HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/08/01 - 2nd Stormwater Peer Review - - 364 JOHNSON STREET %�.
Horsley Wiften Group
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SUStainable, Ehvirownental Solutions
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August 1, 2025
Ms. Jean Enright, Planning Director
Planning Department
Town of North Andover
120 Main Street
North Andover, Massachusetts 01845
Re: Second Stormwater Peer Review
Proposed Improvements—364 Johnson Street
North Andover, Massachusetts
Dear Ms. Enright and Board Members:
The Horsley Witten Group, Inc. (HW) is pleased to provide the North Andover Planning Board with
this report summarizing our second review of the Watershed Special Permit Application for the
proposed improvements at 364 Johnson Street in North Andover, MA. The plans were prepared by
John J. McDonnell, MSCE, PE, PLS on behalf of Gergory and Melissa Buitkus (Applicant). The
project proposes a 376 square foot (sf) expansion of the existing two-story dwelling within the 325-
foot"Non-Discharge Buffer Zone" to Bordering Vegetated Wetlands (BVW). The stormwater
management for the proposed improvements includes a 160-gallon mini drywell and a subsurface
system for infiltration on the east side of the existing building. The existing footprint of the house is
890 sf. The proposed footprint of the expanded house is 1,266 sf. A total increase of approximately
376± sf of impervious surface area is proposed within the 26,571-sf parcel. It appears that the total
land disturbance will be less than 43,560 sf.
The residential lot is located within the Watershed Protection District and was created in 1964,
before October 24, 1994. The lot is located within the urbanized area and the area of disturbance is
less than 1 acre. The project is proposed within the 325-foot Non-Discharge Buffer Zone from the
edge of a BVW. The BVW is located along the western side of the roadway at 365 Johnson Street.
The closest point of the proposed expansion to the BVW is approximately 260 feet. The proposed
limit of disturbance is greater than 100 feet from the wetland resource area. In accordance with
§195-4.19 B.(2)(a) of the North Andover Zoning Bylaws, any surface or subsurface discharge of
stormwater within the Non-Discharge Buffer Zone is only allowed after a special permit has been
granted by the North Andover Planning Board.
The following additional documents and plans were received by HW in response to our initial review
letter dated July 7, 2025:
• Letter to Planning Department, regarding Initial Stormwater Peer Review Response,
prepared by John McDonnell, dated July 21, 2025 (3 pages);
• Copy of HW's initial review letter with responses from Applicant added (5 pages);
• Stormwater Management System Maintenance & Inspection Log (2 Pages);
• Stormwater Management System Diagram (1 Page);
Town of North Andover
August 1, 2025
Page 2of5
• Field Infiltration Test Report, 364 Johnson Street, North Andover, MA, prepared by John J.
McDonnell, MSCE, PE, PLS, dated June 8,2025 (5 pages);
• HydroCAD 100 Year, prepared by Greg Buitkus, printed July 17, 2025 (17 pages);
• Stormwater Management Report, 364 Johnson Street, North Andover, MA, prepared by John
J. McDonnell, MSCE, PE, PLS, dated May 20, 2025 (13 pages); and
• Plan of Land, 364 Johnson Street, North Andover, MASS, prepared by John J. McDonnell,
MSCE, PE, PLS, revised July 14, 2025 (Sheets 1 and 2 of 2).
Stormwater Management Design Peer Review
In accordance with §195-4.19.B.(4)All construction in the Watershed Protection District shall comply
with best management practices for erosion, siltation, and stormwater control in order to preserve
the purity of the groundwater and the lake;to maintain the groundwater table;and to maintain the
Oration and purification functions of the land.
HW has the following comments and recommendations regarding the proposed stormwater
management design.
The following comments correlate to our initial review letter dated July 7, 2025. Follow up comments
are provided in bold font.
1. The Applicant has provided a Plot Plan of Land. HW recommends adding a north arrow to
the plan and providing a legible signed and stamped copy of the plan to the Planning Board.
August 1, 2025: The Applicant has added a north arrow to Sheet 1 of 2 of the Plan of
Land provided. HW appreciates that a second sheet at a scale of 1" = 10` has been
included. However, we recommend that a north arrow also be added to Sheet 2 of 2.
2. The Applicant has called out erosion controls and notes on the Plan. A callout for a silt sock
is noted but it is unclear where it is located. It is also unclear where stockpiling onsite will
occur and the limits of the disturbance for work. HW recommends showing the limits of
disturbance and locations of silt sock in addition to where the stockpiles will be located
during construction. HW recommends that the erosion controls be added along the tree line
parallel to the eastern property line to protect the wetland from sediment transported by
construction equipment onto the existing driveway. HW further recommends that erosion
controls be extended along the tree line to the north of the house to protect the area from
sediment transported by construction equipment using the proposed construction access.
August 1, 2025: The Applicant has clarified the location of the silt sock, onsite
stockpiling and the limit of disturbance. No further action is requested.
Town of North Andover
August 1, 2025
Page 3of5
3. HW recommends that the Applicant callout a defined construction access point to the work
onsite. HW recommends that the Applicant consider construction matting or other measures
to minimize the tracking of sediment offsite per§250-25.E.(l 3) of the North Andover Code.
August 1, 2025: The Applicant has provided the location of the construction access
point on the Plan of Land. The Applicant states that construction matting will be
provided. No further action is requested.
4. HW recommends that the Applicant provides a path and mechanism to divert
uncontaminated water around the disturbed areas per§250.25.E.(l 0) and §250-26.A.(27)of
the North Andover Code.
August 1, 2025: The Applicant has added an earthen berm to divert uncontaminated
water around the disturbed area. No further action is requested.
5. HW recommends that the Applicant includes measures to maintain the infiltration capacity of
the existing soils where infiltration is proposed per§250-25.E.(12) of the North Andover
Code. The USDA soil maps list the soil type for this site as hydrologic soil groups `C' and `D'
which are poor for infiltration. HW also recommends that the Applicant provide the field
permeability tests to confirm the 24 inches/hour infiltration rate documented.
August 1, 2025: The Applicant conducted a soil infiltration test on June 8, 2025 and
determined that the rate of infiltration is 24.3 inches per hour(i1ph). The Applicant
provided a Field Infiltration Test Report within its response package and has labeled
the test hole on the Plan of Land. The exfiltration rated used in the HydroCAD model is
appropriate. No further action is requested.
6. The Applicant has provided some results of the HydroCAD report and analysis for the
proposed system. HW recommends that the Applicant provides the entire HydroCAD output
for the 100-year event and includes the stage storage tables for the infiltration system that
will be used in the drawdown calculations.
August 1, 2025: The Applicant has provided the HydroCAD output for the 100-year
event and included the stage storage tables for the infiltration system as suggested.
The proposed infiltration system should manage the impervious area directed to it as
designed. No further action is requested.
7. The Applicant has provided a drywell to provide pretreatment prior to the infiltration system.
A drywell also infiltrates water. It is not clear how the drywell serves as a `pre-treatment' to
the infiltration rather than additional storage. Furthermore, it appears that any Total
Suspended Solids (TSS) being treated in the drywell system would clog the system over
time. HW recommends that the Applicant provide a sump for solids to settle within the
drywell or providing a deep sump catch basin instead of a drywell as part of the proposed
project.
August 1, 2025: The Applicant has provided a detail of the drywell illustrating a 24-
inch sump. No further action is requested.
Town of North Andover
August 1, 2025
Page 4 of 5
8. HW notes that the Applicant has described the proposed 376 sf addition in the Watershed
Permit Application. HW notes that roof runoff that is being directed to the subsurface
chamber system is considered clean and does not need pretreatment.
August 1, 2025: No further action is requested.
9. HW further notes that the Applicant has included 900 sf of future paved area in the
Stormwater Management Report. However, this area is not shown on the plans or in the
Permit Application. The driveway runoff should include pretreatment prior to infiltrating.
August 1: The Applicant no longer plans to include the future 900 sf of paved area
within the jurisdictional area of the lot. No further action is requested.
10. HW recommends that the Applicant includes the bottom of stone, bottom of chamber, top of
chamber, top of stone and proposed surface elevation on the Cultec Recharger Detail
provided.
August 1, 2025: The Applicant has provided the bottom of stone, bottom of chamber,
top of chamber, top of stone and proposed surface elevation of the Cultec Recharger
Detail on the provided Plan of Land. No further action is requested.
11. HW recommends that the Applicant illustrate the drainage connection from the roof
downspouts and from the proposed driveway surface. As shown, it is not obvious how
stormwater will get into the drywell or into the Cultec chambers.
August 1, 2025: The Applicant has illustrated the drainage pipe connection from the
roof downspouts. HW understands that the paved driveway is no longer included in
this submission. HW recommends that a detail of the downspout is provided.
12. HW recommends that the Applicant include any proposed grading on the site plan. It
appears that the Cultec recharge system proposed will require a change in surface grades.
August 1, 2025: The Applicant has provided the proposed grading for the project
including the area over the Cultec recharge system. It appears that the Limit of
Disturbance outline should be expanded to include the proposed contours.
13. The Applicant has provided an Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Plan as part of the
drainage report. HW recommends that the Applicant includes an inspection and maintenance
log and a simple sketch that clearly labels the stormwater practices as part of the O&M Plan
for use by the homeowner.
August 1, 2025: The Applicant has provided an inspection and maintenance log and a
system diagram of the proposed stormwater system. The purpose of the proposed
sketch is for the homeowner to be able to locate the stormwater practices in future
years. The drawing with a scale of 1" = 10' will be useful to the homeowner and should
be attached to the O&M Plan.
Town of North Andover
August 1, 2025
Page 5 of 5
Conclusions
HW recommends that the North Andover Planning Board require the Applicant to address the few
outstanding comments as part of its permit review process. We appreciate the opportunity to assist
the Town of North Andover with this project review. Please contact Janet Bernardo at 508-833-6600
or at ibernardoCcD-horsle)Mitten.com if you have any questions regarding these comments.
Sincerely,
HORSLEY WITTEN GROUP, INC.
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Janet Carter Bernardo, P.E. Laney Wyatt
Principal Staff Engineer
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