SITE PLANNING
“A site plan is an architectural plan, landscape architecture document, and a
detailed engineering drawing of proposed improvements to a given lot. A site plan usually shows a
building footprint, travel ways, parking, drainage facilities, sanitary sewer lines, water lines, trails,
lighting, and landscaping and garden elements.” Department of Building and Development Land
Development. Loudoun County Government. Accessed 11 Feb 2009.
“Such a plan of a site is a "graphic representation of the arrangement of buildings, parking,
drives, landscaping and any other structure that is part of a development project".
A site plan is a "set of construction drawings that a builder or contractor uses to make
improvements to a property. Counties can use the site plan to verify that development codes are being
met and as a historical resource. Site plans are often prepared by a design consultant who must be either
a licensed engineer, architect, landscape architect or land surveyor".” Site Planning
Process Chesterfield County, Virginia Planning Department. Accessed 11 Feb 2009.
According to (Brooks, 1988) “Site Planning begins by assuming that we are ignorant of the
site. This is not to say that one is oblivious to the process or components, but that, in accepting lack of
knowledge of a site, the planner proceeds with objectivity and without preconceived notions as to the
conclusions. Initially, these early stages of research, data collection, documentation, synthesis are an
analytical procedure and provide the foundation of information and data for future design decisions.”
Paramount to understanding site planning is understanding that it is a process. By definition
a process is a sequence of interrelated events or decisions that result in a product or conclusion. This
characteristic of site planning must be fully comprehended, as attempts to short circuit the process can
produce unnecessary and unfortunate consequences.”
Example of a site plan, retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lochaber_Centre_Site_Plan.jpg
PURPOSE OF SITE PLAN
“Site plans are intended to show how the intended land use relates to the features of a parcel and
its surrounding area. The zoning administrator will review a site plan to assure that the proposed
development meets the standards of the zoning code for the district it is located in. This person will also
verify that the development will be adequately served by necessary public facilities such as roads,
schools, water, emergency services, and sewage disposal. The site plan review process is designed to
protect landowners and it is in their best interest to comply with the procedure. A development that is in
full compliance with the zoning code has the best insurance against land use lawsuits and complaints.
Furthermore, a development that is not in compliance with the zoning code is unlikely to be granted any
further development permits until it is brought into compliance.” Understanding Zoning Permit Site
Plans, retrieved January 12, 2020 from
https://www.henrycountyiowa.us/offices/planningzoning/forms/2011/How_To_Zoning_Site_Plans.p
df
ESSENCE OF SITE PLANNING
“The final resolution of the site plan is a concomitant part of the architecture. The range of
alternatives and their evaluation relative to the client’s goals cannot be completely assessed without the
structure. Site planning in its earliest phases simply expresses a process through which decisions relative
to the union of building and site be made. The building must begin to evolve in function and form through
the development of alternatives are abstract and the notion of an integrated site and structure are lost.
Although issues will vary, a good site planning judgement is based on a knowledge of the facts
and an understanding of the interrelationships between the natural and man-made components. The
subjective qualities of preferential forms and design vocabulary will be expressed and articulated by the
biases of the site planner throughout the process. The methodology simply serves to separate the
“objective” from the “subjective” and to create a firm and cogent target for the designer’s creative leap
from problem statement to alternative solutions. “(Brooks, 1988, p. 309)
The following are purposes of site planning:
- To learn and practice a logical method of fitting design programs and sites harmoniously.
- To understand interaction of following factors in design process.
i. Natural factors (landscape)
ii. Socio-economic forces (planning), and
iii. Technological functions (architecture & engineering)
- To Understand the site development process by observing natural and human factors affecting the form
and appearance of the environment.
- To collect information and data concerning planning or design issue
- To classify and analyze the data.
- To make recommendations for issues at hand.
- To draw up guidelines for planning, architecture and landscape disciplines.
Site Planning, retrieved January 12, 2020, from
https://www.slideshare.net/ShubhranshuUpadhyay/site-planning-30658085
“Site layout planning can affect productivity and is crucial to project success. However, as
construction is heterogeneous in the nature of its organizations, project designs, time constraints,
environmental effects, etc., site layout planning for each project becomes unique.
Site layout shows the relationship of the proposed site with its surroundings with respect to
communication, approaches, and existing facilities. Good site layout planning assists in minimizing the
traveling time and movement costs of plant, labor, and materials, activity interference during
construction work, and site accidents, and ensures that work on buildings and other construction
positions is not impeded by the thoughtless storage of materials on these locations. So site layout can thus
either enhance or adversely affect construction productivity and progress. It is important to acquire the
knowledge of the project site before setting out the site layout.” Significance of Site Layout Planning,
retrieved January 12, 2020, from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/construction/ significance-of-
site-layout-planning-construction-essay.php
