HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDP 2023-0042; MCGERVEY ADU; UPDATE LIMITED GEOTECHNICAL EVALUTION LETTER; 2023-08-16Geotechnical • Geologic • Coastal • Environmental
5741 Palmer Way • Carlsbad, California 92010 • (760) 438-3155 • FAX (760) 931-0915 • www.geosoilsinc.com
Scott and Lori McGervey
830 Citrus Place
Carlsbad, California 92008
August 16, 2023
W.O. 7272-A 1-SC
Subject: Update Limited Geotechnical Evaluation, Design Parameters, Proposed
Additional Construction at 830 Citrus Place, Carlsbad, San Diego County,
California, Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) 206-040-31-00
Dear Mr. and Mrs. McGervey:
In accordance with your request and authorization, GeoSoils, Inc. (GSI) is providing the
following summary of our update limited geotechi:,ical evaluation for the proposed
additional construction at the subject site. The purpose of this study was to update the
preliminary geotechnical conclusions and recommendations provided in GSI (2017 [see
the Appendix]), relative to the currently proposed additional site development shown on
the architectural plans prepared by BGI Architecture ([BGI], 2023). In addition, this update
evaluation modernizes the geotechnical aspects of the I proposed development for
consistency with the 2022 California Building Code (California Building Standards
Commission [CBSC], 2022). The scope of our services included: a site reconnaissance;
limited engineering analyses; and preparation of this summary report. Unless specifically
superseded herein, the conclusions and recommendations contained in GSI (2017) are still
considered valid and applicable, and should be appropriately implemented during the
balance of project design and construction.
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
Based on our review of BGI (2023), GSI understand,s that the currently proposed site
development includes the construction of a single-story addition along the southeastern
corner of the existing residential structure. BGI (2023) also shows that the existing
detached garage will be razed and a new two-story garage and accessory' dwelling unit
(ADU) will be constructed near the southern portion of the property. The building addition
and new garage/ADU are anticipated to consist of wood framing with typical footings and
concrete slab-on-grade floors. Building loads are currently unavailable but assumed to be
typical of relatively light residential construction.
BACKGROUND GEOTECHNICAL STUDY
In Spring of 2017, GSI performed a limited geotechnical evaluation of the subject property.
The study included ·reviews of readily available published geologic maps and literature and
aerial photographs; subsurface exploration and the geologic logging of two (2)
shovel-excavated test pits' and one (1) hand-auger boring; laboratory testing of collected
soii samples; engineering analyses; and the preparation of a summary report (GSI, 2017).
In the explored areas of the property, we found 1 foot to 3¾ feet of undocumented artificial .
fill at the surface. Approximately 1 foot of colluvium was found underlying the
undocumented fill in a test pit excavated near the southwestern corner of the existing
residential structure. Quaternary-age old paralic deposits were encountered beneath the
undocumented fill and colluvium at depths ranging between approximately 2 and 3¾ feet
below the existing grades. However, the upper approximately 1 foot of the old paralic
deposits in the test pi' excavated near the southwestern corner of the existing residential
structure was weathered. Groundwater was not encountered in the test pits and boring
to the explored depths.
The undocumented fill, colluvium, and weathered old paralic deposits were considered
potentially compressible in their existing state and, therefore, unsuitable for supporting the
proposed settlement-sensitive 'improvements. We concluded that the unweathered old
paralic deposits, occurring at depths on the order of 3 to 3¾ feet below the existing
grades, were suitable bearing materials at the subject property.
Expansion index testing performed on a representative sample of the onsite soils yielded
an expansion index less than 5, which correlated to very low expansion potential (i.e.,
expansion index range of Oto 20). Sieve analysis testing conducted on a representative
soil sample indicated that the sample was composed of silty sand (Unified Soil
Classification System [USCS] designation -SM). A representative sample of the onsite
soils was also subjected to laboratory testing to evaluate corrosion potential. The test
results indicated that the sample was neutral with respect to soil acidity/alkalinity;
moderately corrosive to exposed, buried metals when saturated; presented negligible
sulfate exposure to concrete (i.e., Exposure Class SO per Table 19.3.1.1 of American
Concrete Institute [ACI] 318-14 [ACI, 2014); and contained a relatively low concentration
of soluble chlorides.
In order to mitigate the potential for the propo~ed building foundations and concrete
slab-on-grade floors to succumb to damaging settlements, GSI recommended that the new
building foundations extend into suitable, unweathered old paralic deposits. We also,,
recommended remedial grading beneath the new concrete slab-on-grade floor areas ..
Moreover, we recommended that existing building footings subjected to additional loads
• be underpinned into the unweathered old paralic deposits. 1As an alternative to remedial
grading beneath the ·new concrete slab-on-grade floors, we recommended the use of
structural slabs, designed to span between the deepened footings without relying on the
McGervey
830 Citrus Place, Carlsbad
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underlying, unmitigated soiJs for support. Lastly, we recommended that the
proposed development not surcharge the existing Caltrans retaining wall to the northeast
of the subject property by extending new building foundations below a
1: 1 (horizontal:vertical [h:v]) plane projected up and toward the subject property from the
heel of the retaining wall footing.
A copy of GSI (2017) is included in the Appendix, following the referenced documents.
RECENT SITE RECONNAISSANCE
On July 28, 2023, a GSI representative performed a visual reconnaissance of the subject
property to evaluate the c.urrent surficial conditions thereon. Based on our observations,
the surficial conditions within the proposed development areas were generally similar to
those present at the time of our field exploration performed in preparation of GSI (2017).
ONSITE SOILS AND STORM WATER INFILTRATION FEASIBILITY
According to the United States Department of Agriculture / Natural Resources
Conservation Service's (USDA/NRCS's) "Web Soil Survey" website
(http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov. usda.gov), the onsite soils consist of the Marina loamy
coarse sand, 2 to 9 percent slopes. The attributes of these soils are summarized in the
following table:
CAPACITY OF THE
SOIL TYPE LANDFORM NATURAL RUNOFF MOST LIMITING HVDROLOGIC
(MAP UNIT) SETTING DRAINAGE CLASS LAVER TO SOIL GROUP CLASS TRANSMIT WATER
(Ksat)
Marina loamy coarse
sand, 2 to 9 percent Somewhat Moderately high to
slopes Ridges excessively Medium high (0.57 to B
(USDA/ NRCS drained 1.98 inches per hour)
map symbol -MIC)
While the USDA/NAGS soil data suggest that infiltration of storm water into the onsite soils
to meet any required permanent post-construction storm water best management practice
(BMP) objectives may be feasible, it is our opinion that infiltration of storm water into the
onsite earth materials, in any volume, has a high potential to result in perched groundwater
(mounding) accumulating upon the unweathered old paralic deposits. The perched
groundwater would migrate laterally and induce settlement of existing fill soils and the
underlying low-density colluvium and weathered old paralic deposits within unmitigated
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830 Citrus Place, Carlsbad
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portions of the subject prope,rty, as well as similar soils on the adjacent properties. This
has the potential to adversely affect the existing and proposed onsite improvements and
the existing development on the adjacent properties, causing distress. Thus, the infiltration
of storm water into the onsite soils is not considered sound engineering practice and is not
recommended, from a geotechnical perspective.
UPDATED SEISMIC SHAKING PARAMETERS
The following table summarizes the updated site-specific design criteria obtained from the
2022 California Building Code (CBC), Chapter 16 Structural Design, Section 1613,
Earthquake Loads (California Building Standards Commission, 2022) and American
Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 7-16 (ASCE, 2017). The short spectral response uses
a period of 0.2 seconds.
I 2022 CBC SEISMIC DESIGN PARAMETERS I
SITE SPECIFIC
PARAMETER VALUE PER
I ASCE 7-16
Risk Category!1l I, II, or Ill
Site Class D
(Default)
Spectral Response -(0.2 sec), s. 0.873 g
Spectral Response -(1 sec), S1 0.680 g
Site Coefficient, Fa 1.2(2)
Site Coefficient, F v
2_5(3)
(Section 21.3)
Maximum Considered Earthquake Spectral 1.~29 g!4)
Response Acceleration (0.2 sec), SMs (Section 21.4)
Maximum Considered Earthquake Spectral 1.110 g(S)
Response Acceleration (1 sec),SM1 (Section 21.4)
5% Damped Design Spectral Response 0.886 g(G) Acceleration (0.2 sec), S08
5% Damped Desigri Spectral Response 0.737 g!7l
Acceleration (1 sec), s01 (Section 21.4)
McGervey
830 Citrus Place, Carlsbad
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2022 CBC or ASCE 7-16
REFERENCE
Table 1604.5
Section 1613.2.2/Chap. 20
ASCE 7-16 (p. 203-204)
✓ Section 1613.2.1
Figure 1613.2.1 (1)
Section 1613.2.1 •
Figure 1613.2.1 (2)
Table 1613.2.3(1)
Table 1613.2.3(2)
Section 1613.2.3
(Eqn 16-36)
Section 1613.2.3
(Eqn 16-37)
Section 1613.2.4
(Eqn 16-38)
Section 1613.2.4
(Eqn 16-39)
W.O. 7272-A1-SC
August 16, 2023
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I 2022 CBC SEISMIC DESIGN PARAMETERS I
SITE SPECIFIC 2022 CBC or ASCE 7-16 PARAMETER VALUE PER REFERENCE ASCE 7-16
PGAM -Probabilistic Vertical Ground
Acceleration may be assumed as about 50% 0.559 g ASCE7-16 (Eqn 11.8.1)
of these values.
Seismic Design Category
D(B) Section 1613.2.5/ ASCE 7-16
(Section t 1.6) (p. 85: Table 11.6-1 or 11.6-2)
1. Risk Category to be confirmed by the project architect or structural engineer.
2. PerTable11.4-1 ofASCE7-16. •
3. Per Section 21.3 of ASCE 7-16, if S1 ~ 0.2 then F v is taken as 2.5.
4. Per Section 21.4 of ASCE 7-16, SMs = (1.5)(805) = (1.5)(0.886 g) = 1.329 g.
5. PerSection21.4ofASCE7-16,SM1 = (1.5)(801) = (1.5)(0.737g) = 1.110g.
6. Per Section 21.4 of ASCE 7-16, S05 shall be taken as 90 percent of the maximum spectral acceleration (S.) obtaine,d from the site-
specific spectrµm at any period within the range from 0.2 to 5 seconds, inclusive.
7. Per Section 21.4 of ASCE 7-16, S01 shall be taken as the maximum value of the product TS. obtained from the site-specific
spectrum from the period within the range of 1 to 5 seconds, inclusive.
8. Per Tables 11.6-1 and 11.6-2 of ASCE 7-16, S08 (0.886 g) ~ 0.50 and S01 (0.737 g) ~ 0.2: Thus, the seismic design category
is 11D11•
UPDATED PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS-
All earthwork should be performed in· accordance with Appendix Chapter J of the
2022 California Building Code (CBSC, 2022i, the requirements of the City of Carlsbad, and
the preliminary geotechnical recommendations contained in GSI (2017). Foundation and
concrete slab-on-grade floor design and construction should conform to the requirements
of the 2022 California Building Code and the preliminary geotechnical recommendations
• provided in GSI (2017). Upon request, alternative recommendations for remedial grading
'
can be provided to avoid deepened building foundations. However, the implementation /
of the alternafo,e recommendations may require tt'le acquisition of a grading permit and the
preparation of a gradi_ng plan.
Based on our review of the footprints for the proposed building addition and garage/ADU
shown on BGI (2023), there appears to be sufficient separation from the existing Caltrans
retaining wall. Thus, the potential for the proposed building addition and garage/ADU to
surcharge the retaining wall is considered low, and the need to' deepen the building
foundations to avoid surcharging the offsite wall is not considered warranted at this time.
Any proposed ancillary site improvement (driveway, walkways, patios) underlain by
potentially compressible undocumented fill, colluvium, and weathered old paralic deposits
may experience distress resulting from adverse settlements. Thus, these imp~ovements
may require increase maintenance and repairs, and have a reduced service life if remedial
earthwork is not performed. This should be disclosed to all interested/affected parties.
McGervey
830 Citrus Place, Carlsbad
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It is possible that some differential movement may occur between the existing residential
structure and the proposed building addition, especially during a seismic event. Thus, the
project structural engineer should consider designing the interface between the existing
and new construction for differential movement on the order of at least ¼-inch.
PLAN REVIEW
Final project plans (grading, precise grading, foundation, landscaping, etc.), should be
, reviewed by this office prior to construction, so that construction is in accordance with the
conclusions and recommendations of this report and GSI (2017). Based on our review,
supplemental recommendations or further geotechnical studies may be warranted.
LIMITATIONS
The materials encountered on the project site and used for our analysis are believed
representative of the area; however, soil and bedrock materials vary in character between
excavations and natural outcrops or conditions exposed during earthwork construction.
Site conditions may vary due to seasonal changes· or other factors.
Inasmuch as our study is based upon our review, engineering analyses, and laboratory
data, the conclusions and recommendations presented herein are professional opinions.
These opinions have been derived in accordance with current standards of practice, and
no warranty is express or implied. Standards of practice are subject to change with time.
This report has been prepared for the purpose of providing soil design parameters derived
from testing of a soil sample received at our laboratory, and does not represent an
evaluation of the overall stability, suitability, or performance of the property for the
proposed development. GSI assumes no responsibility or liability for work or testing
performed by others, or their inaction; or work performed wh~n GSI is n_ot requested to be
onsite, to evaluate if our recommendations have been properly implemented. In addition,
this report may be subject to review by the controlling authorities. Thus, this report brings
to completion our scope of, services for this portion of the project.
McGervey
830 Citrus Place, Carlsbad
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W.O. 7272-A1-SC
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The opportunity to be of service is greatly appreciated., If you have any questions'
concerning this report, or if we may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to
contact any of the undersigned.
Respectfully submitted,
GeoSoils, li:,c.
\arJ~ ~e,_.,,-stepW, Coover
~~7neering Geologist, Geotechnical Engineer, GE 2057
,1-P!_
Ryan B. Boehmer
Staff Geologist
HBB/SJC/JPF/sh
Attachment: Appendix -References and GSI (2017)
Distribution: (1) Addressee (PDF via email)
(1) BGI Architecture, Attention: Mr. John Beery (PDF via email)
McGervey
830 Citrus Place, Carlsbad
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. .
APPENDIX
REFERENCES
American Concrete Institute, 2015, Guide to concrete floor and slab construction
(ACI 318-15): reported by ACI Committee 302, dated June.
American Concrete Institute, 2014, Building code requirements for structural concrete (ACI
318-14), and commentary (ACI 318R-14): reported by ACI Committee 318, dated
September.
American Society of Civil Engineers, 2017, Minimum design loads and associated criteria
• for buildings and other structures, provisions, ASCE Standard ASCE/SEI 7-16.
BGI Architecture, 2023, Scott & Lori McGervey kitchen addition & detached ADU/Garage,.
830 Citrus Place, Carlsbad, CA 92008, 13 sheets, various scales, job no: 2302,
dated July 7.
California Building Standards Commission, 2022, California Building Code, California Code
of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2, Volumes 1 and 2, based on the 2021 International
Building Code, effective January 1, 2023.
GeoSoils, Inc., 2017, Limited geotechnical evaluation relative to allowable bearing value,
lateral bearing pressure, lateral sliding resistance, and seismic design parameters,
proposed additional construction at 830 Citrus Place, Carlsbad, San Diego County,
California, Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) 206-040-31-00, W.O. 7272-A-SC, dated
May 12.
GeoSoils, Inc.