HomeMy WebLinkAboutCT 14-11; CARLSBAD BOAT CLUB & RESORT; GEOTECHNICAL UPDATE; 2015-05-26-..
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GeoTek, Inc •
1384 Poinsettia Avenue, Suite A Vista, CA 92081-8S0S
(760) S99-0S09 (760) S99-0S93 www.geotekusa.com
VIP Partners
Attention: Mr. Jim Courtney
1861 S. View Drive
Carlsbad, California 92008
Subject: Response to City Review and Geotechnical Update
Carlsbad Boat Club and Resort
CT 14-11/CUP 14-10
4509 Adams Street
Carlsbad, California
Dear Mr. Courtney:
C
p
May 26, 2015
PN 3487-SD
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MAY 2 6 2016
In accordance with your request and authorization, GeoTek, Inc. (GeoTek) hereby assumes the
geotechnical responsibilities for the project. It is our understanding that Geologic Associates
(GLA), has indicated they no longer provided services on this type project. In assuming
responsibility, we have reviewed documents provided as indicated on the enclosed reference list
and prepared this letter in response to the most recent City of Carlsbad comments (Reference
I) for the project. In conjunction with our work, Mr Tim Metcalfe attended a meeting on May 3,
2016 with the City of Carlsbad (City) to discuss the project.
We performed a site reconnaissance on April 30, 2016. It should be noted that Mr. Metcalfe is
familiar with the site having been on site in non-professional capacities several times over the last
20.± years. Based on the review of the GLA report, general knowledge of the site, review of
readily available aerial photographs and recent site observations it does not appear that any
changes have occurred affecting geotechnical conditions on site since the 2007 GLA report was
prepared. While additional design level studies may be advisable in conjunction with final project
structural design, based on our review of the data and recommendations contained in the GLA
report are in general keeping with current codes except as modified or updated herein .
The City has indicated that the geotechnical update and review may be limited to address
concerns expressed in the in Reference I and that prior issues have been resolved. The letter
identifies three issues that the geotechnical update should address: Shoring, Storm Water Quality
Management Plan (SWQMP) and impacts of possible sea level rise. These are discussed below .
GEOTECHNICAL I ENVIRONMENTAL I MATERIAL
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Response to City Review and Geotechnical Update
Carlsbad Boat Club and Resort
Carlsbad, California
SHORING
May 26, 2015
Proj No. 3487-SD
Page 2
The City has indicated that the geotechnical report should be revised to include a preliminary
shoring design. The City has also indicated that tie backs would not be allowed within the City
Right of Way (RoW) for Adams Street. Based on discussion in the meeting with the City it is
our understanding the primary concern is related to use of a permanent tie-back system within
the RoW and both temporary and permanent tiebacks potentially extending into adjacent private
property.
The GLA report is rather unclear in separating recommendations for temporary and permanent
support conditions. While not specifically indicated as applicable to temporary excavations it our
interpretation that the recommendations provided by GLA for shoring were intended for
temporary not permanent systems. This interpretation is based on the fact that earth pressures
were presented separately for the permanent condition (see Section 6.5 Lateral Earth Presures and
Resistance on page 16) and that the shoring recommendations were included in Section 6.6 Slope
Excavation and Shoring, along with what are obvious temporary slope recommendations. In fact,
use of the shoring design parameters should not be used for design of the permanent conditions.
Specific shoring design is not the function of the geotechnical consultant. While, we might be able
to offer some rudimentary design it would not be offered to use for construction and as such
would be of little use. Shoring system design is structural not geotechnical and should be designed
by engineers who are highly familiar with such designs. In our experience this is done in
conjunction with final engineering not during project approvals. However, we appreciate the
City's concern regarding the feasibility of completing the excavation given that tie-back shoring
and temporary slope excavations were the only options presented.
A tieback system may or may not be the appropriate method. This is particularly true given the
City's stated restriction on tie backs within the Adams RoW and given close proximity of
property lines may not be possible along the east and west sides. In our experience, most
jurisdictions do not allow pennanent tie-backs for private works, however, they do allow
temporary tiebacks to extend into their RoW provided that no portion of the tieback rod is left in
place above an elevation which is likely to interfere with existing or future utility excavation. We
have participated in projects where tie-backs were provided with couplings to allow removal of
the unbounded length above a specific elevation within the public RoW. Attached on Figure S-1
is a typical cross-section of a shoring system where tieback anchors are extended into the public
RoW. Sewers are commonly the deepest utility. Given that the sewer already exists in Adams
(see Figure S-2) it seems reasonable that temporary tie back construction could be allowed within
the RoW with minimal (if any) potential to impact any future public construction. Also as depicted
on Figure S-2 if tiebacks are allowed in the RoW the highest elevation they might be within the
RoW is on the order of 20 feet below street grade .
Assuming the restriction is not modified to allow temporary tiebacks there are several methods
to shore the vertical cuts without tiebacks or with modified tiebacks. Some examples of these
include:
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Response to City Review and Geotechnical Update
Carlsbad Boat Club and Resort
Carlsbad, California
May 26, 201S
Proj No. 3487-SD
Page 3
a.
b.
c .
d .
Utilizing an internally braced or raker and whaler system (see diagram on Figure S-2).
Combining shoring and slot cutting.
High strength grouts to increase the bond capacity
Cantilevered systems.
The east and west sides of the excavation were also noted to be a concern as any tie-back system
would necessitate extending the tie-backs off site requiring cooperation and permissions from
adjacent owners. Again alternate means particular cantilevered or braced systems could be
appropriate. Given the rapid decrease of excavation height along the sides, cross-bracing at the
corners with cantilevered piles along the rest of the walls may prove most efficient.
STORM WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN
Due to the updated Regional Water Quality Control Board's Permit, the Project was required
to update the Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP), now called Storm Water Quality
Management Plan (SWQMP) (Reference 3). Three (3) filtration basins are planned. Basins I and
3 are similar with respect to the geotechnical conditions associated with them, while Basin 2
presents other conditions.
Basins I and 3 are at the lower end of the site. The bottoms of the basins are at elevations of 4
to 5 feet. GLA encountered groundwater seepage in Boring B-3 at elevation -2.Sft about 40 feet
north and landward of Basin 3. Given this and the basins' proximity to the lagoon a permanent
ground water table approximating sea level or slightly above is prudent to assume as GLA did
when developing recommendations for the site. Appendix C of the City of Carlsbad BMP Design
Manual indicates that: "The depth to seasonally high groundwater tables (normal high depth
during the wet season) beneath the base of any infiltration BMP must be greater than IO feet for
infiltration BMPs to be allowed." As such infiltration is not recommended for the basins as the
groundwater clearance will not meet this standard.
Basin 2 is located immediately behind and above the building retaining wall. While introduction
of water behind the retaining wall is not desirable even if the water were allowed to infiltrate it
would be into the granular wall backfill the base of which would be at about elevation 6ft and
again the actual infiltration would not have a minimum of I Oft to the water table. As such
infiltration is not recommended for the basin.
The SWQMP (Section 7, Page 12) addresses the lack of infiltration by utilizing impermeable liners
in the bio-filtration basins to treat the runoff prior to dispersal in the sand.
POTENTIAL SEA LEVEL RISE AND FLOODING
The potential for sea level rise is truly an unknown with various predictions ranging from about
1.5ft to 6ft by 2100. The California Coastal Commission web site
(http://www.coastal.ca.gov/climate/slr/science/) indicates: "According to the 2012 National
Response to City Review and Geotechnical Update
Carlsbad Boat Club and Resort
Carlsbad, California
May 26, 2015
Proj No. 3487-SD
Page ◄
Research Council (NRC) report, which the Ocean Protection Council established as the best
available science on sea level rise for California in March 2013, sea level is projected to increase
by 17 to 66 in (42 to 167 cm) along much of the California coast by Year 2100." Figure SL I taken
from the NRC report is a graphic representation of future prediction of potential sea level
changes. Not surprisingly the predictions are less accurate as time progresses. The reasonable
economic life of new construction of this type is often considered to be on the order of 50 years.
While the chart is specific to the San Francisco Bay Area it suggests the between 2076 and 2086
(60 to 70 years in the future) the predicted sea level rise may be on the order of 2.3ft (70cm)
with peak levels ranging up to approximately 3.28ft ( I 00cm). The basement/garage level of the
project would remain almost 5 feet above sea level. Even in the worst case scenario of a 6 foot
sea level rise by 2100, while flooding would likely occur it would be periodic and confined to the
parking garage. On SL-I, we have denoted the time period from roughly 2076 to 2086 with the
red box and the upper limit and mid-range projections with the dashed lines.
annual sea level
240
160
cm
80
total time of exceedance
hrs above historical 99.99th percentile
1200
hrs
600
0 -t:r''tf-l,,,..Llc:~'lfv'~...-, ....... ~..,.__------+--+----t-0
1960 2000 2040 2080
yr
FIGURE SL-I Projected number of hours (blue bars) of extremely high sea level off San Francisco under an assumed sea-level
rise and climate change scenario. In this exercise, a sea-level event registers as an exceedance when San Francisco's projected
sea level exceeds its recent ( 1970-2000) 99.99th percentile level, I .'I m above historical mean sea level. In the recent historical
period, sea level has exceeded this threshold about one time (I hour) every 14 months. Sea-level rise (black line) during 1960-
1999 was arbitrarily set to zero, then increased to the committee's projected level for the San Francisco area over the 21st
century. (Explanation from source.)
CODE REVISIONS AND UPDATES
There are triennial building code revisions as such multiple code revisions have been adopted
since the 2007 GLA report was prepared. The 2016 CBC is due to be published in July with
adoption January I, 2017. It is our understanding that final engineering is unlikely to be performed
prior to 2017. Based on our current understanding the code changes, the coming adoption should
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Response to City Review and Geotechnical Update
Carlsbad Boat Club and Resort
Carlsbad, California
May 26, 2015
Proj No. 3487-SD
Page 5
not have a significant impact on geotechnical recommendations. However, specific updated
recommendations should be requested from this office prior to start of final design project design.
LIMITATIONS
This report is based on review of data presented by others. Based on our general knowledge of
the area, the conditions discussed appear reasonable. However, soil and bedrock materials vary
in character between excavations and natural outcrops or conditions exposed during site
construction. Site conditions may vary due to seasonal changes or other factors. GeoTek, Inc.
assumes no responsibility or liability for work, testing or recommendations performed or
provided by others.
Since our recommendations are based on the site conditions observed, data by others, our
conclusions and recommendations are professional opinions that are limited to the extent of the
available data. Observations during construction are important to allow for any change in
recommendations found to be warranted. These opinions have been derived in accordance with
current standards of practice and no warranty is expressed or implied. Standards of practice are
subject to change with time.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned
Respectfully submitted,
GeoTek, Inc.
Enclosure: Selected References
Figure S-1 -Shoring within Public Right of Way
Figure S-2 -Shoring Options
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Response to City Review and Geotechnical Update
Carlsbad Boat Club and Resort
Carlsbad, California
Selected References
May 26, 2015
Proj No. 3487-SD
References
1) "3rd Review for CT 14-11/CUP 14-10-Carlsbad Boat Club and Resort" by City of Carlsbad dated
April 13, 2016
2) "Geotechnical Report, Proposed Condominium Complex, 4509 Adams Street Carlsbad,
California" by Geologic Associates dated March 6, 2007
3) "Preliminary Storm Water Quality Management Plan for CT 14-11 Cup 14-10 Carlsbad Boat Club
Resort, 4509 Adams Street Carlsbad, California" by O'Day Consultants, Inc date revised January
25,2016
4) "Carlsbad Boat Club & Resort -City of Carlsbad Tentative Map -Tentative Map & Site Plan" by
Excel Engineering, dated 4/28/16
5) Architectural Plans, Carlsbad Boat Club & Resort by MAB Architecture & Planning revision date
4/18/18
GEOTECHNICAL I ENVIRONMENTAL I MATERIAL
Carlsbad Boat Club and Resort Shoring within Public Right of Way
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SHAF OIAMffiR
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NOlES: 1. W STRUCTURE 'NALL NOT SHOl FOR CLARITY
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3. fO DIM SICtlS .,._., ·0·1 • & •. SrE
SCt!XER BEAM & llEBACI< SCH OUl.E O SHEET [S5.0.
SOLDIER BEAM SECTION (ONE TIEBACK) EI) TIEBACK WITHIN~ RIGHT-OF-WAY
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Raker and Whaler Shoring
System with Temporary 1 :1
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Typical Temporary Soldier Beam
and Tie-back Shoring System
Approx. Scale
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l.._32' at l½xl I
Bulldins Section from Sheet AS -2 "Bulldlns Sec. & Boat
Launch Plan Carlsbad Boat Club & Resort'' prepared by
MAB~ .. and Plannln1 date 04/11/2016
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Shoring Options Carlsbad Boat Club
MAY 2016 PN: 3487-SD Fi2ure 5-2