Apline Ready Mix is a concrete batch plant that is currently under construction in Elbert County, Colorado. The site area is 5 acres and the site is located in the 6 Arrow East Commercial Subdivision near Kiowa.
XYZ Civil, LLC did the civil engineering and Site Development Plan submittal documents for this project, which is an EDZ zoned lot and required county commissioner approval.
Stormwater management system was designed to collect runoff into a detention pond via swales and berms. The pond stores and treats the runoff before slowly discharging it downstream.
We love working with small businesses like this in rural areas. If you have a project in Elbert County and need a civil engineer or help with permitting contact us.
Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP) causes a lot of frustration for many homebuilders working in the City of Denver.
Duplex in Denver with full 10′ basement
Main Things to Consider
Denver area groundwater elevation is typically between 8-12′ below surface. However, with zoning laws limiting houses to 2.5 stories on a tiny lot, most people want a full basement in addition to the 2.5 stories.
Denver homes with a basement should have a sump pump, even if no groundwater is present. The sump pump should be connected to foundation drains and daylighted in a controlled manner to a drywell. If the projected flow is minimal (<0.5 cubic feet/second, cfs), you may discharge groundwater to the local storm sewer system.
gutter downspouts ARE allowed to discharge naturally across the property, but you cannot combine surface rainwater runoff with groundwater, they must be separate.
Denver doesn’t allow what it considers excess groundwater be daylighted or discharged away from the property line. The reason for this is the city and your neighbors do not want your nuissance groundwater continually discharging off the lot.
You may be required to store this nuissance groundwater on-site, either via a drywell or a tank. A drywell is a simple rectangular hole in ground with rock, enabling the groundwater to soak into the ground at least 10′ away from the foundation.
SUDP plans cannot be done by an architect or surveyor. It is best to involve a Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in this process. We have experience with geotechnical engineering, foundation design, and drainage design, and have developed methods to satisfy the City of Denver with this issue in the past several years of practice.
As you can see the limited area of Denver’s 5′ setback makes piping difficult, combined with basement window wells.
XYZ Civil, LLC can help you with this complex permitting process. We have experience designing drywells and creating SUDP plans.
Douglas County requires a DESC (Drainage, Erosion, & Sediment Control) Plan at the very least for basically any freestanding structure which needs a permit, including barns, garages, ADU’s, and additions for houses.
Typically these types of structures have less than 1 acre of disturbance and so a DESC is typically required.
New SFR in Sedalia, Douglas County, CO required a DESC plan and the 1 mile access road required engineering and culverts.
However, if you plan to disturb over 1.0 acre of land in Douglas County, than you need a GESC (Grading, Erosion, & Sediment Control) Plan. A GESC is a lot like a DESC but is more detailed and has more requirements.
Large steel accessory building in Douglas County required a DESC plan
List of main requirements for a DESC/GESC
grading so that water flows away from buildings. 10% slope or 5% if sloped towards a swale. >1% slope for impervious surfaces (concrete, asphalt, pavers, etc.)
perimeter silt fencing OR straw logs
vehicle tracking control near entrance – clean truck tires prior to leaving site
seeding/mulching schedule
all slopes 3:1 or steeper require erosion control matting
culvert sizing/calculations
driveway slopes must be <10%
show easements, setbacks, 2′ contours (topographic survey is typically required in addition to the plat).
show proposed contours, slopes, and spot elevations.
distance of proposed building to all property lines and adjacent structures
Show fire truck turnaround and meet all other douglas county driveway regulations and Fire Code requirements.
Show top and bottom of retaining walls with spot elevations. Retaining walls 4′ in height or greater require engineered retaining walls plans.
under 4′ high retaining walls do not require stamped engineered plans
Contact XYZ Civil, LLC (www.xyzcivil.com) for assistance with this.
