Though there are many different types of land development, they all have a few commonalities. When in the planning stage for a successful land development project, there are some important design rules that serve to remind the development team of the basics. These basics can be especially helpful if the land development team gets stuck in the design phase. Here are five of those basic development design rules.
1. Use space wisely: Always look for ways for your design to be efficient. Even if a design appears to be efficient, it may contain wasted space, so make sure to critically evaluate your plans.
2. Be creative: Development planning teams are quick to pull out older designs that are great for efficiency. However, it’s better to remember that each land development is different. There are challenges unique to each development and failing to recognize or answer those challenges means you’ve missed an opportunity. Creative thinking is key to a successful land development project.
3. Match the right development planning team with the client and the needs of the market: Even the best people can’t beat the market, so it’s vital that the right people have the proper roles on projects. The wrong choice in people can break an otherwise successful land development project.
4. Hire a civil engineer: There is no substitute for the training and experience of a civil engineer. From construction and feasibility studies to cost-benefit analysis and permit coordination, a civil engineer’s services are invaluable to a land development project.
5. Save the streets for last: It’s easy to think that the street layout should be designed toward the beginning of a land development project. However, people live in residences on lots. Always design for the user first – the houses and the lots. Then design the layout of the streets.
There are many things that are not in the control of a land development team. This includes the housing trends, the market, consumer preference and interest rates. However, you can positively impact the things you can control and give yourself the best chance for a successful land development project when you remember the basics.
