10 Rules oftheSuccessful

Navigating Land Development Design

NEPA Process
No matter the type of land development, there are 10 basic rules to live by for a successful project.
Before federal agencies and their sponsors can put a shovel in the ground they must evaluate,
document and report a project’s potential social, economic and environmental impact.

1. Master engineering – Consider sewer, 2. Listen to the land and

water, transportation, stormFUNDING?
sewer, gas, electric, understand it – There’s much
DOES YOUR PROJECT USE FEDERAL NO NEPA MAY NOT APPLY
telephone and fiber, earthwork (grading), lot to learn walking the property
configurations (lot width), trails and amenities with the owner. Knowing what
YES not as the project progresses.
at the beginning, you’re facing can have direct
cost/benefit effects.

DETERMINE LEAD AGENCY CONDUCT STUDY & RESEARCH

 3. Use space wisely
Highway: Federal Highway Administration – Three
Leadcommon examples
 Why isofthe wasted space
project are:
needed
Intersections – They’re costlyandIdentify
take upalternatives
valuable space.
 Flood/Levee: US Army Corps of Engineers  Lead
Stormwater management – Rainfall is increasing. Incorporate a stormwater
 Rationale for solution
 Airports: Federal Aviation Administration  Lead
plan from the beginning to reduce overall costs.
 Solution consequences
 Transit: Federal Transit Administration  Lead
Home setbacks – Vary property lines to create more lots/acre with less street.
Social
 Land Dev: Bureau of Land Management  Lead
 Economic
 Dams/Powerplants: Bureau of Reclamation  Lead  Environmental
 Urban: Housing and Urban Development
4. Match talent to the task  Lead  Measures to reduce impact
 Other ___________________________________
and be clear of roles and  Lead
 responsibilities – Make sure 
Other ___________________________________ Lead
 the developer, contractor,
Other ___________________________________  Lead
and city officials are in sync, DOES YOUR STUDY SHOW
as they all have different 6. DesignENVIRONMENTAL
from the outside inIMPACT?
–
priorities. 5. Save streets for last – Design backyards to the property
PROCEED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL
People live in homes. Start YES
boundaries and front yards to the street.
ASSESSMENT (EA) PROCESS
there. Then move onto the This reduces earthwork (oneNOof the most
street design. costly elements in land development).

DOES THE EA SHOW SIGNIFICANT

PREPARE CATEGORICAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT?
8. Design each element for EXCLUSION (CE/CATEX)
the greater whole – Always DOCUMENTATION
7. Don’t ignore topography –YES design with
NO the end-user in
Topography is essential for learning mind. Create a destination
the geologic and hydrologic that people will flock to. Turn
PREPARE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE FINDING OF NO PROCEED
9. Explore WITH
creative PROJECT
ideas –
characteristics of a STATEMENT
property. obstacles into elements.
IMPACT (EIS) SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI) Routines help get projects done
quickly, but they’re not always
best in every situation. Commu-
SUMMARY OF EIS 10. Be flexible and know your market and
PROCESS
PROCEED
product – Listen to the market. WITH
Housing designPROJECT nity amenities may be just the
A Agency publishes Notice of Intent in the
trends change and consumer demands ebb and thing to lure the buyers you’re
Federal Register
flow. Know what your clients want and bring it looking for.
B Draft EIS published for public review/
comment for a minimumtoofthem.
45 days PROJECT PROCEEDS
C Final EIS published, provides responses WITH ROD CHANGES
to substantive comments
D Minimum 30-day "wait period"
Do you have a land development project on the horizon?
E Issuance of the Record of Decision (ROD)
Contact Randy Jenniges to help maximize your project’s ROI
320.333.5951
For additional insight into the NEPA process, contact Bob Rogers at brogers@sehinc.com
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