Land planning is the first step of every construction project. It’s an important step that ensures the project will fit well within the space and the surrounding environment throughout each stage of development. Land planners determine the location of each piece, which can include everything from buildings and streets to open spaces and landscaped areas. But before you start looking for a professional firm to do the job, it is important that you understand these four critical pieces of information about land planning in Idaho.
A land planner uses many factors to develop a space.
The land planner starts out with just the general details of the project and site from the developer. This is typically through paperwork, plans or conceptual drawings. From there, they also consider any existing zoning requirements that might affect the plan. The planner will also take the character of the community, natural resources and any existing roadways into consideration. An engineer land planner will often let the plan be dictated by the most efficient way to position the buildings to prevent any grading, utility or draining issues. After considering all of this, they will draft up the final plan to be presented to the developer and city planner for approval.
Engineering land planners and architectural land planners are very different.
An engineering land planner has a very different focus than architectural land planners when approaching a project. Generally, an engineering land planner will focus on the site, not the architecture. The plan will be designed with the intent of alleviating any grading or draining issues. It tends to be reversed for an architectural land planner—they will use the site plan to highlight the architecture. Everything else is second priority.
It takes special education and training to be a land planner.
Not all engineers are qualified to be land planners. It takes special training to understand the most effective land planning techniques and to properly use current programs to aid in the process. They must also be able to analyze data and statistics, while also being able to manage projects and communicate well with clients. All of this is on top of being a trained and registered civil engineer.
Land planning can focus on sustainability.
The final plan can be designed with an emphasis on sustainability, but the land planner can’t do this all on their own. It takes a commitment to creating a sustainable space from every person involved throughout every stage of the project. Ideally, the land planner would be able to work with the contractor, architect, landscape architect and sustainability specialists during the development process to create an environmentally friendly approach from the start.
Ready to get started? Contact the team of professionals at Mason & Associates for land planning services today. As a comprehensive civil engineering firm, we can guide your project through every step, starting with surveying, to land planning and construction staking. Call us today to start planning your next project. We look forward to helping you with land planning in Idaho!