3 Essentials You Should Know About Land Development

Land development refers to altering the form and landscape of a piece of land to suit specific usage needs. First, you can change the landform of a raw piece from its semi-natural or natural state for purposes such as residential housing and agriculture. The process of development also includes subdivision and demarcation of the land into smaller lots. Often this process helps reorganise the area and personalise ownership as you set up structures on the land.

If you do not know much about land development, read the following piece to acclimatise with the essentials:

Land Use and Zoning

Land use and zoning are critical components of land development. Essentially, most local authorities limit the way you can use or develop the land, especially in urban areas. You will find sites dedicated to commercial developments such as offices. Such areas cannot house residential structures meant for family use. Before starting your land development project, cheque with the local authorities to make sure that the establishments you put up fall within the allowable land uses. The application and confirmation process could take several weeks or months. Checking with your contractor will help you start the process in good time.

Natural Environmental Elements

Certain environmental elements will affect your land development undertakings. Environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands and floodplains will affect your land development dimensioning and positioning. For instance, you may be required to keep all buildings at least fifty metres away from a natural river or floodplain so that you do not interfere with the waterways. Additionally, you may have to build bridges or walkways over natural features to mitigate the impact of the land development project on the natural ecosystem.

Land Development and Utility Availability

The availability of utilities is one of the crucial components of a land development undertaking. For instance, if you are setting up a residential estate, you need a reliable supply of utilities like water, waste, and stormwater management. Your project will involve the construction of water, sewer and gas supply systems besides the houses you are setting up for tenancy.

On top of that, traffic access facilities must come into the project to facilitate easy access for the occupants. Your contractor will conduct a traffic impact analysis to determine the best access structures to put up. They could recommend gravel roads, asphalt roads or a combination of paving elements with the least impact on the environment. The result will be a built area that accommodates the natural setup of the land.