A. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF FINDINGS B. CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE

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1 Chapter 17: Construction A. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF FINDINGS This chapter discusses the various activities that would be involved in constructing Hamilton Green. The potential for significant adverse impacts during the construction process is evaluated, together with the techniques and procedures that would be employed to avoid or minimize such impacts. During any large construction project, there is the potential for environmental impacts from traffic, noise, and dust. Construction-related activities resulting from the Proposed Action are not expected to have any significant adverse impacts on traffic and transportation, air quality, or noise conditions. The construction process requires consultation and coordination with the City of White Plains. Following project approvals, a Construction Management Plan would be prepared to City specifications. B. CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE PROJECT PHASING A Construction Management Plan would be prepared to City specifications following project approvals. Hamilton Green would have a construction schedule of approximately 46 to 48 months from the start of demolition of the existing White Plains Mall building. Prior to demolition, existing tenants would vacate the Mall building. Full build-out of Hamilton Green would occur over two phases. The sequencing would first focus on the creation of the interior parking and loading structures, and the setting of foundations for the residential buildings and towers. The initial development phase is defined as 30 months (excluding some tenant fit up) and would include: 600 to 700 units of housing; all of the retail, including the Food + Craft Hall; 1,060 parking spaces; and the entire Public Platform. The remaining 200 to 300 units of housing would take place in Phase Two, and would be completed in another 25 months. Certain interior tenant improvements (e.g., within individual retail spaces and apartment units) may continue past this construction period. The total construction period would be 55 months and the entire development is expected to be completed and occupied by the end of Construction on-site would occur during the times allowed under the City Ordinance and as defined in a Construction Management Plan to be prepared following project approval according to City specifications and requirements. Since the Site is well served by public transportation, it is anticipated that some construction workers would take Metro-North, the bus, or walk to the Site. For those construction workers who prefer private automobile, a permit for each construction worker would be purchased in coordination with the City s Parking Department. The General Contractor would be required by Hamilton Green Construction 17-1

2 contract with the Applicant to purchase these parking permits for its employees. It is likely that construction workers would obtain permits in the City s nearby Hamilton-Main or Lexington- Grove garages. For construction of Hamilton Green, staging of equipment and materials would be contained on-site. The construction of Hamilton Green would occupy one full city block, and the staging area would be set back as far from the surrounding streets as feasible. An eight-foot tall plywood construction fence would be installed around the Site to screen the construction activity. The contractor would maintain the fencing by monitoring and cleaning graffiti, bills, and posters. The fence is proposed to be placed on the property line, which would allow the existing sidewalks to be maintained during the construction period. However, during the sidewalk improvement phases, sections of the sidewalk would need to be closed to the public and intermittent lane closures would be required to provide pedestrian access around the Site. In addition, intermittent lane closures may be required for deliveries, site utility work, and as required for public safety. Any lane closures would be coordinated with the City. Appropriate measures would be taken to ensure pedestrian and vehicle safety and passage. C. CONSTRUCTION PERIOD IMPACTS AND MITIGATION TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION Construction of Hamilton Green would create daily construction-related traffic to and from the Site, including construction workers and the delivery of materials and equipment. The numbers and types of vehicles would vary depending on the phase of construction. At the busiest times, it is expected that construction will generate approximately 150 peakhour trips, of which approximately 10 percent (or 15 peak-hour trips) are expected to be truck trips. These volumes of traffic are considerably less than the total trips projected to be generated by Hamilton Green upon completion and will largely be offset by the termination of current traffic activity generated by the Site. Thus, since Hamilton Green is only expected to have minimal traffic impacts, construction traffic in expected to have no significant traffic impact at all. To further prevent potential construction traffic impacts, it is recommended that all construction truck traffic vehicles traveling to and from the site be required to use the following routes, which are shown in Figure 17-1: From the west Use Main Street and MLK Boulevard; To the west Use Hamilton Avenue From the east Use Westchester Avenue, Broadway and Hamilton Avenue To the east Use Barker Avenue and North Broadway to get to I-287 eastbound; From the north Use North Broadway and Hamilton Avenue; To the north Use Barker Avenue and North Broadway; From the south Use East Post Road and MLK Boulevard; and To the south Use Hamilton Avenue, S. Lexington Avenue and East Post Road Hamilton Green Construction

3 Project Site FEET Truck Routes Construction Truck Routes Hamilton Green Figure 17-1

4 During demolition and excavation, the primary activity would be removal of demolition debris and excavated material. During the excavation period, foundation work would primarily involve concrete delivery to the site. It is assumed that the staging area for concrete trucks could be accommodated on-site or on Hamilton Avenue, which, during off-peak hours, have light traffic volumes. Toward the end of the foundation phase, structural steel or concrete would continue to be delivered to the site and stored either on-site or at an off-site yard in anticipation of the internal structure construction phase. During the interior construction and retail and residential build-out phases, trucks would be delivering building materials, such as drywall, electric equipment, and other supplies and equipment. Construction on-site would occur primarily between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM on weekdays, and between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM on Saturday. No construction would occur on holidays or Sundays. Delivery times would be carefully coordinated with the City and traffic control measures would be implemented to minimize the impact on rush hour traffic, pedestrians, and residents. A construction schedule would be coordinated with City agencies. Truck movements would typically be spread throughout the day on weekdays. Wherever possible, the scheduling of deliveries and other construction activities would take place during off-peak travel hours. Construction activities may result in short-term disruption of both traffic and pedestrian movements at the Site. This would occur primarily due to the temporary loss of curbside parking from the staging of equipment and the movement of materials to and from the site. As discussed above, intermittent lane closures for deliveries, site utility work, and as required for public safety may occur and would be coordinated with the City. Appropriate measures would be taken to insure pedestrian and vehicle safety and passage. Construction workers would use public transportation and private automobiles. Those using private automobiles would obtain municipal permits to park at the City s nearby Hamilton- Main Garage or the Lexington-Grove garage. These traffic and transportation conditions would be temporary and are not anticipated to result in significant adverse impacts on traffic and transportation conditions. AIR QUALITY The principal air quality impact associated with construction activities is the generation of fugitive dust, which can vary widely in terms of volume and size of particulate matter generated. Fugitive dust is associated with earth moving, such as site grading, filling, and excavation for foundations. A large proportion of the fugitive dust generated by construction activities would be of relatively large particle size, and would be expected to settle to the ground within a short distance from the construction site and not significantly affect nearby buildings or people. To minimize these problems, erosion and dust control procedures, which would be regulated by the City s Construction Management Protocol, would be followed during construction and would include: Minimizing the area of disturbed soil by careful planning of grading operations so that only the areas needed for any particular construction activity are disturbed; Minimizing the time span that soil is exposed; Spraying water on dusty surfaces; Hamilton Green Construction 17-3

5 Utilizing ultra-low sulfur diesel equipment; and Using drainage diversion methods (silt fences) to minimize soil erosion during site grading. No significant impacts on the local community from fugitive dust are expected to occur as a result of the construction of Hamilton Green. DIESEL EMISSIONS Mobile source emissions may result from the operation of construction equipment, trucks delivering materials and removing debris near the construction site. Localized increases in mobile source emissions would be minimized following standard traffic maintenance requirements, such as: The existing number of traffic lanes would be maintained to the maximum extent possible; and Idling of delivery trucks or other equipment would not be permitted during unloading or other inactive times. The Applicant would commit to the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel for all on-site construction equipment. NOISE Construction of Hamilton Green would typically generate noise and vibration from construction equipment, construction vehicles, worker traffic, and delivery vehicles traveling to and from the Site. Noise levels caused by construction activities would vary widely, depending on the phase of construction demolition, excavations, foundation, construction of the structures, etc. and the specific task being undertaken. All construction activities would be conducted in full compliance with existing regulations, including local day and hour construction limitations and would be limited to between 7 AM and 7 PM on weekdays and from 9 AM to 7 PM on Saturdays. Local, state, and federal requirements mandate that certain classifications of construction equipment and motor vehicles be used to minimize adverse impacts. Thus, construction equipment would meet specific noise emission standards. Noise levels associated with construction and equipment are identified for a reference distance of 50 feet, as shown in Table Significant noise levels typically occur nearest the construction activities, and may reach as high as 90 A-weighted decibels (dba) under worst-case conditions. The level of noise impacts at local receptors would depend on the noise characteristics of the equipment and activities involved, the hours of operation, and the location of sensitive noise receptors. Noise levels would decrease with distance from the construction site. Construction noise would also be associated with backhoes, cranes, pumps, hand tools, truck deliveries, and paving operations during the period of excavation, construction and repaving. Increased noise levels due to construction activity can be expected to be most significant during the period of heavy equipment operation Hamilton Green Construction

6 Table 17-1 Typical Noise Emission Levels For Construction Equipment Equipment Item Noise Level at 50 Feet (dba) Notes: Sources: Air Compressor 81 Asphalt Spreader (paver) 89 Asphalt Truck 88 Backhoe 85 Bulldozer 87 Compactor 80 Concrete Plant 83 (1) Concrete Spreader 89 Concrete Mixer 85 Concrete Vibrator 76 Crane (derrick) 76 Delivery Truck 88 Diamond Saw 90 (2) Dredge 88 Dump Truck 88 Front End Loader 84 Gas-driven Vibro-compactor 76 Hoist 76 Jack Hammer (Paving Breaker) 88 Line Drill 98 Motor Crane 93 Pile Driver/Extractor 101 Pump 76 Roller 80 Shovel 82 Truck 88 Vibratory Pile Driver/Extractor 89 (3) 1 Wood, E.W., and A.R. Thompson, Sound Level Survey, Concrete Batch Plant; Limerick Generating Station, Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Report 2825, Cambridge, MA, May New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Construction Noise Survey, Report No. NC-P2, Albany, NY, April F.B. Foster Company, Foster Vibro Driver/Extractors, Electric Series Brochure, W M. Patterson, W.N., R.A. Ely, And S.M. Swanson, Regulation of Construction Activity Noise, Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc., Report 2887, for the Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., November 1974, except for notated items. BLASTING AND SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATIONS Due to the Site s previous history of development and preliminary review of potential geological conditions, blasting is not anticipated. However, should blasting be required, the Construction Management Plan would comply with the City of White Plains blasting protocol (Section of the Municipal Code, Rock Excavations ), and all other applicable requirements relating to rock removal would be followed. Hamilton Green Construction 17-5

7 CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL A Construction Management Plan would be prepared to City specifications following project approvals. To limit construction related impacts on the Site and to surrounding properties, the following restrictions would be included in the Construction Management Plan: Hours of operation of construction vehicles and construction work on the site. Per the City of White Plains Municipal Code, Chapter 3-4, Noise Pollution, construction activities shall occur only between the hours of 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM on weekdays, and between the hours of 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM on Saturdays. Hours of deliveries to the site, location of deliveries. Per the City of White Plains Municipal Code, Chapter 3-4, Noise Pollution, loading or unloading of vehicles shall occur only between the hours of 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM on any day of the week. During construction, deliveries would be made to designated on-site staging areas. Access to the site would be via designated stabilized construction entrances whenever possible. Requirement for loading/unloading and storage of materials on the Site. Loading, unloading, and the storage of materials on the Site would be in designated staging areas on-site, whenever possible. Length of time travel lanes can be encumbered. All encumbrances on public streets, highways or sidewalks shall be in conformance with the City of White Plains Municipal Code, Chapter 7-3, Article IV, Obstructions. All lane closures would also be coordinated with the City of White Plains Department of Public Safety, Police Bureau. Sidewalk closing or pedestrian diversions to ensure the safety of the pedestrians. Any work to be performed on public sidewalks shall be in conformance with the City of White Plains Municipal Code, Chapter 7-3, Article IV, Obstructions, and shall include appropriate measures to ensure the safety of pedestrians. Stormwater management and fugitive dust controls as specified in the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) Plan. The Construction Management Plan is subject to the approval of the Commissioners of Building, Public Safety, Public Works, Traffic, and Planning and the Environmental Officer. Prior to the issuance of any building or excavation permits, the Applicant and its construction management team, including principal contractors, would be required to meet with representatives of the City Departments of Building, Public Works, Public Safety, and Planning and the Environmental Officer, to review Hamilton Green s Construction Management Plan and to ensure that all responsible parties understand their responsibilities under that Plan. D. CONCLUSION Construction of Hamilton Green, which would be facilitated by the Proposed Action, may have temporary impacts on neighboring properties related to noise, air quality, erosion and sedimentation, and disruption of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on local roadways, impacts on roadway infrastructure conditions, storm water flow and management, and impacts of delivery 17-6 Hamilton Green Construction

8 of services, such as police and fire. However, it is the Applicant s belief that these temporary impacts would be mitigated by the preparation and enforcement of the Construction Management Plan prepared in accordance with the City of White Plains Construction Management Protocol. Hamilton Green Construction 17-7