Engineering ResponsesC.T. MALE ASSOCIATES
Engineering, Surveying, Architecture, Landscape Architecture & Geology, D.P.C.
50 Century Hill Drive, Latham, NY 12110
518.786.7400 FAX 518.786.7299 www.ctmale.com
Civil Engineering • Environmental Services • Survey Services • Land Services • Architecture •
Energy & Building Systems Services • Electrical Engineering
January 13, 2022
Ms. Laura Moore
Land Use Planner
Town of Queensbury
742 Bay Road
Queensbury, New York 12804
Delivered via e-mail: lmoore@queensbury.net
Re: Hoffman Development Corp.
Town of Queensbury, Warren County, New York
Queensbury Ref #SP71-2021
Chazen Project #92100.50
CT Male Project: #21.1302
Dear Ms. Moore:
Please find the below information attached for your review:
• Fifteen (15) copies of the Traffic Evaluation.
• Fifteen (15) copies of the Draft Stormwater Maintenance Agreement.
• Two (2) full size Thirteen (13) reduced (11”x17”) copies of the revised Site Plan Set.
• Two (2) copies of the full SWPPP and Thirteen (13) copies of the SWPPP Summary.
Please find the below comments from Chazen review letter of November 12, 2021, and the
responses and/or revisions noted in italics for your review:
1. According to the site plan review application, the proposed site improvements will
disturb approximately 1.8 acres and requires the preparation of a SWPPP in accordance
with the NYSDEC SPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction
Activity (GP-0-20-001) that includes erosion and sediment controls and post-construction
stormwater management and erosion and sediment control features proposed for the site
are offered below:
Response: Comment acknowledged.
2. Section 179-6-080 of the Town Code states, “the stormwater drainage plan shall analyze the
impacts of the project using at least … a fifty-year return interval storm for commercial or
industrial projects,” and, “All stormwater management plans shall be designed so that post-
development run-off rates and volumes are equal to or less than pre-development run-off.” The
Applicant has provided a 1-, 10-, and 100-year stormwater analysis for review.
Response: The 50-year storm has been added to the SWPPP and Stormwater modeling.
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January 13, 2022
Laura Moore
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3. As the Applicant states in section 4.2 of the SWPPP, a determination letter from the NYS
OPRHP shall be included with the SWPPP when correspondence is received.
Response: The NYS OPRHP determination letter is included in the revised SWPPP. The
determination letter dated December 29, 2021 stated that no properties, including archaeological
and/or historic resources, listed in or eligible for the New York State and National Registers of
Historic Places will be impacted by this Project.
4. As states in section 4.3 of the SWPPP regarding the practice identified as Detention Basin,
“the 100-year storm does not exceed the capacity of the basin…” As modeled in the 100-year
design storm, the Detention Basin has a peak water surface elevation of 477.04’—below
the rim elevation of the outlet control structure. Applicant to clarify.
Response: The SWPPP has been revised and the 100-year storm does not the exceed the capacity of
the basin.
5. The infiltration basin and permeable pavement worksheets use an infiltration rate of 4.00
inches per hour. Stormwater practices are modeled with an infiltration rate of 8.00 inches
per hour as confirmed in section 4.1 of the SWPPP. The infiltration test reports included
with the SWPPP identify a field-tested infiltration rate of 24 inches/2 minutes (720 in/hr).
An infiltration rate greater than 5.00 inches per hour requires pretreatment of 100% of the
WQv. Applicant to clarify.
Response: The SWPPP and modeling have been revised to use the conservative 8 inches per minute
instead of the faster field results. This will help ensure that the site will function as designed for
many years. The site has been designed to treat 100% of the WQv either by the use of HTU units
or the pervious pavement.
6. According to the site plans, two hydrodynamic treatment units are proposed for
pretreatment from P1B prior to Infiltration Basin #1. No details for these units are shown
on the site plans, and they are not included in the stormwater model. The Applicant shall
include details for the construction of the practice in the plans and include in the
stormwater model. Information pertaining to the treatment capabilities of the HTUs shall
be included for review.
Response: The HTU details have been added to the plans and included in the stormwater modeling.
Information of the treatment capabilities is included with this submission.
7. The worksheets identify a basal area of 1,900 SF for the infiltration basin, while it is
modeled (and portrayed on the site plans) with a basal area of 1,196 SF. Applicant to
clarify.
Response: The SWPPP and plans have been revised and the basil area now matches on the
worksheets, site plans and stormwater modeling.
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January 13, 2022
Laura Moore
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8. Section 6.3.1 of the NYS SMDM states, “infiltration trenches and basins shall be setback 25
feet downgradient from structures [.]” The site plans indicate that the Infiltration Basin is
within 20 feet of the proposed building. Applicant to revise the practice to meet the
SMDM.
Response: The infiltration basins have been revised/moved to meet the 25’ separation requirement.
9. Permeable pavement is identified as an infiltration practice and shown on the site plans;
however, no details specifying stone storage depth, choker, course, pavement thickness,
etc. is shown. The Applicant shall include details for the construction of the practice in the
plans.
Response: A detail of the permeable pavement has been provided on sheet C-507 for review.
10. The worksheets identify a stone storage depth of 0.5 feet (between the underdrain invert
and bottom of practice) for the porous pavement. In the stormwater model, that depth is
0.1 feet (477.20’ invert of underdrain, 477.10’ bottom of practice). Applicant to clarify
design.
Response: A detail of the permeable pavement has been provided on sheet C-507 for review and
shows the 0.5’ stone storage below the invert. The stormwater modeling has been revised to match
the worksheet.
11. The permeable pavement system is modeled with exfiltration; however, excluding the
surface area of 2,703 SF appears to indicate that no exfiltration occurs from the practice,
and all water captured by the practice will be conveyed to the Detention Basin. Applicant
to clarify if this is an infiltrating practice.
Response: The permeable pavement modeling was revised and now the calculations/modeling show
it functioning as an infiltration practice.
12. It does not appear that the permeable pavement treatment area includes measures to
handle overflows. Section 5.3 of the NYS SMDM suggests, “as a back-up measure in case of
clogging, permeable paving practices can be designed with a perimeter trench to provide some
overflow treatment should the surface clog. Pavement systems should include an alternate mode,
such as a trench for runoff to enter the subbase reservoir. […] Raised inlets may be required in
curbed applications.” The Applicant should revise the design of the permeable pavement
system to include a means for runoff to enter the reservoir system in case the pavement
becomes clogged.
Response: 2’ wide curb breaks have been added to the perimeter of the permeable pavement parking
area with adjacent 2’ wide stone trenches for overflow. These trenches will be connected to the
gravel/underdrain below the pervious pavement.
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13. Outlet control structures for the Detention Basin and Infiltration Basin model the grates as
outflows; however, no consideration is made to conveyance beyond the structure.
Although the system does not reach the water surface elevations for flow to enter the
control structures as presently modeled, the modeled system should include the
conveyances to the Design Points. Applicant should revise the model to include this
additional information.
Response: The stormwater modeling has been revised to model past the control structures as
requested. The outlet structure of the drywell/infiltration basin has the 12” pipe modeled as a
discharge from the basin to the existing catch basin at the Weeks Road Route 9 intersection. The
emergency outflow from the small stormwater basin to the northwest of the building is modeled as
overflowing basin and into CB3. I note that no flow exits the small stormwater basin in any of the
modeled storm events.
14. Labeling within the stormwater model (P1Cnamed twice – proposed conditions), and the
site plans (CB4 labeled twice –sheet C-103) should be corrected.
Response: The plans have been revised as requested.
15. Values listed in answering question 37 of the NOI appear incorrect. Total Extreme Flood
Control pre-development rate is incorrectly shown as 591 cfs – it is 5.91 cfs. Applicant to
clarify.
Response: The draft NOI has been revised as requested.
16. The Applicant shall revise the silt fence detail provided to match the latest specifications
provided in the NYS SSESC, to include the slope length/fence length spacing
requirements.
Response: The silt fence detail on sheet C-508 has been revised to show the slope length/fence
length spacing requirements
17. In accordance with Town Code section 147-10.D, the Applicant shall submit a stormwater
maintenance agreement.
Response: A draft stormwater maintenance agreement has been submitted for review.
Please find the below comments from Community Development Department Staff Notes letter of
November 16, 2021, and the responses and/or revisions noted in italics for your review:
Staff Comments
• Location-The project site is located at 919 State Route 9 on a 2.01 acre parcel.
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Response: Comment acknowledged.
• Arrangement- The site has an existing building to be removed. The site is to be redeveloped
with a new carwash building and a vacuum station for 18 self-serve units.
Response: Comment acknowledged.
• Site Design- The parcel is a corner lot with frontage on Route 9 and Weeks Road. The parcel
access is proposed at Weeks Road with a proposed interconnected access from an adjoining
lot to Route 9. The lot is to maintain some of the existing vegetation on the West property
line and install new vegetation
Response: The existing vegetation along the west property line will remain as much as
possible and an 8’ fence is proposed to further buffer the residential property to the west of
the site.
• Building – The building is to be 5,750 sq ft and the car wash will be accessed from the east
side of the building existing to the west.
Response: Comment acknowledged.
• Site conditions-The project includes utilizing an adjacent interconnect as this was included in
a previous site plan that it would be developed when this lot would be developed. The
applicant has provided plans showing the work to be completed for the interconnect. The
applicant to provide supporting information to complete the interconnect work.
Response: The proposed interconnect will consist of a 24’ wide asphalt access drive from the
Hoffman site to the existing drive for the site north of the site. The applicant is currently
working with the adjoining property owner regarding this interconnect. I note the traffic
evaluation prepared by VHB does not recommend/require any modifications to the existing
intersection.
• Traffic- The applicant has indicated there is to be 45 spaces – 18 vacuum parking spaces, 9
stacking spaces, 11 additional stacking spaces, 1 handicap space. (Required is 3 stacking
spaces per bay.) The plans show a sidewalk to be installed in the right of way. The applicant
to supply supporting information for work in the right of way.
Response: The proposed sidewalk will be 5’ wide and approximately 370’ long along the
northerly side of Weeks Road. A detail of this sidewalk is on sheet C-501.
• Grading and drainage plan, Sediment and erosion control-The plans show grading and
erosion control for the site development. Stormwater management is shown with detention
basins. The project includes porous pavement in the areas of the vacuum spaces. A reminder
a stormwater management maintenance agreement will be required. The project was referred
to engineering for review and comment.
Response: A draft stormwater maintenance agreement has been submitted for review.
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January 13, 2022
Laura Moore
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• Landscape plan-The landscaping plan shows only the information for the building area
landscaping. The applicant will need to update the plans to reflect existing and proposed
vegetation for the entire parcel. The required buffer on the west property line does not
indicate the landscaping to be installed in the buffer area. A buffer area is expected to be 50
ft in width but is at the discretion of the board and may or may not include fencing as part of
the buffer.
Response: Town Code requires a Type A buffer along the rear property line adjacent to the
Multifamily development. A Type A buffer is required to be 10 feet in width with one tree for
every 100 feet of length (4 trees in this case). The applicant will plant 4 trees if required,
however, this would require going into an already treed area. The parking/vacuum area is
proposed to be 50’ from the western property line. The existing vegetation in this area will
remain as much as possible and an 8’ fence is proposed to further buffer the residential
property to the west of the site.
• Site lighting plan-The lighting plan only indicates light pole locations. Application to
provide light fixture type, pole height and building light information. In addition, a
photometric plan will be required.
Response: A lighting plan, Sheet L-1, with photometrics has been provided with this
submission. This plan has been revised to show the 2.5 average footcandles in the parking
areas as discussed during the November Planning Board meeting.
• Site details- The project includes utilizing an adjacent interconnect as this was included in a
previous site plan that it would be developed when this lot would be developed. The
applicant has provided plans showing the work to be completed for the interconnect. The
applicant to provide supporting information to complete the interconnect work.
Response: The proposed interconnect will consist of a 24’ wide asphalt access drive from the
Hoffman site to the existing drive for the site north of the site. We reiterate as the comment
notes, this connection was part of the approved site plan for the adjacent property. The
applicant is currently working with the adjoining property owner regarding this
interconnect. The pavement details are included on the plans.
• Utility details-The project includes connections to municipal sewer and water.
Response: Comment acknowledged.
• Signage-The elevation plans show a sign on the building and the site plan shows a free-
standing sign location. The sign information will need to be updated with dimensions,
material, and lighting information.
Response: Signage will be typical of other Hoffman Carwash facilites throughout the region.
The previously submitted building elevation render show the building signs and the
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monument sign detail has been provided. A variance application is being submitted for the
requested signage.
• Elevations-The elevations indicate the building cupola is to be 37 ft 8 inches and the main
building is to be 28 ft 8 1/8 inches. The colors are to be grey, white trim, and grey blocking
on the bottom of the building.
Response: Comment acknowledged.
• Floor plans-The floor plans show the wash tunnel, equipment room, office area, and electric
room. The elevation orientations will need to be revised.
Response: Elevation orientations will be revised.
• Waivers-The applicant has not requested waivers however additional information for lighting
landscaping and sign will be necessary.
• The waivers requested–Staff finds it reasonable to request a waiver as these items are
typically associated with commercial projects. The applicant has provided information
for g. site lighting, h. signage, j. stormwater, k. topography, l. landscaping, n traffic, o.
commercial alterations/ construction details, p floor plans, q. soil logs, r.
construction/demolition disposal s. snow removal
Response: Comment acknowledged.
• Pursuant to Section 179-9-050 the Planning Board may grant waivers on its own
initiative or at the written request of an applicant. The Board is to review the waivers and
to determine if they are to be granted.
Response: Comment acknowledged.
Respectfully submitted,
Francis G. Palumbo, RLA, Project Manager
C.T. MALE ASSOCIATES
Engineering, Surveying, Architecture, Landscape Architecture & Geology, D.P.C.