TABLE OF CONTENTS Once the final construction documents are prepared, the land development consultant can pursue the necessary approvals and permits required to actually break ground at the site. For many clients, an approved rezoning (entitlement) or successful subdivision is the first critical path element: this is the determining factor in terms of moving forward with the development program and detailed design efforts. Subsequent to entitlement, the next (second) critical path element is often an approved site plan (or local equivalent) and building permit, as these are both required to commence construction. Given this front-end emphasis on land development services, the value of a qualified, local land development consultant is evident.
Knowledge of the local review and approval process, refined negotiation skills, and a thorough understanding of project schedules and permit time frames are important in terms of procuring timely approvals. Depending on the jurisdiction, several iterations of plan submission and review could be required depending on the plan size, complexity, and quality of the final design: consultants must be prepared to defend their work technically yet be flexible enough to accommodate modifications requested by review staff. In other words, land development consultants must pick their fights wisely in order to successfully balance client project schedules and jurisdictional working relationships.
This phase of the design process is particularly important as it is the primary QA/QC (quality assurance/quality control) opportunity...
