by Christopher Daily, P.E. | Mar 17, 2023
The Willows at Valley Run is currently under construction in Caln Township. Howell Engineering worked closely with the Applicant, MBID of Delaware, LLC./Ingerman, as well as Riley Riper Hollin & Colagreco, Donovan Architects, Stuart & Associates, Ingram Engineering Services, Inc., and F. Tavani and Associates, Inc. to secure Conditional and Land Development approvals. Approvals were obtained from Caln Township, PennDOT, the Chester County Conservation District, PADEP, and PA American Water.
The project consists of two (2) phases. Once both phases are complete, the community will consist of six (6) apartment buildings with four (4) buildings, each containing 24 units and two (2) buildings, each containing 12 units. In addition to the apartments, a community building will be constructed along with a basketball court, tot-lot, and barbeque area.
Due to areas of the site not having soils conducive for infiltration, a combination of stormwater facilities consisting of infiltration and the managed release concept (MRC) were designed. The stormwater management system is comprised of a subsurface infiltration bed, a subsurface MRC bed, and an above-ground MRC basin.
by Christopher Daily, P.E. | Aug 12, 2022
Construction is wrapping up for Red Clay Manor in Kennett Square Borough. Red Clay Manor consists of sixty-two (62) senior living apartments in one (1) building. The general contractor, E.G. Stoltzfus Construction (EGS), performed the site work and is expected to have it complete about 18 months after construction began. Construction was challenging for this project due to material availability and escalating costs. DL Howell assisted EGS as much as possible to keep the project moving.
Due to the limited space available on the property, DL Howell worked with EGS to develop a well-detailed, phased erosion control plan to ensure that stormwater runoff was well managed during storm events. The plan was well implemented, and the only challenge faced involved Hurricane Ida when it passed through the area less than a year ago.
The next step for DL Howell is to review the as-built plan to ensure that the stormwater management facilities were constructed per the design as required by the application for the Notice of Termination (NOT) associated with the NPDES permit.
If you need assistance developing a property, please give us a call.
by Christopher Daily, P.E. | Feb 25, 2022
The Primrose School is currently under construction in West Whiteland Township. DL Howell worked closely with the owner, Rocco Varma, as well as McMahon Associates, Stuart & Associates, Riley Riper Hollin & Colagreco, and Children’s Design Group to secure Land Development approval. Approvals were obtained from West Whiteland Township, PennDOT, Aqua, and the Chester County Conservation District.
There were many intricacies in the site design of this project that were overcome, including, but not limited to, a tight building envelope, carbonate geology, two (2) PennDOT roadways fronting the property, poor sight distance, and the requirement to incorporate an additional lane for Whitford Road into the stormwater management design, as the Township intends to widen the road in the near future.
Due to the carbonate geology, a stormwater management system utilizing the Managed Release Concept (MRC) was designed. The stormwater management system is comprised of a rain garden and a subsurface MRC facility, which conveys controlled runoff into the existing storm sewer located along Lincoln Highway. The general contractor, Old Forge Builders, intends to complete construction this summer.
by Christopher Daily, P.E. | Aug 27, 2021
John Rock, Inc.’s Building #2 is currently under construction in Sadsbury Township. The building is a replica of the 88,000 S.F. building that was constructed in 2018. D.L. Howell & Associates guided John Rock through the Land Development process for Building #1 in 2017-2018. John Rock was in need of more storage space for the finished pallets, which warranted the second building.
DL Howell worked closely with John Rock, Inc., D. Howe & Sons Construction Co., Stuart + Associates, and Gawthrop Greenwood, PC to secure Land Development approval for the second building. Approvals were obtained from Sadsbury Township, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) due to its proximity to the Chester County Airport, and the Chester County Conservation District for an NPDES permit.
The project required an intricate stormwater management design as a result of poor infiltration results along portions of the property and because it is surrounded by residential properties. The stormwater management system is comprised of a hybrid of infiltration and the managed release concept that ultimately conveys controlled runoff to an existing basin adjacent to the property. The stormwater facilities include a subsurface infiltration bed, a subsurface system utilizing the managed release concept, and two bioretention basins.
DL Howell is very appreciative to have had the opportunity to assist John Rock in expanding their business once again.
by Christopher Daily, P.E. | Feb 26, 2021
The Chester County Sports Arena (CCSA) received final Land Development approval from the Caln Township Board of Commissioners (BOC). The approval allows the conversion of the Bob Wagner’s Flooring America (Bob Wagner) building into a recreational use, the consolidation of the Bob Wagner and CCSA properties, the construction of a turf field and tennis/basketball courts, the expansion of the CCSA building, and the reconstruction of interior driveways to improve circulation. The CCSA currently operates as a summer camp for kids with outdoor amenities that include a swimming pool and ropes course. They also offer indoor ice/inline hockey and host birthday parties which are available to the public along with other programs. The approved plan will allow the CCSA to accommodate equipment for the hockey rink, expand/relocate food services and birthday party areas, and increase the number of amenities available to the campers and the public, including a trampoline park.
D.L. Howell assisted JLLAR, LLC through the Land Development process to obtain Special Exception and Conditional Use approvals, and conditional final Land Development approval with the help of Riley Riper Hollin & Colagreco, Traffic Planning and Design, Inc., PPM Design/Build, and Wetlands & Ecology, Inc. DL Howell is very appreciative to have had the opportunity to assist in the expansion of the Chester County Sports Arena.
by Christopher Daily, P.E. | Aug 7, 2020
Christian Faith Fellowship (CFF) received final approval from the Caln Township Board of Commissioners (BOC) to construct a ~15,500 S.F. church and parking lot. D.L. Howell had the pleasure of working with Pastor Ricky Wilson who founded CFF. The new church will be located off Kings Highway near the Route 30 Bypass and Reeceville Road interchange. D.L. Howell worked with CFF 15 years ago to secure a Special Exception for the Church use and Preliminary Land Development approval for a different layout, contingent on public water being available for the property. Since public water is still unavailable, the BOC issued approval to amend the terms of the Preliminary approval to permit the construction of a building smaller than 20,000 S.F. without the availability of public water. The layout was designed to provide an area for the future expansion of the building and parking lot if it is ever desired. D.L. Howell assisted CFF through the Land Development process for the new layout to obtain preliminary approval and conditional final approval with the help of Riley Riper Hollin & Colagreco and Orsatti & Stuart Associates, Inc. A Highway Occupancy Permit was obtained from PENNDOT along with an NPDES permit. Construction is slated to begin next fall. D.L. Howell is very appreciative of having had the opportunity to assist Christian Faith Fellowship in their relocation project.
by Christopher Daily, P.E. | Jan 17, 2020
Profound Technologies received final approval from the Upper Uwchlan Township Board of Supervisors to construct a 6,160 S.F. building addition. D.L. Howell had the pleasure of working with Kevin Busza, who is one of the partners of Profound Technologies. They are located near the intersection of Route 100 and Little Conestoga Road and have been in this location since 2017. Profound is an “IT” company that specializes in audio video and control system solutions for commercial, residential, government and education applications. D.L. Howell assisted Kevin through the Land Development process to obtain all the required approvals to expand his business with the help of Riley Riper Hollin & Colagreco, and Orsatti & Stuart Associates, Inc. Designing the site layout with the building addition and additional parking spaces brought along many challenges since this property was already developed with the existing building essentially in the center of the relatively small property. The required approvals from the Township included a Zoning Variance, Conditional Use, and Land Development. A Highway Occupancy Permit was also obtained from PENNDOT. Construction is slated to begin this spring and is expected to be completed by fall of this year. DL Howell is very appreciative to have had the opportunity to assist Profound Technologies in expanding their business.
by Christopher Daily, P.E. | Jul 12, 2019
All developers are aware of the dreaded bog turtles. However, there may be some that are unaware of endangered plants located in our area. The serpentine barrens are distinctive terrains located in our area that are underlain by the rock serpentinite. These barren areas consist of sparse, grassy vegetation with scattered trees. In addition, they consist of uncommon plants in Pennsylvania.
A Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) will have to be conducted if your project requires it. You may be subject to a hit from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) if your project is located within or near this terrain. The DCNR will then issue a list of the potential plants that could exist on the property which include the Serpentine Aster, Annual Fimbry, etc. If so, the next step would be to hire a biologist to survey the property to determine whether the listed plant species exist on the property. This may sound like an issue that can easily be resolved; however, the plants can only be identified during their flowering times. The flowering times range from about a five-month period all the way down to a two-month period. Some species have flowering times during the months of August and September which could cause significant delays in construction.
The DCNR will issue a clearance letter if they determine that the plant species of concern do not exist on the property. If they are identified on the property within the proposed ground disturbance area, then the DCNR will simply remove them from the property prior to construction. If they are identified on the property outside of the ground disturbance area, then the DCNR will ask the property owner to be involved in a habitat management plan to protect the plants.
Please contact D.L Howell to determine whether a PNDI will need to be performed for your property and we’ll be glad to assist you.
