What are the elements of a good site plan?

An architectural site plan sometimes referred to as a site plan or a plot plan is a construction site plan that acts as a clear map of a building site and gives you all the details you need on how the project will be situated on the property.

The plot of land, property lines, landscaping features, structural components, setbacks, roads, utility poles and power lines, fences, and on-site structures will all be shown on a diagram created by a builder or contractor. Even landscape elements that don't exactly fit your property might be used in a site design.

You can use a site plan to gain a clearer understanding of your property's features by viewing it as a 2D aerial map. The 3D rendering is a three-dimensional, full-colour map of a building's landscaping, including plantings, parking, and outdoor structures.

What should a proper Site Plan contain?

In many ways, creating a development site plan is like conveying the story of a building and a site. Essentially, it tells the story of the site and building. In order for plan evaluators to comprehend the design, more detail should be provided in the plan. In order for a site plan to be successful, the following factors must be considered:

North Arrow

It is necessary to include a north arrow or compass rose on plot layouts that are used for legal purposes. On other plot plans, making the directions obvious aids visitors in orienting themselves. It is important to know what direction a house faces, for example, when buying a house.

The Existing Structures

In order to evaluate the use and the potential for expansion of a building, its footprints are recorded for commercial buildings, homes, garages and other structures.

Depending on the municipality, you may be asked to include distances between structures, as well as distances between structures and the outer perimeter of your property when applying for a permit.

Easements

An easement is a property feature that is shared with another party for a particular use. Although there are many different types of easements, they all grant others access to or use of the land. Utility easements are quite common. They give permission for utility firms to build, maintain, and fix utilities on the property.

Additionally, there are easement setbacks, which are the separations needed between buildings and other projects and easements. A breach of an easement may result in serious financial and legal repercussions. Specify the exact location and size of any easements.

Lay down areas and Construction

The areas of the property that are being constructed are described in this paper. Additionally, it will display the areas close to the building site where supplies and equipment will be kept.

Continued and Proposed Conditions

You must include images of fence lines, utility lines, and electrical lines in your site design. It also tells you whether additional city representatives, like inspectors, must be present while your project is being built.

Plans must incorporate proposed changes in order to be approved and to receive approvals. The depiction of land changes in various types of plot designs is usual for marketing, fund-raising, and alerting those who could be touched by the changes.

The site design should also include permanent additions such as wells, septic tanks, drain fields, swimming pools, retaining walls, patios, and decks.

Permanent Water Bodies

A property's shorelines, ponds, rivers, and wetlands help define it and limit how it may be developed, if at all.

More Landscape Features

Green spaces, forested areas, and other landscape features enhance the appeal of a property when they are shown in marketing materials.

A planned construction or modification to a property may be examined by local officials for potential effects on the surrounding environment. This frequently occurs in areas with strict regulations regarding the landscape or natural areas.

Consideration should be given to landscaping, both current and planned, as well as steps to prevent runoff and erosion. The size and kind of landscape element will both be included in a smart site design.

Fire Hydrants

Access to the area is essential for both emergency personnel and the building's residents. When you submit your development site plan to the city for a new building, it must include information about fire hydrants.

To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.

Video Source: STLouisCountyMNGOV

The Ground Signs and streets that are nearby

Street names that are used on real estate and other marketing strategies help prospective clients or purchasers locate the property and assess the location's desirableness. It is crucial to comprehend how users navigate through and away from your website.

This will show how your building would affect site visitors. Therefore, for zoning, building, and development plans, street names with stop signs, traffic lights, and highway signage are required.

Setbacks in work and the Property Lines

The structures and infrastructure in your nearby area have a big influence on your design. Make sure all of those metrics are part of your approach. Zoning, building height, and fire safety considerations are all determined by what happens in the immediate area of the land.

Property lines must be shown on your development site plan since you cannot trespass on an adjacent property owner's territory. The outside of the property is demarcated by property lines.

What are the elements of a good site plan?