Coastal Construction Manual - National Ready Mixed Concrete ...

4 SITING
Buildable area limits imposed by lot-line setbacks, hazard setbacks, and sensitive resource protection
requirements
Effects of coastal hazards on lot stability
Location and extent of supporting infrastructure, utility lines, septic tanks and drain fields, etc.
Impervious area requirements for the lot
Prior development of the lot
Future building repairs, relocation, or protection
Regulatory restrictions or requirements for on-site flood or erosion control
Although the local regulations, lot dimensions, and lot characteristics generally define the maximum
allowable building footprint on a lot, designers should not assume that constructing a building to occupy
the entire buildable area is a prudent siting decision. Designers should consider all the factors that can affect
an owner’s ability to use and maintain the building and site in the future (see Table 4-3).
Table 4‐3. Guidelines for Siting Buildings on Existing Lots
Development or Redevelopment of Existing Lots in Coastal Areas: Summary of Guidelines for Siting Buildings
DO determine whether the lot is suitable for its
intended use; if not, alter the use to better suit the
site or look at alternative sites.
DO study the lot thoroughly for all possible resource
and hazard concerns – seek out all available
information on hazards affecting the area and prior
coastal hazard impacts on the lot.
DO account for all types of erosion (e.g., long-term
erosion, storm induced erosion, erosion due to
inlets) and governing erosion control policies when
selecting a lot and siting a building.
DO avoid lots that require extensive grading to
achieve a stable building footprint area.
DO ensure that the proposed siting is consistent
with local, regional, and state planning and zoning
requirements.
DO identify and avoid, or set back from, all sensitive
resources.
DO consider existing public access to shoreline and
resource areas.
DON’T assume engineering and architectural
practices can mitigate poor lot layout or poor building
siting.
DON’T assume that siting a new building in a
previous building footprint or in line with adjacent
buildings will protect the building against coastal
hazards.
DON’T rely on existing (or planned) erosion or flood
control structures to guarantee long-term stability of
the lot.
DON’T overlook the constraints that site topography,
infrastructure and ancillary structures (e.g., utility
lines, septic tank drain fields, swimming pools), trees
and sensitive resources, and adjacent development
plane on site development, and (if necessary) future
landward relocation of the building.
DON’T overlook the constraints that building
footprint size and location place on future work to
repair, relocate or protect the building—allow for
future construction equipment access and room to
operate on the lot.
DON’T overlook the effects to surface and
groundwater hydrology from development of the lot.
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