Center for Land Use Education and Research at the University of Connecticut

Basic Elements of Reading Plans

© University of Connecticut. The University of Connecticut supports all state and federal laws that promote equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination.
Maps show physical features of the
natural or built environment at
established scale and orientation.

Plans are engineered drawings made

to scale showing existing physical
features of a site and proposed
changes to accommodate
development.
• Parcel level
• Town wide maps
• USGS Quad map
• County
• State…….
“A map is a point in time…” -Alford Korzybski

Maps are 2-dimensional representations of

complex landscapes……at one point in time!
It’s not that complicated
• Location Map
• List of Drawings
• Orientation
• Title Block
• Legend
• Scale
• Zoning Chart
• Notes
• And More….
Orientation
North Arrow
Title Block
Information on who/what/when etc

XYZ GROUP/
ABC ASSOCIATES

500 Longitude Boulevard

Mapville, Connecticut 06001
860-555-5555

Cartography Road
Mapville, CT

Title
Creation & Revision Dates
Source
Legends
Provide a guide to the symbols used
 Scale

35’
20’ !
 Key Elements of Plans

Written Scale Graphical Scale

1:12,000 (ratio)

1” = 1,000’ (equivalent)

Graphic scales are the most reliable!

Beware of Xerox Distortion

Measuring Distances
Engineering Scales
40 ft 240 ft 400 ft

Map Scale Meaning

10 1 inch = 10 ft

20 1 inch = 20 ft

30 1 inch = 30 ft

40 1 inch = 40 ft

50 1 inch = 50 ft

60 1 inch = 60 ft
Measuring Distances

1”=40’
Your planner, if you have one, will have
reviewed the plans and may issue a pre-meeting
memo highlighting any issues. Use your planner
as a resource to help you focus in on issues or
problems.
This is a team
effort will all
staff being part
of the team.
Planner’s Site Plan Checklist
Contours: an imaginary line that connects
points of equal elevation
 Topography
Cross-sections are sometimes used to represent 3-D objects
in 2 dimensions.
 Topography
Cross-sections are sometimes used to represent 3-D objects
in 2 dimensions.

Vertical scale sometimes

exaggerated to better show change
Contours always connect,
but not always within the map boundaries...

topography of 2 hills

This could be
the edge of a
presented map
Slope direction is calculated perpendicular to the contour lines.

Water flows
...so the direction of flow is always perpendicular to the
downhill... contour lines, since this is the steepest slope
Many maps are in the
form of topographical
maps aka ‘topo’

Interpreting a 3D
world in 2D
 a contour interval is the a spot elevation is a point
vertical distance b/w contours. of known elevation used as
10’ on topos; 2-5’ on site plans a pt of reference for
surveys.
every 5th contour is an index
contour shown in bold a benchmark (BM): point of
known position & elevation
contours far apart show a used as a pt of reference
gentle slope for surveys.

a series of concentric contours contours close together

ending in a small closed circle show a steep slope
or oval shows a local hilltop

contours very close

together show a cliff

contour lines of a ridge are in a

“U” that always points downhill

green areas show forest cover;

white areas denote fields

contours at a stream form a

“V” that always points uphill
 Contour Drawing #1
a. A
b. B 22

c. C
d. D
e. E
f. F 5

2
1 1 1

F
B

E
D
C
 Contour Drawing #2
a. A
b. B 27

c. C
d. D
e. E
f. F
3
1
0 0 0

F
B

E
D
C
 Contour Drawing #3
a. A
b. B 26

c. C
d. D
e. E
f. F
3

0 0 0 0

F
B

E
D
C
 Contour Drawing #4
a. A
b. B 31

c. C
d. D
e. E
f. F

1 1
0 0 0

F
B

E
D
C
 Contour Drawing #5
a. A 29

b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
f. F
3
1
0 0 0

F
B

E
D
C
 Contour Drawing #6
a. A
b. B 27

c. C
d. D
e. E
f. F
2
1 1
0 0

F
B

E
D
C
If too Steep:
- potential erosion
- soil stability
- safety

10 ft

20 ft
If too flat:
- storm water may not drain
- may flood

0 ft
20 ft

Plan to divide one lot into 3 or more
Town regulates lot size, frontage,
setbacks, road construction, etc
Planning Commission’s Role
Once approved, each
home builder submits
construction documents
for building permit; once
complete a CO is issued
(Certificate of Occupancy)
Zoning Commission for If it doesn’t meet regulations,
administrative review to see if must go to Zoning Board
it meets regulations of Appeals for variance
ZBA can only grant
variances if there is a
hardship with the ‘land’
Site Plan Reading

FHA Pharmacy
Survey
Layout Plan
Grading Plan
Utility S&E Control
Elevation
Planting Plan
Details

Let’s go through this set of plans, page by page.

 who? what? where? when?

Where is it?

What’s the project name?

TAKE IT APART &

Where’s north?

START ASKING
What’s the scale?
When drawn?
QUESTIONS
What kind of map?
What’s it all Mean? Who made the map?
Are they qualified? 03/12/05
03/12/05
 More Level
Steeper

03/12/05

Where’s the steepest and the flattest areas?

 More Level
Steeper

HP
LP

03/12/05

Where are the high and low points?

 HP

03/12/05

What direction does the water flow on the road?

 Is this a copy?
Is that really the scale?
03/12/05
 ask questions ……
What’s the lot size? Regulations: 1 ac.

Lot is 1.34 ac.

Is that enough frontage? Regulations: 100’ min.

122’

40

Double Frontage
Is the building within setbacks? Regulations: 40’ front
10’ side

27’

131’

46’
How many parking spaces? Regulations: 41 + 2

34 + 2

9 2

5
4
8 8
What’s the distance from the intersection?
Regulations: 75’

62’

108’
Plan Reading focus in
Grade changes MUST be within property boundary

Site Plan Review

Original grade is
shown as
Grading Plan
dashed line 610

Proposed
Grade is shown
as a solid line
and as 610
Grade changes MUST be within property boundary

Site Plan Review

Original grade is
shown as
Grading Plan
dashed line 610

Proposed
Grade is shown
as a solid line
and as 610

T S Top of Stair
B S Bottom of Stair

B C Bottom of Curb
T C Top of Curb
New Spot
Elevations are
indicated with an
arrow to the
exact spot
Grade changes MUST be within property boundary

Site Plan Review

Original grade is
shown as
Grading Plan
dashed line 610

T W Top of Wall
Proposed
Grade is shown B W Bottom of Wall
as a solid line
and as 610

B C Bottom of Curb
T C Top of Curb
New Spot
Elevations are
indicated with an
arrow to the
exact spot
Site Plan Review
How does water flows across the front parking lot
 Site Plan Review – Focus on Topo
Question: How can you ‘see’ the change
from the original topo to the proposed?
 Site Plan Review – Focus on Topo
Look at the site in section
Site Plan Review – Changing Topo
 Site Plan Review – Changing Topo

610

Is there the right amount of soil to smooth the site out?

Site Plan Review – Cut and Fill

FILL

CUT

Why should you be concerned with the amount of cut and fill?
Site Plan Review Utilities – pull it apart
Site Plan Review Stormwater System
Site Plan Review Stormwater System
TF Top of Flange, or
aka Rim or CBR

Bottom of Invert
pipe usually is even
with top of Outlet
pipe

INV or Invert
where storm
water enters
catch basin
OUT or Outlet
where storm
water leaves
catch basin

Question: Why are the pipes so deep?

 Site Plan Review Stormwater System
System Schematic

TF 609.10
EO 600.50

BP 559

Question: Any concerns?

Question: What does this mean? NTS

Site Plan Review Utilities, S&E
Site Plan Review Utilities
Utility connections
Site Plan Review Construction Activity
Site Plan Review Construction Activity

Sediment and Erosion Control

Site Plan Review Details
 Site Plan Review Details S&E

Silt Fence

Hay-Bales

Anti-Tracking Pad
 Site Plan Review Elevation

Once approved,
Construction drawings
will be submitted to the
building inspector for
approval and oversight
Not for
design
review
Great Neck School, Waterford, CT
Dry Swale L-1.5
Flush Concrete Curb L-1.3
6’ Taper
Turf Pavers L-1.3
Wet Swale L-1.5
Grading Plan Sheet L-1.5

Drainage Plan Sheet C-2.0A

• What is the first floor elevation at the southwest corner of the existing school?
Sheet 1
• When were the plans last revised? Sheet 1
• What is the setback line from Great Neck Road? Sheet 1
• How many lawn drains are the in the swales adjacent to the parking lots? L-1.5
• What is the elevation of the bottom of the wet swale? L-1.5
• What is the approximate elevation of wetland flag #21? C-2.0A
• What is the distance from catch basin #1 (CB01) to catch basin#2 (CB02)? C-2.0A
• On which detail sheet would you find the details of the basketball court? L-1.3
• What material is sidewalk at the entrance to the school made from? L-1.3
• What type of trees are planted along Great Neck Rd. L-1.9
• What type of plants are planted in the wet swale? L-1.9
• Follow the rain
#1 FF Elevation of Existing School
#2 Last Revision
#3 Setback from Great Neck Rd
#4--How Many Lawn Drains
#5 Elevation at Bottom of Wet Swale
#6 Elevation of Wetlands Flag #21
#7 Distance from CB01 to CB02

90’
#8 Basketball Court Detail Sheet
#9 Sidewalk Treatment at Entrance
#10 Trees Along Great Neck Rd.
#11 Plants in Wet Swale
Follow the Rain
 Center for Land Use Education and Research at the University of Connecticut

Website: clear.uconn.edu
© University of Connecticut. The University of Connecticut supports all state and federal laws that promote equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination.