Don't blame me if I can't accept responsibility
We made a survey of an existing boundary on some property that was more than 10 acres in size. After the survey was complete and monumented a map of the survey was recorded.
The client just called and told me that the city is asking for a "certified plot plan" to show the site and setback dimensions for a new house they are planning. This annoys me to no end. Does the city expect our client will violate their miniscule setback requirements on a 10 acre parcel?
Couldn't the city send one of their hourly employees to look at this huge flat and vacant parcel and make a determination that a 30' x 40' house would fit there?
The client managed to have their septic system approved, and that shows the house they are planning. So I will be using that as a templete to make their completely unnecessary "plot plan" at no charge to the client because it just annoys me so much that the totally incompetent city employees cannot make a decision without somebody else to take resposibility.
Does the city expect our client will violate their miniscule setback requirements on a 10 acre parcel?
Well, I guess it's not outside the realm of possibility. Just because they have 10 acres doesn't mean they won't try to stick it 2 feet from a line.
I think the more absurd thing is that they think the surveyor has any control over where the owner or contractor places the building.
Be sure and use language on the plot plan that absolves you of any responsibility for the final build location.
I think the most absurd thing is that you are doing this for free. You are providing a service to your client. A service that the client needs. You have no control over why they need it. It's not your fault, no more than somebody catching a disease is the doctor's fault. You should be getting paid for the service you provide. I sure would.
A lot of what I do here in NJ is residential construction. There is not a town in NJ that I have worked in that does not require a plot plan for new construction, complete with drainage design. If a septic system is involved, test pits or soil borings have to be witnessed by the county department of health and the system designed by a PE and submitted to the health department for review and approval. After everything is built, a final as-built plan has to be submitted to the local zoning authorities for approval before a CO can be issued.
Every step of the process requires application fees and escrow fees for approval, regardless of the size of the lot.
regardless of the size of the lot.
You want to put a 40' wide house on a 50' lot with 5' setback from the line and minimum 15' from another house (I have seen this)? Ok, plot plan makes sense. Show me you thought this out.
But, yes, a person can put a house over the line with 10 acres, but a drawing won't fix the problem.
AND...hand sketching it on the survey would work in quite a lot of jurisdictions. It just needs to be to scale.
resolves you of any responsibility
Did you mean "...revolves you..."
***absolves?
When it matters, I recommend setting marks for the excavator, setting marks in the excavation for a footing , and setting marks on the footing for a foundation. A final record of the foundation may be necessary if required.
I don't think it matters in this case. I've argued before and persuaded the town officials to think of how totally unnecessary this is to be required for all situations. The boundary was marked. I don't think there is anything left do do except maybe teach the city how to use a ruler.
You are putting the cart before the horse when it comes to setting "marks". The local zoning officials do not just come up with these requirements and the only thing that they are educated in is what the zoning and construction ordinances say.
