HomeMy WebLinkAboutCT 02-28; La Costa Condominiums; Second Responses to Third Party Review; 2008-05-13American Geotechnical, Inc.
SOIL, FOUNDATION AND GEOLOGIC STUDIES
May 13, 2008 File No. 23280.01
Mr. Frank Jimeno, P.E.
CITY OF CARLSBAD
PUBLIC WORKS - ENGINEERING DIVISION
1635 Faraday Avenue
Carlsbad, California 92008
Subject: SECOND RESPONSES TO THE THIRD PARTY REVIEW
PROPOSED LA COSTA CONDOMINIUMS, LOT 185
La Costa Avenue South - Unit 1
Carlsbad Tract No. 02-28
Carlsbad, California
Reference: "First Review of Responses to Third-Party Review of Geotechnical Reports, Proposed La Costa
Condominiums, Carlsbad, California", prepared by Testing Engineers - San Diego, Inc., dated
April 9, 2008.
"Revised Update Geotechnical Report, Proposed La Costa Condominiums, Lot 185, La Costa
Avenue South - Unit 1, Carlsbad Tract No. 02-28, Carlsbad, California", prepared by American
Geotechnical, dated February 14, 2008.
Dear Mr. Jimeno:
American Geotechnical is pleased to present the second phase of responses to the Third-Party Review
referenced above.
We appreciate the opportunity to be of service. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to
contact us.
Sincerely,
AMERICAN GEOTECHNICAL
Edred T. Marsh
Principal Engineer
G.E.2387
ETM: kb
Distribution: Mr. Frank Jimeno, P.E. - (2)Via Mail Only
22725 Old Canal Road, Yorba Linda, CA 92887 - (714) 685-3900 - FAX (714) 685-3909
5764 Pacific Center Blvd., Suite 112, San Diego, CA 92121 (858) 450-4040 - FAX (858) 457-0814
712 Fifth Street, Suite B, Davis, CA 95616 - (530) 758-2088 - FAX (530) 758-3288
5600 Spring Mountain Road, Suite 201, Las Vegas, NV 89146 - (702) 562-5046 - FAX (702) 562-2457
HAmerican Geotechnical, Inc.
File No. 23280.01
May 13,2008
Page 1
RESPONSES
I. The geologic contacts have been corrected and are depicted on the attached plates.
6. We agree that the Benton As-Graded reports were not reviewed.
9. The fill material was investigated by Leighton & Associates. We believe that the laboratory test data
provided in the Leighton report supports that the deeper fill has a low potential for settlement.
Recommendations for treatment of other fill areas are given in Sections 6.2.3 and 6.2.4 of the
referenced report. All existing fill material located within the sheet-graded building pads should be
removed and replaced with properly compacted fill to a minimum depth of five feet below proposed
finish grade.
10. There are no present "active" landslides and only one "recent" landslide. The recent landslide is
located along cross-section C-C' (attached) and is currently being repaired.
I1. The shear strength parameters used in the analysis were obtained from both Leighton & Associates
test results and test results performed by American Geotechnical. One residual direct shear test
was performed that was obtained from the recent landslide. That was not included in the referenced
report. We have included the test results as an attachment.
17. The queried surfaces have been removed from the cross-section (attached)
19. We believe the fill will not be undermined. This condition will be confirmed during grading.
22. The origin of the three samples were as follows: One clay sample from the large flat pad, one sandy
sample from the recent slope failure and one sample was a mixture of the two.
25. All colluvium will be removed during remedial grading and replaced with compacted fill keyed and
benched into the natural slope.
26. The limits of the proposed buttress have been shown on the attached cross-section L-L'. Only
shallow removals are anticipated above the proposed buttress.
29. The off-site fill slopes will have some improvement including drainage being directed to new "V"
ditches via tightlines instead of emptying directly over the slopes.
33. The sub-drains are being reflected by notes on the plans prepared by O'Day Consultants.
HAmerican Geotechnical, Inc.
File No. 23280.01
May 13, 2008
Page 2
34. The detail for the Detention Basin liner will be included on the plans prepared by O'Day Consultants.
39. Updated recommendations for foundations on expansive soils will be provided once grading is
completed. For preliminary design purposes the following parameters can be used:
MODERATE EXPANSION: Edge Lift: em= 5.0 feet, ym= 1.0 inch
Center Lift: em= 5.0 feet, ym= 2.5 inches
HIGH EXPANSION: Edge Lift: em= 5.0 feet, ym= 2.0 inches
Center Lift: em= 5.0 feet, ym= 3.5 inches
For both conditions it is recommended that the upper 2 feet of soil be pre-soaked to 1.5 times optimum
moisture content.
48. The term "aerial" refers to a birds eye view of the building foot print. The limits should extend 5 feet
"outside" of or "beyond" the proposed foundations.
GENERAL COMMENT
Based on our recent discussion the remedial "slot" grading planned for landslide removal will be increased
from 3 slots to 6 slots (doubled) and currently a repair is being performed to remediate a recent landslide
along cross-section C-C'. It is expected that additional information will be learned from the removals and re-
grading in this area.