S02_Attachment - Design Narrative.pdf

Bay Pines National Cemetery Gravesite Expansion Phase 2

Design Narrative Bid Documents

29 April 2024

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

National Cemetery Administration VA Project No: 890CM3019 Contract No: 36C78618D0144 Delivery Order No: 36C78620N0535

BAY PINES NATIONAL CEMETERY

St. Petersburg, FL

Gravesite Expansion Phase 2

PROJECT 830CM3019

Design Narrative

29 April 2024

PREPARED BY:

LEAD DESIGN CONSULTANT/ LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

John Gallup & Associates, LLC (JG&A)

3225 Shallowford Road NE, Suite 830 Marietta, GA 30062

CEMETERY PLANNER/ STORMWATER CONSULTANT/MEP

WSP 1075 Big Shanty Road, Suite 100 Kennesaw, GA 30144

ARCHITECT -STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

Barkley Consulting Engineers, Inc.

2840 Remington Green Cir, Suite E, Tallahassee, FL 32308

CIVIL ENGINEER

Atriax pllc

703 Main Ave. S.W, Hickory, NC 28601

COST ESTIMATOR

R&R Construction Services.

315 Indian Ridge Road, Moon Township, PA 15108

Bay Pines National Cemetery Gravesite Expansion Phase 2 Project No. 830CM3019 Bid Documents 29 April 2024

Design Development Narrative Prepared by JG&A, Atriax Group, WSP, Barkley Engineering, and Aqua Engineering.

Program

The goal of this project is to expand Bay Pines National Cemetery (BPNC) on the newly acquired 5 acres of land. The parcel is bounded by Hoover Drive to the west and the War Veterans Memorial Park to the northeast. The project consists of a 4,825-niche columbarium, 2,022 in-ground cremains (IGC)burial sites, replacement of the existing rostrum with a new structure, upgrades to the Maintenance Building HVAC system: upgrades to lighting and security systems for the Administration and Maintenance Buildings and associated walks, roads, landscaping drainage, irrigation, site furniture and other infrastructure necessary for the proper functioning of the cemetery.

Site Description

Cemetery Setting and Surrounding Area The project site is Bay Pines National Cemetery, located at 10,000 Bay Pines Boulevard, in Pinellas County, Florida. The cemetery is approximately ten miles northwest of St.

Petersburg, with access off Hoover Road. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) owns one 280-acre parcel adjacent to Bay Pines Boulevard (reference number 02-31-15-00000-300-0000). The parcel contains the Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Healthcare facility to the west, VA regional office to the northeast, and the cemetery to the southeast. Work is limited to the northeast corner of the parcel within the existing cemetery grounds, amounting to approximately 6 acres. The parcel spans Map Sections 02 South and 11 North, within Town 31 South and Range 15 East (023115S and 113115N). Zoning is designated as a “Public/ Semi-Public District” (PSP) and the use is “Federal Government - Non-residential (commercial) only” (8810).

The receiving water body for site runoff is Boca Ciega Bay, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The site is relatively flat and prone to flooding, as confirmed by soil and floodplain mapping. In flooded conditions, the infiltrative capacity of all soil types on site drops substantially from Hydrologic Soil Groups (HSG) A or B to HSG D. The cemetery falls under the jurisdiction of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

The site consists of the following soils per NRCS Web Soil Survey:

11 - Felda soils and Urban land, HSG B/D 13 - Immokalee soils and Urban land, HSG A/D 14 - Kesson fine sand, very frequently flooded, HSG A/D 17 - Myakka soils and Urban land, HSG A/D

Wetlands delineation was conducted as an early step in the design process. The eastern and southern edges of the expansion area are impacted by wetlands. Farthest to the east, near the existing maintenance building, the wetlands are of higher quality, including mangroves. Nearer to the planned IGCs and along the southern edge of the expansion area (within the drainage ditch), the wetlands are of lower quality, with Brazilian pepper being the prominent species. The presence and extent of wetlands impacts the project area, and wetlands mitigation will be required to achieve project objectives.

In accordance with FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map Number 12103C0192G, effective September 3, 2003, the site falls within Zone AE, special flood hazard areas inundated by the 100-year flood. The base flood elevations have been determined for the site and range from 10-12 feet.

The existing cemetery consists of 80 burial sections, an administration/ public information building, two columbarium areas, a committal shelter, rostrum, a memorial monument, and a maintenance facility.

Design

The proposed expansion is on a new 5-acre parcel of land acquired from the VA Hospital. The parcel lies to the north east of burial sections 57, 58, and 59 and north west of the existing maintenance facility.

Access to this site is from a new road system connecting to Hoover Boulevard. The roadway will head along the northeast corner of cemetery property to the expansion area where it leads to the new IGC burial section and ends in a small circular loop. A new connecting driveway will come from the existing loop road near the existing rostrum and head northeast just northwest of the beginning of the canal. In this plan the new driveway will necessitate the removal of a live oak tree. Pedestrian access is from two points, the new road from Hoover Boulevard, and the new driveway from the existing loop road near the rostrum.

The site is defined by existing vegetation, including large specimen trees. The design intent is to maintain and protect existing vegetation as much as possible and to augment the new development with native trees, shrubs, and groundcover to provide shade and frame the columbarium plaza.

The proposed burial layout includes a columbarium niche section along the northern end of the proposed road. The proposed road leads to three (3) new IGC (3’ x 3’) burial sections. The burial layout aligns with the proposed loop road such that the rows are easy to access and perpendicular to the loop road. The yield tabulation was calculated according to the maximum possible yield for the proposed layout, which resulted in the proposed 3,394 IGC sites and 4,825 columbarium niches. The eastern extent of IGC burial areas is limited by wetlands and a drainage creek; wetlands mitigation will be required to achieve the number of IGCs shown in the plan. Wetlands mitigation will also be required to allow location of the required stormwater pond in the proposed location at the southeast corner of the expansion area. The site plan provides a columbarium plaza with 4,825 niches. The design of the columbarium plaza matches the design of Columbarium A and B. Precast niche units are 5 and 10 niches wide by 5 niches high for the single sided columbarium units and 5 and 10 niches wide by 5 niches high for the double-sided columbarium units. The pier spacing for the single-sided columbarium units has been designed with 10 and 5 panels between piers consistently.

We propose to have the rear of the precast columbarium units finished with a stucco system with integral color finished in a broom finish. Granite will be wrapped around the end piers to better match the vocabulary of the double-sided walls and match that in Columbarium B. The Columbarium Plaza paving will be permeable brick pavers to mitigate stormwater runoff. The modular 5 x 9-unit paver will match the pavers utilized at Columbarium B. We will also match the field and perimeter banding of the existing paving at Columbarium B.

Site furnishings include a flower watering station centrally located between the proposed burial sites and the committal service shelter. Site wayfinding signage will be included in the project as per VA Design Standards. Extended planting areas will be provided in the new plaza that will offer favorable conditions for selected plants to thrive and provide shade and cool the plaza in the summer months. Shade trees will be planted around the new plaza to enhance and focus on favorable views. The species selected are native to Florida and match existing plant material within the vicinity of the project.

Architectural Rostrum The proposed New Rostrum is a pre-manufactured, open-air steel pavilion resting on a raised concrete slab with steps on the front and an accessible ramp on the rear. The proposed rostrum will be a prefabricated Chelsea Model clerestory gabled roof structure manufactured by Porter Corporation. The clerestory will be enclosed with glass windows to provide protection from the weather. No gutters are anticipated on the single-sloped roof. Powder Coated handrails will be like those on the existing shelter, both in color and spacing. This pavilion will provide covered shelter of approximately 544 square feet to cover the 463 square feet platform and surrounding areas. The stage area will provide space for approximately 30 people to be seated under the shelter, plus an area for a portable podium for a speaker. Four (4) waterproof duplex electrical outlets (1 per column) will be preferred, based on the cemetery needs. No sound system, HVAC or lighting is anticipated.

Mechanical This project involves replacement of the HVAC systems for the Maintenance Buildings. HVAC replacement for the Administration Building has been excluded from the scope as indicated on the attached Mechanical and Electrical drawings.

Demolition will involve removal of the existing HVAC equipment, refrigerant lines, communication devices and associated electrical wiring as shown in the attached drawings. The existing ductwork, diffusers, return louvers, and outdoor louvers and condensate lines will remain in place and will be reused with the new HVAC systems. Properly designed HVAC equipment will be installed to provide proper comfort, ventilation, and humidity control for the spaces. The basis of design equipment was selected from Trane to match the existing equipment at other locations on the Bay Pines VA Medical Center property to simplify future maintenance per the request of facility staff. All systems will have new refrigerant lines installed. The new equipment consists of the following:

• A new 7.5-ton heat pump split system to serve the spaces within the Maintenance Building.

A vertical air handler will be located in M-105 with integrated ventilation air. The existing thermostat in the Maintenance Building will be replaced with a programmable thermostat and setpoints and nighttime setbacks shall be implemented.

Additional scope associated with both the Maintenance Buildings include:

• All wall areas and ceiling areas impacted by demolition (removal of existing HVAC equipment) and/or installation of new HVAC equipment shall be repaired and restored to match existing condition (structure, materials, color, etc.).

• The existing ductwork, diffusers, return louvers and registers shall be cleaned throughout the building.

• Ventilation air from existing exterior louvers for all locations shall remain in place.

• All condensing units shall have hurricane pads and be properly secured to hold exterior equipment in place.

• All systems will have new refrigerant lines installed in the same location as the existing refrigerant piping.

• The new mechanical systems shall be provided with an anti-corrosion seacoast cabinet and coil coating of the indoor and outdoor units with a minimum 10,000-hour salt spray rating.

• No modifications to the existing exhaust fans are recommended.

• No plumbing modifications are included in the basis of design except for routing condensate drain lines to the exterior.

Electrical Administration Building

The electrical design involves providing a 480V, 400A, 3PH, 4W pin and sleeve generator receptacle to enable the capability of connecting a temporary 480/277V, 300KW/375KVA, 3PH diesel generator to provide full backup of the Administration and Maintenance building service in the event of a normal power outage. The existing service will be intercepted and rerouted to a temporary generator via a 480/277V, 3- Pole, 400A Manual Transfer Switch.

The linear light fixtures will be retained and retrofitted with T5 LED lamping to provide a comparable overall lumen output. Existing fluorescent downlights will be replaced with 6” round LED downlights on a one-for-one basis for both interior and exterior applications. Existing 2’x2’ fixtures will be replaced with architectural 2’x2’ LED fixtures. Existing fluorescent strip lights will be replaced with linear LED strip lights of equivalent length. Existing lighting controls will be reused.

Maintenance Building

The linear light fixtures will be retained and retrofitted with T5 LED lamping to provide a comparable overall lumen output. Existing fluorescent downlights will be replaced with 6” round LED downlights on a one-for-one basis for both interior and exterior applications. Existing 2’x2’ fixtures will be replaced with architectural 2’x2’ LED fixtures. Existing fluorescent strip lights will be replaced with linear LED strip lights of equivalent length. Existing lighting controls will be reused.

Vehicle Storage

The existing vapor-tight light fixtures for the golf-cart canopy area will be replaced with LED versions of the same fixture. Existing lighting controls will be reused.

Rostrum

The electrical design involves providing a power pedestal which is fed by the Administration Building.

This power pedestal will provide power to general receptacles at the Rostrum and the Irrigation Controller.

Security Administration Building

Access control will be enhanced by providing a combination radio frequency identification (RFID) and keypad at all entry and egress doors. The existing doors will be upgraded with electric strikes or mag-lock-style brackets. Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) security cameras will be provided at building corners to provide complete coverage of the surrounding grounds.

Maintenance Building

Access control will be enhanced by providing a combination RFID and keypad at all entry and egress doors.

The existing doors will be upgraded with electric strikes or mag-lock-style brackets. PTZ security cameras will be provided at building corners to provide complete coverage of the surrounding grounds.

Civil Grading and Layout The existing expansion area lies to the northeast of the primary cemetery that runs along Loop Road and will begin from the southeast of Hoover Boulevard east of 9th Street. Existing elevations at this point are around 8.5 and slope gradually towards the southeast dropping to 3.5 after approximately 1,000 feet. Lake Timucuan, an existing manmade stormwater pond, lies on the opposite site of Hoover Boulevard and collects stormwater from other surrounding buildings before discharging under the street towards the cemetery. There is also a grassed overflow channel on the south side of the proposed expansion entrance that serves to direct floodwaters (from yearly tropical storm events) into the existing wetland canal. The canal begins approximately 440 feet southeast of Hoover Boulevard where the underground storm pipes discharge along an existing concrete headwall. The width of this wetland canal starts off around 30 feet and the depth of approximately 5 to 6 feet. The canal runs southeast along the edge of the existing cemetery site for approximately 1,000 feet before turning south by the maintenance facility. There are other existing low-lying wetland patches around the canal that are expected to be mitigated during this phase of the project.

Proposed grading includes 805 linear feet of paved road 24’ wide from back to back of curb, running southeast with a circular end at the IGC gravesites and proposed Columbarium shelter. The new road will crest within the first 125 feet of with a high elevation of 10.5 and then slope down at 1.1% for another 555 feet to the only sag at an elevation of 6.1. Storm pipes will collect runoff on each side of the roadway with concrete pipes varying from 18” to 36” in diameter. After Station 4+50 there are additional proposed IGC and columbarium gravesites along the northeast side of the road which slope down to the southeast at a grade of 1% to 1.5%. There will also be a 100-foot-long guardrail along the southwest side of the circular loop next to the canal.

The proposed expansion will also include a proposed 158 linear feet 24’ wide road that connects to the previous phase along the Memorial Loop. This proposed connecting road close to the wetland canal will be constructed with a prefabricated modular bridge that spans with an open bottom length of 30’ to 36’ and a height of 6’ to 8’ to minimize channel disruption.

Stormwater Storm Water Management A stormwater treatment pond is proposed to treat the first 1” of runoff for the new site to meet the water quantity regulations of the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). This pond will be designed to contain at least 12,500 cubic feet of storage to collect overland flows as well as discharges from the proposed storm pipes before releasing into the canal with a proposed outlet control structure designed to restrict the discharge per SWFWMD regulations.

Erosion and Sedimentation Control

The proposed expansion is expected to disturb approximately 2.75 acres with approximately 0.80 acres of impervious area added. Best Management Practice measures will include a temporary gravel construction entrance and concrete washout area, silt fencing along all downslope areas, filtered inlet protection devices, and two grass-lined drainage channels sloping at 1% to 1.5%. Additionally, the BMP treatment pond will be installed to serve as a proposed sediment basin for the initial and final phases of the erosion control sequences. A proposed metric sheet piling wall (ConTech or approved equal) is also to be installed along the northern bank of the wetland canal for erosion and slope protection.

Permitting

Required stormwater permitting and wetlands mitigation will involve multiple agencies, including SWFWMD, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and potentially the US Army Corps of Engineers. Initial agency consultation has taken place with SWFWMD, FDEP and USFWS. Refer to the attached 15 March 2024 report titled Bay Pines National Cemetery Expansion Phase 2 Design & Permitting Guidance by WSP for additional details and clarifications concerning project-related natural resource permitting implications, environmental considerations, and permitting recommendations.

In lieu of the recent 404 hold on federally regulated wetlands and the most recent associated hearing on 4 April 2024, FDEP has been ordered to relinquish jurisdiction and the authority to review and approve wetland permits. As a result, the US Army Corps of Engineers will temporarily be reviewing and issuing all federal wetland permits until further notice.

Irrigation System Existing VIH sprinklers along the impacted roadway will be removed and relocated.

A new remote control valve assembly (RCV), lateral piping and pop-up spray sprinklers may be needed to irrigate new planting beds at the proposed columbarium.

RCVs are plastic valves that are specifically designed for a non-potable water source, rated at 200 psi having flow control and pressure regulation capabilities. RCVs will be installed in a plastic valve box with the lid branded to identify the station and station number of the valve. One RCV will be connected to a single station on an irrigation field satellite controller. RCVs are located to avoid conflicts with visitors. Rain bird PESB-PRS valves to match the existing are used.

Lateral pipe between RCV and sprinklers will be HDPE to match existing. Minimum burial depth is 18-inches.

Pop-up spray sprinklers with 6- 0r 12-inch pop-up height are used in planting beds. Spray sprinklers will have plastic bodies. Rain bird 1800 series spray sprinklers are used to match existing equipment.

Control System

One additional satellite controller is anticipated. The controller will be specified to match existing central control and communication methods.

Sprinkler spacing is selected to provide the most efficient water application. Computer software is used to select the most efficient pressure, sprinkler, nozzle combination. The efficiency metrics used for selection are the Distribution Uniformity (DU) and Scheduling Coefficient (SC). The higher the DU percentage, the greater the application efficiency. The closer the SC is to 1.0, the higher the application efficiency. Spacing for rotary sprinklers will be selected to achieve a minimum DU of 80% and a SC of less than 1.2. A rotary sprinkler spacing between 55- to 60-feet is anticipated.

Code Analysis

• VA Directives, Design Manuals, Master Specifications, VA National CAD Standard Application Guide, and other Guidance on the Technical Information Library (TIL) (http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/).

• International Building Code (IBC) (Only when specifically referenced in VA Design Documents, see VHA Program Guide Pg-18-3)

• NFPA 101 Life Safety Code (see VHA Program Guide Pg-18-3)

• NFPA National Fire Codes with the exception of NFPA 5000 and NFPA 900

• Occupational, Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards.

• VA Seismic Design Requirements, H-18-8

• NPFA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC)

• International Plumbing Code (IPC)

• Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards (ABAAS) including VA supplement, Barrier Free

Design Guide (PG-18-13)

• Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete, American Concrete Institute and

Commentary (ACI 318)

• Manual of Steel Construction, Load and Resistance Factor Design Specifications for Structural

Steel Buildings, American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)

• Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct)

• Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings: Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU)

• Executive Order 13423: Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation

Management.

• The Provisions for Construction and Safety Signs. Stated in the General Requirements Section

01010 of the VA Master Construction Specification.

• Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 Section 438

• Southwest Florida Water Management District http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/)

Contract No: 36C78618D0144 Project No: 830CM3019

3225 Shallowford Rd NE, Suite 830 Marietta, GA 30062

770.321.4040 www.johngallup.com

In partnership with:

Patrick West Rectangle