In my professional life I’ve observed these aspects to be the basis of achievement in designing land development. While there are a variety of kinds of land development – multi-family, single-family industrial, commercial, to name some – all of them have a fundamental connection. No matter what type of development is being undertaken SEH SEH adhere to the following guidelines.
How do you create your designs from the outside into the inside? What makes starting with street designs a simple error to make? Could intersections be your adversaries? We address these questions and more, while discussing 10 principles of land development design to take into consideration when planning the next development.
1. Validate designs using master engineers
Even the best plans for development require adjustments to engineering. If there is no master engineer, plans which appear to be to be ready for platting might prove not feasible for construction. Mastering engineering confirms the viability of the design and also incorporates infrastructure and earthwork and lot configurations as well as trails and amenities.
Many times, master plans appear great on paper, however they have flaws in their design and fail to consider the challenges of engineering. The objective of a competent engineer for land development is to collaborate with the master plan, and tweaking and revising it with the planner/developer when needed to incorporate better infrastructure and cost savings. Making small changes to the master plan could lead to beneficial, positive changes for your returns on investment.
2. Listen to the earth
Take note of the possibilities that the land has to provide, thoroughly take in the surrounding landscape and envision the benefits your future additions can bring. Take a walk around the whole property – it may appear old-fashioned to some, but it will bring benefits later on.
In each development we visit the property with the owner. It’s amazing how often we spot little details that can become attractive aspects or we spot elements that could prove difficult and costly, and might require redesign.
The ability to anticipate and eliminate challenges early on in the process offers the benefit of a direct cost reduction that is, as we have observed, is significant and ultimately impact the project’s ROI. Create a design that is in line with the natural contours of the land and shape.
3. Make sure you are using your space in a responsible way
Consider ways to make your design more efficient design. Many times, designs appear to be efficient, but they are stuffed with unnecessary space. Here are three typical examples:
Intersections can be a problem. They take up areas that could be utilized to develop, but they are expensive cost and are not a good idea to add safety or decrease travel time especially for single-family developments.
Not incorporating stormwater management in a smart way. Intensities of rainfall are rising and stormwater management has become more crucial and expensive than it ever was. Incorporating stormwater management into master planning process at the beginning of the process can help cut the overall cost and improve the return on investment.
4. Prioritize your team, and be clear about all duties and roles
People. People. People. They can be the difference between an effective land development. Place the appropriate people in the correct roles for the most appropriate projects, and you’re almost certain to be successful. Be cautious, however because even the most effective teams can’t do it without clear roles and a well-integrated communications.
Be aware of the market conditions – even the best talents can’t alter the current market conditions. Check that the contractor, developer as well as city authorities are all on the same page since they each have their own goals. Knowing where the other stakeholders are coming from helps create to create a smoother project. Establishing a rapport with the right people, answering the correct questions and and being professional – all of these factors are vital in the execution of your plans.
5. The design is from the outside inside
This is the low-hanging fruit! The two most significant areas that impact the development cost include the earthwork as well as storm water control. For multi-family or single-family development, begin with the houses first. From there, you can design back yards that are adjacent to the property’s boundaries, and front yards that connect to the street. This will reduce the necessity to move dirt and effectively manages storm water. The process of earthwork and grading is a continual one. It is common to have multiple variations in a design. This balances and lowers grade, and each time reduces costs by up to 20 percent.
Conclusion
The housing market, the trends in the housing market rate of interest and consumer preferences, among others – are frequently outside of our reach in the realm of development of land. If we can remember the fundamentals and follow the guidelines above it is possible to positively influence the things we can manage, and give ourselves the best chance to achieve success, improve ROI and ensure happiness for all stakeholder.