Hello World! Welcome Friends! A site plan is defined as a drawing of a specific property as seen from above. This includes the date, grand tree locations, and also the north arrow. The aim of a site plan is to give a guide to the engineering team and builders as to how to go about with the property that’s to be built. Moreover, the site plan should also show the location of any other proposed structures within the property like a parking lot, patio, walkway, or driveway.
If you’re simply building something small like a shed, then an ordinary hand drawing made by almost anyone will be sufficient. Meanwhile, when you’re talking about bigger structures like a home or building, then that’s when a more specific site plan is needed, click here for more examples. While it’s made by professionals, it pays to know a few things too so that you’re kept in the loop about your project.
Creating a site development plan is no easy feat, so here are six things you first have to know about it.
1. There Are Main Items Your Site Plan Must Have
What’s drawn and written on the site plan is actually very crucial to coming up with the design of the building or home. This is the reason why site plans are filled with so many elements, all of which equally play an important role in the success of the project.
As your guide, those main items that your site plan must have included, but aren’t limited to:
- Property Lines. This sets the stage and foundation of your site development plan and design. No matter how beautiful and grand the structure may be, you should never encroach on another’s property. If you do, you’re putting yourself in that sticky situation of a potential lawsuit. The property line is, therefore, a must-have, to determine and specify the metes and bounds of the property.
- Existing And Proposed Conditions. This gives plan reviewers and other city officials a better grasp of the full scope of your design. When showing the existing and proposed conditions, be sure to also include utility and fence lines.
- Construction Limits And Lay Down Areas. This is that part of your site development plan which shows the entire area where the construction will take place. This is also that part of the site plan which specifies where the construction materials will be stored and placed during the whole build.
2. The Basics On How to Draw a Site Plan
Now that you know some of the must-have elements of a site plan, it’s important to also touch on the basic steps of drawing one.
- Use a scale. For this step, you have to make sure that the scale you use is the standard engineering or architectural scale. To avoid confusion, be sure to indicate the specific scale ratio you’re using.
- Draw the property lines and be sure to label each of those with their respective dimensions.
- Draw all the buildings, structures, driveways, parking, and other pertinent parts on the plan. Solid structures should be in solid lines, while additions are drawn as a dashed line.
- Locate grand trees or those which have a diameter of 24 inches or higher.
3. The Different Uses Of a Site Plan
Apart from their common function as one being used by architects and contractors in home construction, site plans also have other important roles. Understanding what those functions are can help you have a better grasp as to why it’s truly worth it taking the extra effort of having one made.
Some of those important uses of a site plan are:
- It sees to it that local government and building codes are strictly observed.
- It’s used by real estate agents to show prospective buyers some of the features and layout of the home before the buyers even get to see such in person during the open house.
- It gives a historical record of the structure, such as any alterations or renovations that have been made.
- It ensures that all local utilities like sewers, water, electricity, and even roads and emergency services are adequate enough for your plan.
4. The Characteristics of a Good Site Plan
A site plan can’t be effective at the job it needs to perform if it’s rushed or haphazardly made. Ideally, a site plan should be well-made for it to be touted as a good one. There are certain characteristics to prove such, beginning with:
- The proper setbacks and buffers are observed in the site development plan. This differs according to the local ordinance of the place you’re reading this from.
- The whole space is effectively utilized, such that all the best features of the property are also aptly considered.
- The landscaping and gardening are also emphasized.
- The dimensions and orientation of all the proposed improvements are specifically pointed out, relative to the property’s layout and best features.
5. There’s a Big Difference Between Site Plan and Floor Plan
One of the most common misconceptions by clients is that a site plan and floor plan are one and the same. This notion isn’t necessarily true, as in fact both are different documents that have to be complied with by your engineering team.
A site plan is more comprehensive such that it covers the arrangement of the entire site or property. A floor plan, on the other hand, focuses only on the arrangement of rooms in each story or floor of the building or home.
6. The Instances When a Site Plan Is Necessary
By now you’d be aware that site plans are a must-have during the building process, such as when you’re erecting a structure from the ground up. That’s not the only time when a site plan is, however, necessary. There are instances when having one is also an indispensable requirement, such as:
- You’re facing encroachment issues with the neighbor;
- You’re applying for either an official building or demolition permit; and
- You want to redo your landscaping.
Conclusion
Essentially, a site plan is that piece of document that shows you whether or not the land you’re going to build on can support your building plans. The guide above isn’t yet all-encompassing, but it should be more than enough to walk you through the basics.
Site development plans are drafted by engineers and architects, but you have to understand what it entails, so you can play an active role throughout the entire construction. If building a new home or structure is within the books soon enough, take that first step of speaking with your contractor about first making your own site development plan.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
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