HomeMy WebLinkAboutWPO202100061 Review Comments WPO VSMP 2021-12-21County of Albemarle
m COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Project title:
Project file number:
Plan preparer:
Owner or rep.:
Plan received date:
Date of comments:
Reviewer:
VSMP Permit Plan Review
Midway Solar
W PO-2021-00061
Hewitt Solutions, PLLC
Ricky Hewitt [ricky@hewittsol.com]
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative
Andrew Cotter [acotter@mycvec.com]
9 November 2021
21 December2021
Matt Wentland
401 McIntire Road, North Wing
Charlottesville, VA 22902-4579
Telephone: 434-296-5832
WWW.ALBEMARLE.ORG
County Code section 17-410 and Virginia Code §62.1-44.15:34 requires the VSMP authority to
act on any VSMP permit by issuing a project approval or denial. This project is denied. The
rationale is given in the comments below. The VSMP application content requirements can be
found in County Code section 17-401.
A. Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
The SWPPP content requirements can be found in County Code section 17-405. A SWPPP
must contain (1) a PPP, (2) an ESCP, (3) a SWMP, and (4) any TMDL measures necessary.
1. A SWPPP packet was not found in the submitted material. A template can be found on
our website. The completed DEQ Registration Form will need to be included in the
SWPPP and the Certification from the template will need to be signed.
B. Pollution Prevention Plan (PPP)
The PPP content requirements can be found in County Code section 17-404.
1. A PPP was not found in the submitted materials. A copy should be included in the
SWPPP.
C. Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP)
VSMP Regulation 9VAC25-870-108 requires the VSMP authority to approve or disapprove a
SWMP. This plan is disapproved, and the reasons are provided in the comments below. The
stormwater management plan content requirements can be found in County Code section 17-
403.
1. This plan cannot be approved until the Forest & Open Space and stormwater facility
easements have been platted.
2. The following note will need to be placed on the plan:
"The SWM Forest and Open Space Easement is subject to the guidance set forth by DEQ
in the Virginia Stormwater Management Program. The areas will remain undisturbed in a
natural, vegetated state, except for activities as approved by the local program authority,
such as forest management, control of invasive species, replanting and revegetating,
passive recreation (e.g., trails), and limited bush hogging to maintain desired vegetative
community (but no more than four times a year)."
Engineering Review Comments
Page 2 of 4
3. Show the easements for the stormwater management facilities and outlet channels.
4. The minimum for proposed slopes is 2:1. Some areas were measured to be steeper.
[18.4.3.3(B)4]
5. Specify a low -maintenance ground cover for all slopes steeper than 3:1.
6. The interior slopes for basins allowed by the County are 3:1 or greater. DEQ BMP specs
state 4:1 to 5:1.
7. Include the As -built requirements on the plans.
8. A Maintenance Agreement will be required. Please contact Ana Kilmer in our office to
complete. [17-415]
9. Show/specify trash racks for pond riser orifices on the pond details.
10. Provide additional detail in DA9 where the proposed culvert is going. It appears the ditch
the culvert outfalls into leads to the basin for DA8 while the drainage area map shows it
should be going to the basin for DA9.
11. Provide profile, details, calculations, and elevations for the proposed culverts.
12. Some of the proposed ditches are steeper than the 9.5% worst case used in the
calculations. Provide additional ditch calcs, including ones for the flatter ditches. Some of
the steeper ditches may need to be riprapped, as the permissible velocity for grass lined
channels at 5-10% is 5 ft/sec. [VESCH 3.17]
13. Engineering recommends placing riprap at the ditch outfalls into the ponds to prevent
erosion. [VESCH 3.18]
14. Provide additional details on the ponds with weirs, as the location of the weir is not
shown.
15. All ponds should have maintenance access to outlet structures. Access roads should be a
minimum of 12' wide and not exceed 15%. [DEQ BMP Spec. 15]
16.One of the weirs on sheet C504 is labelled as pond 3.
17. Include the 100-yr storm elevations on the pond details. [DEQ BMP App. A]
18. The minimum top width of an earthen embankment is 8'. [DEQ BMP App. A]
D. Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (ESCP)
Virginia Code §62.1-44.15:55 requires the VESCP authority to approve or disapprove an ESCP.
This plan is disapproved, and the reasons are provided in the comments below. The erosion
control plan content requirements can be found in County Code section 17-402.
1. Include a detail for a paved construction entrance. One can be found in our Design
Standards Manual if needed.
2. Include a note on the plans that additional ESC measures not shown on the plans may be
required by the Inspector.
3. Diversion Dikes are shown flowing uphill in several areas and will need to be revised.
Sharp changes in direction should also be avoided and revised or shown in greater detail.
Riprap should also be shown at the DID outfalls.
4. Show a RWD in the drainage area for SB-9 on the existing road. Detail how the runoff
makes the turn along that road to reach SB-9 as opposed to the proposed culvert that is
directed to SB-8.
5. Show the location of the sediment basin emergency spillways. Sediment Basin spillways
constructed on fill will need to be a non -erodible material such as riprap. This should be
carried over to the permanent ponds. [VESCH 3.14]
6. Include the sediment basin details for ponds 2 and 4.
7. Show the outlet protection sizing on the plans. Show the OP on the final grading sheets.
Engineering Review Comments
Page 3 of 4
The VSMP permit application and all plans may be resubmitted for approval when all comments
have been satisfactorily addressed. For re -submittals please provide 2 copies of the complete
permit package with a completed application form.
Engineering plan review staff are available from 2-4 PM on Thursdays, should you require a
meeting to discuss this review.
Process:
After approval, erosion and sediment control and stormwater management improvements must
be bonded. The bonding process begins when the plan is approved, and the applicant submits a
bond estimate request form and fee to the Department of Community Development. A plan
reviewer will prepare estimates and check parcel and easement information based on the
approved plans. The County's Management Analyst will prepare bond agreement forms, which
will need to be completed by the owner and submitted along with cash, certificates or sureties
for the amounts specified. The agreements will need to be approved and signed by the County
Attorney and County Engineer. This may take 2-4 weeks to obtain all the correct signatures and
forms.
Stormwater Management Facilities Maintenance agreements will also need to be completed and
recorded. The County's Management Analyst or other staff will prepare the forms and check for
ownership and signature information. The completed forms will need to be submitted to the
County, who will record the agreement.
After bonding and agreements are complete, county staff enters project information in a DEQ
database for state application processing, if a DEQ permit is required. DEQ reviews the
application information based on local VSMP authority approval. At this time, the DEQ portion of
the application fees will need to be paid directly to the state. For fastest processing, this is done
electronically with the emails provided on the application. DEQ should notify applicants with
instructions on how to pay fees. When DEQ approves the application, they will issue a permit
coverage letter, which must be posted at the construction site.
After DEQ coverage is issued, via the coverage letter, the County can hold a pre -construction
conference. Applicants must complete the request for a pre -construction conference form and
pay the remainder of the application fee. The form identifies the contractor and responsible land
disturber, and the fee remaining to be paid. This will be checked by county staff, and upon
approval, a pre -construction conference will be scheduled with the County inspector. At the pre -
construction conference, should everything proceed satisfactorily, a joint VSMP and grading
permit will be issued by the County so that work may begin.
County forms can be found on the county website forms center under engineering;
httos://www.al bemarle.org/government/community-development/aooly-for/engineering-aoolications
Engineering Review Comments
Page 4 of 4
File: WPO202100061 Midway Solar review comments 12-20-21.docx