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Drainage Letter Report
Date: August 28, 2013
Project: Meldrum Office Building Project No. 838-007
Fort Collins, Colorado
Attn: Mr. Wes Lamarque
City of Fort Collins Stormwater Utility
700 Wood Street
Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
Dear Wes:
This letter serves to address the stormwater impacts of the above referenced project. The site currently
consists of rooftop, concrete walks, asphalt parking area, and limited vegetation. The east half of the site
contains a vacant 2-story office building, while the west half contains the parking lot. Roof drainage from
the existing building is currently directed towards the rear parking lot. The parking lot is extremely flat
with poor drainage, but does appear to eventually drain towards the alley to the west before heading north
to Mountain Avenue. Gutter flows from both Mountain and Meldrum converge at two existing inlets at the
southwest corner of the intersection. Historic drainage patterns will generally be preserved with the
proposed redevelopment in terms of maintaining the existing outfall location at Mountain and Meldrum.
The total existing impervious area (as verified by field survey) within the limits of construction is
approximately 19,814 square-feet. Additionally, this parcel has historically paid monthly stormwater
utility fees commensurate with a fully impervious value (0.95). Even though the site is being completely
redeveloped, a variance is hereby requested to utilize the historic impervious area for which this parcel has
paid into the stormwater utility system.
The proposed redevelopment will completely remove all existing structures and on-site paving. The new
project will consist of a larger building, as well as streetscape improvements along Meldrum and a
reconstructed parking lot west to the alley. The streetscape improvements provide significant parkway
enhancements, including the replacement of existing diagonal parking spaces with a large bioretention rain
garden. The total impervious area within the limits of construction of the proposed redevelopment is
roughly 16,051 square-feet.
The total impervious area proposed with this project will be decreased by approximately 3,782 square-feet
(19,814 – 16,051). A detailed breakdown of the existing and proposed impervious areas is attached to
this letter. Since the proposed redevelopment actually results in a lower impervious area than the historic
condition, on-site detention is not required. However, water quality requirements still apply, as do Low-
Impact Development (LID) regulations pursuant to Fort Collins Ordinance No. 152, 2012. According to
said ordinance, no less than fifty percent (50%) of any newly added impervious area must be treated using
one or a combination of LID techniques; and no less than twenty five percent (25%) of any newly added
pavement areas must be treated using a permeable pavement technology. While this proposal has no
newly added impervious area or pavement, an attempt has been made to meet the spirit of Ordinance 152
to maximum extent feasible.
D:\Projects\838-007\Drainage\Reports\Drainage Report\838-007_Drainage-Letter_2013-08-28.docx Page 2 of 2
The site is divided into two primary drainage basins. The rooftop of the new office building, which will
drain east to Meldrum Street, and the rear parking lot which drains north to Mountain Avenue. The
existing rooftop currently discharges into the rear parking lot where it has a poor drainage path. This
stormwater then collects additional surface pollutants before reaching the inlet at the southwest corner of
Mountain and Meldrum. The strategy with this proposal is to ameliorate the current condition by directing
the roof water towards Meldrum Street. The vast majority of the building rooftop will be routed through
the new bioretention rain garden to be constructed in Meldrum. The water will be directed through roof
leaders and sidewalk chases into the rain garden.
Pass through runoff will head north to the historic drainage inlet. However, the bioretention rain garden is
only expected to see pass through in major storm events. Routine (first flush, 80th percentile) storms
should infiltrate through the rain garden media before being intercepted by the underdrain. The new
underdrain will connect into the gravity storm sewer in Meldrum Street. Additional details of the rain
garden can be found on the Landscape Plans, as well as the (construction) Utility Plans to be provided
during Final Design.
In addition to receiving piped roof runoff from the new office building, the bioretention rain garden will also
be designed to intercept gutter flows from Meldrum Street. This will provide significant water quality
enhancement to public stormwater previously reaching the Poudre River without any treatment at all. The
reduced impervious area and increased water quality treatment offered with the new rain garden results in
a noticeable public benefit, not only from an ecological standpoint, but from an aesthetic perspective and
pedestrian experience as well.
The other drainage improvement comes by way of the reconstructed rear parking lot. Whereas this area is
currently very flat with poor drainage, the new parking lot will be rebuilt with improved slope. Additionally,
a new trench drain and discharge pipe will be installed to provide a better outfall path. The trench drain
will discharge through an existing retaining wall to a parking lot north of the Meldrum Office Building
redevelopment. Said parking lot is under common ownership with the 111 Meldrum property, and a letter
of intent can be provided prior to hearing, if necessary. The need for a formal drainage easement will be
explored during the Final Plan process, as will the need for a continued trench drain or similar measures
north to Mountain Avenue.
In addition to the aforementioned LID rain garden, stormwater quality mitigation will be further addressed
by both temporary and permanent Best Management Practices (BMPs). During construction, the
Contractor will follow the appropriate and applicable City of Fort Collins standards for erosion and
sediment control. A comprehensive Erosion Control Plan and Report will be provided during the Final Plan
process. Post construction water quality and erosion control will be achieved by a fully established and
stabilized site. All areas disturbed during construction will receive permanent hardscape, landscape, or
building structure, not to mention the LID components.
The project site is located in the Old Town Basin, and meets all associated drainage master plan
stipulations. There are no floodplains impacting the subject property. Additional design details will be
provided during the Final Plan process. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the LID facilities will be
incorporated into the Development Agreement. The drainage outfall location at the corner of Mountain and
Meldrum will be preserved, and modifications only serve to improve the existing condition. Therefore, it is
my professional opinion that the new building and site improvements proposed with the Meldrum Office
Building redevelopment meet or exceed all applicable stormwater criteria.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or require additional information.
Sincerely,
Nicholas W. Haws, PE
Vice President