New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 14 - DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HYGIENE
Appendices
Appendix 6
SITE SURVEY AND SOIL INVESTIGATION
Site
The site of any community mental health facility or community mental retardation facility should be accessible to the center of community activities. Public transportation should be available within a reasonable distance, and travel time should be less than one hour to the facility. In selecting a site, consideration should be given the following;
Proximity to ancillary services such as medical and dental treatment facilities as well as educational and rehabilitative services and other related services not to be provided in the facility.
Desirability of location. The site should be located in a noncommercial zone away from airports, railways, penal institutions, and the like.
Size of the side should be adequate to meet the needs of the facility and to allow for reasonable expansion.
Cost. The cost of the site should not exceed the fair market value as determined by appraisal. A site purchased under the provisions of the Act must be used solely for the purpose of providing service in connection with the program of the facility. No part of a site purchased with State aid may be leased or sold without the consent of the commissioner.
Site Survey and Investigation
(To Be Submitted with Part 3 of the Construction Application)
The applicant shall provide for a survey and soil investigation of the site and furnish a plat of the site. The purpose of this survey and soil investigation is to obtain all information necessary for the design of the building foundations and mechanical service connections and development of the site. It is suggested that this matter be deferred until the architect has been selected in order that he may co-operate with the engineer who obtains the data.
If any existing structures or improvements on the site are to be removed by the owners or others, the buildings or improvements must be so designated on the plat.
Any discrepancies between the survey and the recorded legal description shall be reconciled or explained.
The plat shall indicate:
The courses and distances of property lines.
Dimensions and location of any buildings, structures, easements, rights-of-way or encroachments on the site.
Details of party walls, or walls and foundations adjacent to the lot lines.
The position, dimensions and elevations of all cellars, excavations, wells, back-filled areas, etc., and the elevation of any water therein.
All trees which may be affected by the building operations.
Detailed information relative to established curb and building lines and street, alley, sidewalk and curb grades at or adjacent to the site and the materials of which they are constructed.
All utility services and the size, characteristics, etc., of these services.
The location of all piping, mains, sewers, poles, wires, hydrants, manholes, etc., upon, over or under the site or adjacent to the site if within the limits of the survey.
Complete information as to the disposal of sanitary storm water and subsoil drainage and suitability of subsoil for rainwater or sanitary disposal purposes if dry wells are used.
Official datum upon which elevations are based and a bench mark established on or adjacent to the site.
Elevations on a grid system of not more than 20-foot intervals to indicate changes of slope, etc., over that portion of the site to be developed.
Elevations of contours, bottoms of excavations, etc.
Contemplated date and description of any proposed improvements to approaches or utilities adjacent to the site.
The plat shall bear a certification by the city engineer or other qualified official, that the true street lines and the officially established grades of curbs, sidewalks and sewers are correctly given.
Adequate investigation shall be made to determine the subsoil conditions. The investigations shall include a sufficient number of test pits or test borings as will determine, in the judgment of the architect, the true conditions.
Samples of strata of soil or rock taken in each pit or boring shall be retained in suitable containers. Each sample container shall be identified as to the boring and elevations at which taken and the labels initialed by the engineer making the soil investigation.
The following information shall be noted on the plat:
Thickness, consistency, character, and estimated safe bearing value of the various strata encountered in each pit or boring.
Amount and elevation of ground water encountered in each pit or boring. Its probable variation with the seasons and effect on the subsoil.
The elevation of rock, if known, and the probability of encountering quicksand.
Average depth of frost effect below surface of ground.
High and low water levels of nearby bodies of water affecting the ground water level.
The probability of freshets overrunning the site.
Whether the soil contains alkali in sufficient quantities to affect concrete foundations.
The elevation and location of the top of workings relative to the site, if the site is underlaid with mines, or old workings are located in the vicinity.
Whether the site is subject to mineral rights which have not been developed.
Equipment
Responsibility of Applicant
The applicant shall select and purchase all original equipment and furnishings required or approved by the Department of Mental Hygiene for the complete functioning of all services included in the project.
All such selections and purchases shall be in accordance with the standards and procedures prescribed by the department.
The applicant shall maintain adequate equipment controls in the form and manner prescribed by the department.
Reimbursement. Approved expenditures for original equipment and furnishings shall be reimbursed at the rate of reimbursement for capital costs established pursuant to the provisions of the Community Mental Health Services Act.
