Richard C. Mast Associates, P.C. Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors Village at Lederach * 658 Harleysville Pike, Suite 150 * Harleysville, PA 19438 * 215-513-2100
 
Engineering Services All of the engineering services offered by RCMA are performed by or under the direct supervision of a Professional Engineer (P.E.), and are professional certified as necessary.  Pricing for services varies depending on the specific property and associated time involved.  For questions about pricing or a cost proposal please use the contact us page or give us a call.   Feasibility Studies and Zoning Review The use of land is regulated by the municipal Zoning Ordinance.  It can be a challenge to determine what type and the extent of development activities that are permitted on a particular parcel.  RCMA's Staff assists our clients in planning for expansion or development whether they are starting with undeveloped land or with an existing facility.  Our experience with land development projects ranges from small building expansions or two lots subdivisions to commercial and residential projects involving hundreds of acres.  We will help our clients refine their ideas for the development project, and will work with our clients and other consultants such as architects or land planners to find the most cost effective and practical development solutions to meet our clients needs as well as conform to the various local zoning regulations.   Sketch Plan Preparation After an initial zoning review, a sketch plan can be prepared in accordance with applicable zoning and subdivision regulations.  This is an important step in visualizing our clients development ideas as well as provides a basis for discussion of the project with various governing agencies.  The RCMA staff will attend Township Planning Commission meetings and Township Board of Supervisors meetings to present the project and can serve as expert witnesses in Zoning, Conditional Use, or Special Exception Hearings if necessary.  We also have the capability to prepared full color sketch plans and exhibits to help our clients and others better understand the development proposal.   Subdivision and Land Development Plan Preparation Preliminary Plans of Subdivision/Land Development includes all area and dimensional details necessary to create the new subdivision, such as building envelope areas, square footage of lots, on-site easements, pertinent zoning information, etc.  This plan also includes all documentation necessary to ensure compliance with the applicable Zoning Ordinances and will eventually become the record Plan of Subdivision recorded at the Township offices and the County Courthouse. Preliminary Plans are essentially a complete set of detailed design drawings and will be based on the previously referenced Sketch Plan. Typical Services Provided Preparation of Grading and Storm Sewer Plan -- includes all design information for the construction of the project such as building placement, driveways, storm sewer piping and grading information.  This plan will also contain design information regarding the storm water management (detention) areas. Preparation of Sanitary Sewer and Water Plan -- includes all horizontal information for the construction of the Sanitary Sewer and Water facilities including tie-in location and information (in accordance with applicable Sewer Authority and Water Authority requirements). Preparation of Roadway and Utility Profiles -- includes all necessary profile, design and grade information for proposed roadways, parking areas and utilities. Preparation of Landscaping and Lighting Plans -- includes coordination and assistance with outside consultants for preparation of landscaping and lighting plans.  Much of this design can be completed in-house depending on the municipal requirements. Preparation of Construction Detail Plans -- includes all necessary construction details required for construction of the site improvements for the project (according to Township requirements). Preparation of storm water Management calculations and report -- includes all necessary hydraulic and hydrologic calculation and documentation to demonstrate adequacy of the proposed storm water facilities. Plan Presentation -- Attend Township Planning Commission meetings and Township Board of Supervisors meetings and applicable Authority meetings, complete the necessary applications and assist with plan submission to the jurisdictional agencies.   Storm Water Management Design Storm water management design is a large part of what we do at RCMA. Nearly all subdivision and land development require some form of storm water facilities design.  It is extremely important that excess runoff resulting from development activities is adequately controlled in order to reduce the impact to the environment as well as provided protection to downstream property owners, and the community.  RCMA is capable of designing nearly all types of storm water management facilities.  We frequently provide designs of storm sewer collection systems, culverts, detention basins, infiltration beds, swales, channels, and underground detention basins.  RCMA uses specialized computer software and proven storm water design methodologies to accurately model and design storm water management facilities.  We also stay up to date on the latest storm water management techniques and regularly attend storm water management seminars.   Flood Plain Analysis The presence of a floodplain associated with a stream can significantly affect the development of a parcel.  Many times it is necessary to accurately calculate the location of a floodplain in order to insure protection of proposed facilities, and to demonstrate compliance with local, state, and federal floodplain regulations.  FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) regulates floodplains and produces FIRM's (Flood Insurance Rate Map) that show the location of areas prone to flooding.  Sometimes during the course of the land development process these flood maps must be corrected to accurately depict the floodplain, or be revised as a result of proposed development activities.  RCMA is capable of performing flood studies and has worked with FEMA when necessary to revise the flood maps.   Erosion Control Design & N.P.D.E.S. Permitting Any earth disturbance will require approval of the respective County Conservation District.  If the project proposes more that one acre of disturbance, an N.P.D.E.S. permit is required.  Concurrent with the preparation of the Preliminary Subdivision Plans RCMA prepares Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plans and Post Construction Storm Water Management Plans. Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan The Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan documents all of the measures necessary to prevent erosion and protect the environment from sediment potentially could leave the site if not properly controlled.  This process typically requires the following: Preparation of Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan and Construction Details; Preparation of Erosion and Sedmentation Control narrative, documenting sequencing and staging of construction and all design measures and calculations; Submission of the Erosion and Sedimentation plans and reports to the County Conservation District for review and approval; Attendance of meetings with representatives of the Conservation District as required to review the plans; Post Construction Storm Water Management - N.P.D.E.S. Permitting Any earth disturbance over one acre requires the preparation of the N.P.D.E.S. Permit application and a Post Construction Storm Water Management Plan.  The Post Construction Storm Water Management Plan is part of the N.P.D.E.S. permit requirements.  The plan details the best ways to control storm water after the site is stabilized and construction is completed. N.P.D.E.S. permitting is designed to promote Best Management Practices (BMP's) that address water quality issues.  BMP's are typically designed to promote infiltration of rainwater into the ground and protect the health of the stream, environment and watershed.  This process typically requires the following: Preparation of a Post Construction Storm Water Management Narrative that documents all aspects of the storm water management design; Preparation of storm water management calculations that document and justify the use of each (BMP) Best Management Practice; Preparation of construction details and maintenance procedures for each BMP; Preparation of a N.P.D.E.S. Permit application: Submission of the Post Construction Storm Water Management plans and reports to the County Conservation District for review and approval; Attendance of meetings with representatives of the Conservation District as required to review the plans;   Sewage Facilities Planning Most subdivisions and land developments require Sewage Facilities Planning.  Each municipality is required to have a township wide plan for dealing with the need for sewage treatment and the management of wastewater.  This plan is known as the Act 537 Plan.  The Act 537 plan describes which areas of the municipality are to be serviced by public sewer and which areas are to be serviced by private on-lot sewage disposals systems.  There are two methods of sewage facilities planning: (1) Full sewage facilities planning, and (2) an exemption from sewage facilities planning. The Planning Module Full sewage facilities planning requires the preparation of a planning module package.  The developer, or the developer's consultant, generally prepares the Planning Module.  The Planning Module assesses the various possibilities for the handling of wastewater generated from the development (on-lot septic system, package treatment plant, and public sewer) and describes the reasoning for the method selected.  The package describes how much wastewater will be generated by the project, how it will be conveyed to the point of treatment, and how the wastewater will be treated.  The Planning Module must demonstrate consistency between the proposed method for treatment and the municipal Act 537 plan and comprehensive plan.  The planning module must be reviewed by the municipal planning commission, the county planning commission, and the county health department.  After these agencies have had an opportunity to review and comment on the Planning Module, it must then be formally approved at a public meeting by the municipal governing body (board of supervisors).  After the module is approved at the local level, it is forwarded to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for review and approval.  The entire process can take several months to complete, but can generally be completed concurrently with the subdivision and land development process.  Full Planning Module preparation is always required for private on-lot sewage disposal and is often required for public sewer. Planning Module Exemption In some cases, a project can be exempt from sewage facilities planning, and can receive DEP approval for connection to a public sewer system by simply filling out a Planning Module Exemption Postcard.  The exemption postcard briefly describes the project and provides verification by the Township that the project is consistent with the Act 537 plan.  An exemption also requires verification from the authority providing sewer service that treatment and conveyance capacity is available, verification that water service is available to the project, and verification that the project does not conflict with natural resources (plant and wildlife).  An exemption can only be used when the municipality has anticipated the development and previously planned to provide sewer service to the project.

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