Major Site Plan Review Process

Before you begin any major construction project involving multi-uses (e.g., a daycare, a church, a hotel) or where permitting will be required, it is important to have a written Major Site Plan. The outline of your plan should include: A detailed project description; a list of all required permits and the dates required for their submission; an overall cost estimate for all phases of the project; and a contact person's list. You should work with a professional construction estimating service that can not only provide a written Major Site Plan but one with which you will work with throughout the construction process. You can obtain a Major Site Plan template online from a variety of websites. But it is a good idea to use the plan that is in most draft form from these same websites.

Submitted Major Site Plans are subjected to at least two critical reviews prior to being released. Preliminary approval (or pre-preliminary approval) is typically accomplished prior to submitting a Major Site Plan. This type of approval is not necessarily a green light to proceed but may indicate that additional study and analysis have been conducted by local officials and may require a change in the initial plan. A pre-preliminary approval, therefore, does not necessarily mean that a plan will be approved. It is important to submit plans meeting all requirements as described in the final approval prior to the start of construction.

Major site plans also require final approval after the project has been completed. In order to get this approval, the agency reviewing the plan must consider the recommendations provided in the plan as well as any changes made during the project. Major site plans provide a checklist of all necessary permits as well as an overview of each section of the project. In addition, final approvals may require additional studies, such as an environmental impact report, which the Major Site Plan itself cannot address. When final approvals are received from local, state, and federal agencies, the project can move forward.

Each Major Site Plan contains detailed descriptions of the project's objectives, scope, and method for accomplishing the objectives. In addition, each plan identifies the schedule, cost estimates, and a list of subcontractors, all of which are required to meet the objectives. Major Site Plans are usually prepared based on a preliminary investigation. Once the scope and schedule have been finalized, the plan is submitted for approval to the appropriate governmental authorities for review and approval. The final approval comes after a third party inspects the proposed site and determines that the plan's objectives have been met and that the project is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and local policies. Click here for more details about lagalgaxy1

Although the above description portrays the process by which a Major Site Plan is prepared, it is important to remember that in some instances, additional steps may be needed to acquire final approval for the project. If a landowner is planning to build a housing development project on a piece of property and requires additional environmental approval, for example, the local Planning and zoning department may require additional permitting before any construction begins. Similarly, if the proposed site is considered too hazardous or subject to adverse environmental impact, the project may need to seek additional permits from a different department or agency. The availability of these additional permits is dependent upon the local authority and is not always readily available.

Major site planning involves numerous steps, and the entire process can take several months before the desired site selection is made final. The duration of a Major Site Plan review can be quite extensive. The project can sometimes go on for years, even decades. Once the final site plan is approved, the owner must obtain permits, develop a site layout, hire workers, and complete all other necessary projects.