Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutConsultant Review - 195 BRIDLE PATH 8/28/2014 andover 1 East River Place Methuen, Massachusetts 01844 \ Tel, (978) 687-3828 s inc. Fax (978) 686-5100 www,andovercotisultants.com August 28, 2014 North Andover Planning Board Town Offices 1600 Osgood Street North Andover, MA 01 845 RE: Watershed Special Permit 195 Bridle Path Map 104C,Parcel 85 North Andover,MA 01845 Dear Members of the Board: Our office has completed an as-built topographic survey of the property for the project referenced above. Please find attached a plan depicting the as-built conditions titled"As-Built Topographic Plan, 195 Bridle Path,North Andover,Mass.",prepared for Robert Ercolini and dated August 19, 2014. Andover Consultants, Inc. did not prepare the site plans and was not retained to conduct inspections during construction so the attached plan depicts site features that were visible, or accessible, at the time of the as-built survey only. The Special Permit was granted"So as to allow the construction of a 2,083 sq.ft. of expansion, including a 2 story addition, a new deck and new brick patio, and new stormwater management systems within the Non-Disturbance Zone of the Watershed Protection District and related grading and landscape work within 100 feet of a wetland resource area, within the Non- Disturbance of the Watershed Protection District." The permit references a plan prepared by Merrimack Engineering Services titled"Site Development Plan of Land in North Andover, MA", dated February 16, 2005, and revised January 30, 2010 (The Plan). The decision was granted on March 2, 2010 and recorded at the Essex North Registry of Deeds on April 4, 2010 in Book 11993, Page 25. Subsequent the recording of the permit, a number of modifications to the project were made. The first, as documented by the Conservation Commission, was proposed and approved by the Commission on November 15, 2010 approving"Changes to proposed plan including stairway relocation, removal of skateboard ramp and construction of planting area, relocation of generator pad, walkway extension, installation of infiltrators, and new patio and landscaping" and referenced (The Plan),revised November 5, 2010. On July 22, 2011,the Conservation Commission approved another modification, approving"Changes to proposed plan including conversion of impervious bluestone walk to stepping.stones; reconfiguration of Bluestone patio to include planting bed; reconfiguration of wall and steps; conversion of wall at terminus of driveway to sloped lawn" and referenced (The Plan)revised May 9, 2011. This was the last noted plan revision and was used for comparative purposes with the attached as-built plan. On December 7, 2011,the Conservation Commission approved a minor (after the fact) modification for a constructed encroachment into the 50-foot No-Build Zone as documented by Greg Hochmuth of Hancock Associates in a letter,plan and photographs dated November 21, 2011. The Commission approved a"Stairway adjustment to Civil Engineers e Land Surveyors @ Land Planners andover consultant r ire . allow 2.6 feet of wall within the 50 foot No-Build Zone. (approximately 40 s.f.)", with accepted mitigation for encroachment consisting of: driveway pavement removal from No-Build Zone 225 sf, reduction of stone dust parking area by 700 sf., and addition of native planting area as shown in the referenced photographs"that showed plants to the south of the driveway in and adjacent to the former stone dust turnaround footprint. The last modification to the plan was approved by the Conservation Commission on March 13, 2013. The approved modifications included: "Removal of I dead tree within the 25'Non- Disturbance Zone, removal of 2 trees within the existing yard area (in f ont of the hemlock hedge, and installation of porous pavers (either techno-Bloc or Uni) in current stone dust parking area". Based upon my comparison of the last plan prepared by Merrimack Engineering Services titled "Site Development Plan of Land in North Andover, MA", dated February 16, 2005, revised May 9, 2011 with the attached as-built plan and a site inspection conducted on August 20, 2014, it is my opinion that the work conducted within the Non-Disturbance Zone of the Watershed Protection District and within 100 feet of a wetland resource area within the Watershed Protection District was completed in reasonable compliance with the approved plan, as modified, with the following deviations noted for your information. • A proposed planting bed within the patio behind the dwelling was not constructed. • A pebble bed with a crossing footbridge was constructed along the south side of the driveway, a portion of which is within the 100-foot buffer zone. This landscaping feature was not depicted on the design plan. • The generator pad was relocated outside of the buffer zone and installed on the northerly side of the dwelling. • The porous pavers to be placed within the stone dust area, as noted in the March 13, 2013 modification, were not installed. • There is no surface evidence of the installation of the leaching cistern systems. Mr. Ercolini informs me that they were constructed. On behalf of the Applicant, Robert Ercolini, we respectfully request that the Board release the performance bond posted for the project. Should you require any additional information, or have any questions concerning this submittal,please feel free to contact us. Thank you. Sincerely, j ANDOVER CONSULTANTS,INC. James S. Fairweather Il,P.E. Project Engineer Enclosure Cc Robert Ercolini