McIntosh Bank

Project Type:
Bank site with out parcels
Highway 278
Covington, Georgia

Project Size:
3.68 acres

Georgia Civil’s Scope: 

• Site development permitting – City of Covington
• Driveway and drainage easement permitting – 
  Newton County
• Georgia Department of Transportation permitting for Highway 278 driveway
• Underground storm water detention and water quality treatment to maximize site potential 

Project Challenge

When the ownership of McIntosh Commercial Bank (MCB) purchased a highly visible parcel on U.S. Highway 278 in Covington, Georgia, they were not only looking for a site that provided for their immediate needs, but one that would allow for future commercial growth and investment in the local community.  The 3.68 acre parcel fit the bill, but not without design challenges, phasing considerations, and permitting requirements with multiple local and state agencies.

Design Challenges:
Maximize the usability of the site for future development.

Phasing Considerations:
Design and engineer an area for a temporary banking facility with associated parking and drive-thru so that MCB could begin operations while the permanent facility was under construction.

Permitting Requirements:
Permitting with the Georgia DOT for the Highway 278 access drive, deceleration lane, and acceleration lane.

Permitting driveway and access and construction easements with City of Covington and Newton County for access on Hazelbrand Road and Public Health Drive, respectively.

Permitting site construction documents with the City of Covington.

Georgia Civil’s Solutions 

Design Solutions:
By carefully locating the MCB building, drives and parking areas as far to the east as possible, while still maintaining appropriate access from Hazelbrand and SR 278, much of the remaining undeveloped areas of the property can either be reserved for future expansions of MCB, or possibly sold as out parcels.  Also, to avoid losing valuable developable acreage, the storm water detention and water quality measures were designed to be under ground, below the rear parking and drive area of MCB.  These storm drainage measures were also sized to control and treat the runoff of the maximum build out of the entire property in the future, just as the collection and conveyance systems are similarly sized to collect and convey future development peak flows without interfering with the grading and utility installations.  Also, the sanitary sewer system was designed and routed to accommodate future connections within the site.  Finally, a new drive was also installed to connect Floyd Street with Public Health Drive along the western boundary of the site.  This allows for more convenient interconnectivity within the site, while also providing more access points and safer traffic flows and routings for possible future outparcels within the MCB site or even expansions of the bank. 

Phasing Solutions:
MCB desired to have a temporary banking facility placed on site and to be fully accessible and operational throughout the construction of the permanent facility.  To accomplish this, strategic phasing of the site development was necessary to allow for continuous and safe public access to the temporary facility without interference with the construction area for the permanent building.  The construction documents had to reflect phasing areas and phasing timelines for nearly every aspect of the civil design, including the grading, storm drainage system installation, erosion control measures, utility installation, drive and parking installation, and traffic routings for both bank customers and contractors.

Permitting Solutions:
The MCB site borders SR 278 to the north, Hazelbrand Rd. to the east, a drive to the Public Health Center to the south, and Newton County property to the west.  Also, the storm water discharge from the MCB site outfalls on Newton County property to the south.  To gain approval for all of the drives and easements necessary to develop the MCB site, permitting was required  by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), the City of Covington, and Newton County.  GDOT reviewed and permitted the access and road improvements, as well as utility locations on the main entrance to SR 278.  The City of Covington reviewed and permitted all onsite civil design, as well as access to Hazelbrand Road, Floyd Street, and Public Health Drive.  Newton County reviewed and permitted the Floyd St. to Public Health Drive connector drive, as well as providing construction, access, and storm water, utility, and sanitary sewer easements on property owned by Newton County.