage of property, taxable valuation of the property, traffic contribution from the
development, or a combination thereof. The applicant must provide a copy of the filed SID
waiver prior to Master Site Plan approval.
A draft of the waiver is included with the submittal.
Civil/Structural Engineering and Surveying
If you require any further information, please give me a call at (406) 587-1115.
Sincerely,
Ethan Cote, P.E.