Site planning is essential for the approval of building plans that are related to the construction of, for instance, a fuel station or perhaps a shopping mall on a particular piece of property. The site plan is the graphical representation of the current and proposed features of that particular property. We briefly look at six elements that site-planning maps are supposed to include, helping you to understand what we can do for your business.
1. The inclusion of the property lines. Property lines show the boundaries of the particular piece of land. If you, for example, start the construction of a house on the property but you have not yet considered the property lines, you risk encroaching on the adjacent piece of land to the ire of your neighbour. When it comes to commercial properties such as fuel stations, malls, hospitals, or warehouses, the property lines are even more important. This is also true for residential estates that consist of several stands each. If the property lines are not indicated with a high level of precision, it can cause problems once the construction of the homes starts. The property lines are also important when it comes to site planning relevant to the application for rezoning a piece of land to allow for another type of use. For the city-council officials who must review the scope of the proposed development, the site-planning map must show the existing and potential or proposed conditions. This is essential, as the mentioned conditions affect the particular design and usage of structures on the site.
2. Site planning must make provision for the distance between structures and the property lines. The structure height, potential fire risks, use of the structure, zoning, and dimensions relate directly to the distance of the building from the property line The specific zoning for the property may indicate that the building may not be closer than 3 m from the property lines. This becomes especially significant when it comes to light-industrial, heavy-industrial, and mixed-use designs. The potential impact on the adjacent property must be considered. Therefore, site planning must include information and graphic representation of the distances between structures and the property lines of a particular piece of land.
3. Do not forget about parking. Site planning for a shopping centre must include due consideration of parking, especially in a developed commercial area. Research must be conducted regarding the appropriate number of parking spaces. In high-density areas, commercial properties can have a parking ratio of 3/00. In a commercial set-up, a parking ratio of 4/100 is higher than normal, with 5/100 being an excellent ratio. The site-planning diagram must show the entrances and exits, the parking spaces available, the flow of traffic, and the sizes of the parking spaces. It must also show where the parking spaces for disabled users are located.
4. Traffic flow from the surrounding roads. The diagram is furthermore about making provision for traffic flow and the impact of the increased traffic on the surrounding streets. The plan must include elements such as main routes, dead ends, circles, traffic lights, and arterial roads. Street names must be included to help the officials gain a better understanding of the design, building, and impact on the traffic flow.
5. Landscaping helps to protect the environment. The diagram must make provision for the existing ecosystem and show how the proposed design will affect the ecosystem. To this end, landscaping plays a vital role in protecting the ecosystem. Sustainable development is high on the priority list for land-use management. As such, the plan must show the current plant life, wetlands, bodies of water, and more. It must also show how the landscaping will help preserve the ecosystem. Any type of construction affects the immediate environment. Heavy machinery, demolition, tree removal, and water usage are only a few of the factors to consider.
6. Exclusive usage rights on the property. Utility services, right of way, wetlands and the likes are all types of easements for which servitudes may be in place. The diagram must make provision for such and clearly indicate any registered servitudes on the property.
Our professional team of urban design and town planners provides extensive site planning and land-use management services. Call us for a site due diligence, diagram drafting, and zoning-application assistance.