Site Design Checklist

This is a checklist of the factors that may be involved in evaluating a site for construction. Information is usually collected only for those items that are pertinent to the project. We hope this will help you answer questions about what it is you really need and want for your homeOverview of Design Requirements
Please describe the qualities of your building site that your designer should know about. Include likes and dislikes and any features that should be incorporated into the design.
Site Considerations
Climate
Prevailing winds      Direction      Maximum, minimum, and average velocities      Special considerations (g., tornado, flood, hurricane-prone areas)
Solar orientation      Sun angles      Days of sunlight      Cloud cover      Shading of (or from) adjacent structures, natural features, and vegetation
Temperature      Variation      Maximums and minimums for various times of year
Humidity      Variation      Maximums and minimums for various times of yearPrecipitation
                                      Peak period total                                      Annual and seasonal total
Topography
                      Legal property description, including:Limits of propertyEasementsRights of wayNorth indication
Topographic maps and aerial photos      Contours and spot elevations      Slopes: percentage, aspect, orientation      Escarpments      Erosion channels      Location and configuration of rocks, ledges, outcrops, ridges, drainage lines      Visual characteristics      Potential problem areas during construction: silt, erosion, et

Analysis of physical featuresViews and vistasNeighboring structures: buildings, satellite dishes, etceteraShading and solar accessNoise from streets, emergency services, aircraft, etceteraOdors
Access and circulation      Vehicular                                      Road access to property line existing                                      Number of Parking Spaces required outside Garage       Pedestrian
Vegetation
Water bodies      Location, size, depth, direction of flow      Water quality: clean, polluted, anaerobic conditions, et      Use: seasonal, year-round      Wetlands: ecological features      Variations: expected water levels, tides, wave action      Coastal features
Drainages: rivers, streams, marshes, lakes, ponds, etcetera      Natural and built      Alignments and gradients      Pattern and direction
 Waterway easements      Surface      Subsurface
Surface drainage      Location of streams and washes      Proximity to floodplains                      Maximum flood levels                      Frequently flooded areas      Local watershed areas, amount of runoff collected, and location of outfalls      Swampy and concave areas without drainage      Other obstacles that may interrupt or obstruct natural surface drainageUnique site featuresGeotechnical/soilsBasic surface soil type: sand, clay, silt, rock, shale, gravel, loam, limestone, etceteraRock and soil type: character/formation and origin      Geologic formation process and parent material      Inclination      Bearing capacityBedrock      Depth      Type classificationSeismic conditionsEnvironmental hazards

UtilitiesPotable water                     Municipal      Well       If a well, is there a well-share?               Y / N      SpringElectricity      Public Utility          already at property line?        Y / N      Photovoltaic           location:Gas      Natural                   already at property line?         Y / N      PropaneTelephone    How many numbers needed?Television      None      Satellite      Cable      AntennaSanitary sewer service      Municipal      Septic      Septic with supplemental blackwater treatmentStorm drainage (surface, subsurface)Irrigation                     same as potable                                       rainwater catchment                                              greywaterFire protection
General ServicesFire and police protectionTrash/refuse removal servicesSnow removal, including on-site storage
Cultural Factors
Site History
Former site uses      Hazardous dumping / Landfill      Old foundations      Archaeological groundsHistory of existing structures      Historic value      Affiliations      Outline      Location      Floor elevations      Type      Condition      Use                Land Use, Ownership, and Control
Present zoning of site and adjacent property      Site Location in Town      Subject to review      Site location in County      Subject to review      Restrictive Covenants (please provide)      Subdivision with architectural Guidelines (please provide)      Subject to reviewAdjacent (surrounding) land uses      Present      Projected      Probable effects of site developmentType of land ownershipFunction and pattern of land use: public domain, farm type, grazing, urbanized      Present      PastLocation, type, and size of pertinent community services      Schools and churches      Shopping centers      Parks      Municipal services      Recreational facilities      Banks      Food services      Health services      Access to highways, public transportation
REGULATORY FACTORS
                Zoning CodesPermitted uses      By variance      By special use permits      Accessory structuresMinimum site area requirementsBuilding height limitsYard (setback) requirementsLot coverageOff-street parking requirementsLandscaping requirementsSign requirements
                Subdivision, Site Plan Review, and Other Local RequirementsLot requirements      Size      Configuration
      Setbacks and coverageStreet requirements      Widths      Geometry: grades, curvesCurbs and curb cutsDead-endsIntersection geometryConstruction standardsUtility location(s)SidewalksDrainageRemoval of spring and surface waterStream coursesLand subject to flooding      Detention/retention pondsParks      Open space requirements      Park and playground requirements      Screening from adjacent uses
 Environmental RegulationsWater, sewer, recycling, solid waste disposalClean air requirementsSoil conservationProtected areas, wetlands, floodplains, coastal zones, wild and scenic areasFish and wildlife protectionProtection of archaeological resources
Other Codes and RequirementsHistoric preservation and landmarksarchitectural (design) controlsSpecial districtsMiscellaneous: mobile homes, billboards, noiseSite-related items in Building Codes                      Building separation                      Parking and access for persons with disabilities                      Service and emergency vehicle access and parking