Sea Isle City Branch Library

The Cape May County Library system consists of branch libraries located in municipalities throughout Cape May County. In 2008, the County authorized the design and construction of a new branch library in the barrier island community of Sea Isle City. The 14,247 sq ft, state-of-the art facility will greatly expand the services and resources available to the community.

The site design for the new facility included parking and drive aisle layout, pedestrian walkways, grading and drainage design, site features, landscaping, and lighting. Due to the selected site for the library – a former wastewater treatment facility adjacent to tidal marsh lands – extensive environmental permitting efforts were required, including obtaining a Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) permit from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and conducting a Preliminary Site Assessment, Site Investigation, and Remedial Investigation related to potential soil and water contamination from the former wastewater treatment facility.

Hatch Mott MacDonald was engaged by the County to complete the following scope of services:

• Prepare permit applications for Protection NJDEP CAFRA Permit
• Perform topographical and outbound survey of property and prepare existing conditions plan
• Prepare site construction drawings and specifications
• Perform environmental site assessment work including: Preliminary Assessment, Site Investigation, Remedial Investigation, and Soil Remediation
• Complete all required site-related LEED activities to obtain Silver Certification

Project Highlights

• Facilitation of the permit application process including successfully obtaining a permit that is generally different to obtain, in an environmentally sensitive location, and within a relatively short time period
• Incorporation of LEED elements into site and landscaping design to obtain Silver Certification
• Integration of site facilities and features into the architectural layout and scheme

Sustainability

The project was designed with a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental protection. The overall site plan was designed to protect existing habitat and maximize open space. Additional site design features included: designated fuel efficient vehicle parking spaces; rain gardens to maximize removal of total suspended solids in stormwater runoff; water efficient landscaping using drought-resistant plants with no permanent irrigation system; and site lighting designed to reduce light pollution through timing controls and limiting spillover outside the project site.