HomeMy WebLinkAboutFile Documents.975 King St.0043-2020-BRES (31)P.O. Box 3901
Eagle, Colorado 81631
YARNELL CONSULTING &
CIVIL DESIGN, LLC
(970) 323-7008 · 8/27/2020
229 Midland Ave.
Basalt, Colorado 81621
975 King Street (Parcel 3, Boundary Agreement Plat [Book 13, Page 35]) Page 1 of 2
Jack Danneberg
City of Aspen Engineering Department
201 N. Mill Street, Suite 101
Aspen, Colorado 81611
Jack.Danneberg@CityOfAspen.com
Subject: 975 King Street (Parcel 3, Boundary Agreement Plat [Book 13, Page 35])
Variance Request for Water Service Depth
Jack:
I have been in discussions and meetings with the city’s engineering and parks departments
regarding the redevelopment of 975 King Street (Parcel 3, Boundary Agreement Plat [Book 13, Page
35]). This project requires new wet (sanitary sewer and water) and dry (natural gas, electric,
communication, and cable) utilities be constructed within a 20-foot utility easement across an
adjacent property (Lot 1). Unfortunately, numerous large trees on Lot 2 immediately adjacent to
said easement limit the ability to utilize the full 20-foot-width due to root zones. An extensive
quantity of correspondence has occurred between me, city parks, city engineering, and Aspen
Consolidated Sanitation District (ACSD) to develop utility designs that strive to accomplish every
stakeholder’s requirements. The current horizontal layout reflects these discussions.
The depth of the private sanitary sewer main has been maximized based upon the depth of the
existing public main in King Street, to which the private main must drain. The depths of the dry
utilities are governed by jurisdictional standards. In accordance with Section 3.2.5 of the city’s
Water Distribution Standards, water pipes shall be buried with a minimum seven (7) of cover
between the top of pipe and finished grade. In an email received from Mike Horvath, I was directed
to construct the water services 18 inches above the sanitary sewer main since it is not possible to
obtain the requisite 10 feet of horizontal separation. Given the depth of the private sanitary sewer
main, this would put approximately 4.25 feet of cover over the water services. Since the water
services provide both domestic and fire suppression demands, they are also governed by the
International Fire Code which trumps city standards and says water services must be buried at
least 12 inches below the frost depth. In Aspen, the frost depth is 48 inches; therefore, the pipes
must be buried with 60 inches (5 feet) of cover.
Since the cover over the proposed water services is less than that mandated by city standards, I am
hereby requesting a variance for this project so that we can follow the city’s request. The following
reflect the “Variances” procedure identified within Section 29.01.060 of the City of Aspen Municipal
Code.
1. Identify the criteria from which the applicant seeks a variance.
Due to the constraints being imposed on this project site and to meet the request of the city’s
water department, I am seeking a variance from Section 3.2.5 of the city’s Water Distribution
Standards which says water pipes must be buried with a minimum seven (7) feet of cover.
P.O. Box 3901
Eagle, Colorado 81631
YARNELL CONSULTING &
CIVIL DESIGN, LLC
(970) 323-7008 · 8/27/2020
229 Midland Ave.
Basalt, Colorado 81621
975 King Street (Parcel 3, Boundary Agreement Plat [Book 13, Page 35]) Page 2 of 2
2. Provide a written justification outlining why the criterion cannot be met.
As stated previously, the requisite 10 feet of horizontal separation between water and sewer
utilities cannot be accomplished. City staff requested the water services be as high as possible
in an effort to be above the sewer utility. The depth is governed by the International Fire Code.
3. Identify an alternate criteria or standard that is proposed to comply with the intent of the
criteria from which the variance is sought.
I understand the minimum burial depth is an effort to ensure the pipes do not freeze in the cold
months of the year. We propose to insulate the pipes where there is less than seven (7) feet of
cover to ensure they do not freeze.
4. Provide supporting documentation, including necessary calculations.
Typically, one (1) inch of insulation is equivalent to one (1) foot of soil cover. We are proposing
not less than two (2) inches of insulation to account for the two (2) feet of reduction in soil
cover.
5. Provide an explanation of any potential adverse impacts of the proposed variance to
adjacent landowners.
I do not foresee adverse impacts of this construction for adjacent landowners.
I appreciate your understanding of the difficult constraints imposed by this site and your
willingness to grant this variance request so we might meet the water department’s request for
construction.
Do let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Justin J. Yarnell, PE
Colorado PE Number 47241
Reviewed by Engineering
12/17/2020 1:40:40 PM
"It should be known that this review shall not
relieve the applicant of their responsibility to
comply with the requirements of the City of
Aspen. The review and approval by the City is
offered only to assist the applicant's
understanding of the applicable Engineering
requirements." The issuance of a permit based
on construction documents and other data shall
not prevent the City of Aspen from requiring the
correction of errors in the construction
documents and other data.