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FAQs

  1. Why do I need an engineered site plan?
    • An engineered site plan is a crucial component in many construction and development projects for several reasons:
      1. Compliance with Regulations: It ensures compliance with local zoning, environmental, and building regulations. Municipalities often require a professionally engineered site plan before issuing permits.
      2. Accurate Design and Layout: It provides a detailed and accurate representation of the project's design, including the layout of structures, utilities, landscaping, drainage, and other site features.
      3. Avoiding Costly Mistakes: It helps identify potential issues early in the planning process, which can prevent costly changes and delays during construction.
      4. Proper Drainage and Grading: It ensures proper drainage and grading, which are critical for preventing water damage, erosion, and other issues that could affect the stability and longevity of the structures.
      5. Utility Planning: It includes detailed plans for the placement of utilities (e.g., water, sewer, electricity, gas), ensuring they are appropriately located and accessible.
      6. Coordination with Contractors: It serves as a reference for contractors and other professionals involved in the project, facilitating better coordination.
      7. Environmental Protection: It helps in assessing and mitigating the environmental impact of the project, ensuring that natural resources and ecosystems are protected.
      8. Property Value and Marketability: A well-engineered site plan can enhance the value and marketability of the property by demonstrating a well-thought-out and professionally planned development.
      9. Risk Management: It aids in managing risks associated with construction, such as soil stability, flood risks, and compliance with safety standards.
      10. Stakeholder Communication: It provides a clear visual representation of the project that can be easily communicated to stakeholders, including investors, regulatory agencies, and the public.
    • Overall, an engineered site plan is essential for ensuring the success, safety, and sustainability of a construction or development project.
  2. Why is my survey/site plan so expensive?
    • Complexity of the Project: More complex projects require more detailed and intricate site plans. This increases the time and effort needed for planning.
    • Professional Expertise: Creating a site plan requires skilled professionals such as architects, engineers, and surveyors. Their expertise comes from many years of education, multiple licensure exams and many many hours of becoming familiar with Town Codes, the land in the area and working with municipalities. You should think of engineers, surveyors and landscape architects in the same way that you think of a doctor, accountant or attorney.
    • Regulatory Requirements: Compliance with local zoning laws, building codes, and other regulations are extremely complex and require detailed knowledge. The site plan must meet these requirements, often requiring additional research and adjustments.
    • Site Surveying: Accurate site plans often require a detailed survey of the property. This process involves specialized equipment and can be time-consuming, especially for large or irregularly shaped lots.
    • Environmental Considerations: Assessing and planning for environmental impacts, such as drainage, soil stability, and vegetation, can add complexity.
    • Customization: Custom site plans tailored to specific needs and preferences can take many hours to create.
    • Permitting Process: Navigating the permitting process can be intricate and time-consuming, often requiring multiple revisions and interactions with local authorities. Some municipalities are more difficult to work with than others, which can increase the time needed for permitting.
    • Technological Tools: Advanced software and tools used to create detailed and accurate site plans come with their own costs.
  3. Can I use an old land survey for my site plan?
    • It depends. Typically most surveys that are used for real estate transactions are boundary surveys, and do not include topography. Most site plans require topography. If you need a site plan that includes topography, Marks Engineering will quote you for a land survey so that all data is current and can be easily transferrable to the engineering department for drafting.
    • If you've recently had a topographic survey completed, ask your land surveyor if they are willing to share the electronic CAD files. Our team can review the electronic files to ensure that it meets our professional standards. If it does, we are happy to use it and not charge you for another topographic survey.
    • Please note that certain Towns (e.g. Town of Canandaigua) specifically require a survey to be completed within a year of the application. In most cases, this necessitates a new survey to be conducted.
  4. Does Marks Engineering (ME) cover all meetings with my municipality? What happens if I don't hire ME to attend meetings with my municipality?
    • No, Marks Engineering does not cover all meetings, only meetings agreed upon between client and engineer in the signed proposal.
    • At all meetings with municipalities, a presentation of the site plan is required. Often, the Planning Board or the Zoning Board of Appeals will have technical questions about the plans. If you are not well versed in engineering or surveying, we recommend retaining Marks Engineering to assist you in representation.
    • Please note that owners should plan to be present at all meetings with their municipality either electronically via Zoom or in person. Although Marks Engineering is happy to send a representative, we require the owner, or a personal representative of the owner to be present at all meetings that Marks Engineering attends.
  5. What is an Additional Service Request (ASR) Agreement?
    • An ASR stands for Additional Service Request, and quotes the client for additional work that was not estimated in the original scope.
    • This can happen if the project deviates from the original estimate, or requires review by additional agencies that was not originally planned.
    • This can also occur if the client requests a revision to the original design that necessitates substantial more work by the engineer (substantial is defined as more than two additional hours of work).
  6. What is Cloudpermit (Town of Canandaigua only)?
    • Cloudpermit is the cloud-based system used for the submittal and approval of planning and zoning applications in the Town of Canandaigua. These include: Form based Code Projects, Lot Line Adjustments, Site Plans, Sketch Plans, Special Use Permits, Subdivisions, and Zoning Variances.
    • This system requires our clients, property owners as well as design offices to create a login and be active in the step-by-step process.
    • More information can be found at the Town of Canandaigua's website: www.townofcanandaigua.org
  7. What is the PRC (Town of Canandaigua only)?
    • PRC stands for Project Review Committee.
    • The Town of Canandaigua sends every project for approval through the PRC to be reviewed. This allows for the Town to review materials being submitted and determining whether or not the application is complete.
    • Please visit the Town's website for more information: www.townofcanandaigua.org
  8. What is a watershed and how does it affect my project?
    • A watershed is a land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt to creeks, streams, rivers and eventually to outflow points such as reservoirs, bays and the ocean.
    • If your project is located in a protected watershed, you may need to submit additional applications for approval to watershed offices.
    • The main watersheds we work with are the Canandaigua Lake Watershed and the Keuka Lake Watershed (which includes shores of Seneca Lake as well).
    • Marks Engineering will guide you through working in the protected watershed, as we are well versed in the subject matter, and know the watershed inspectors and the process for approvals and review. Often this includes soil testing that is coordinated with the watershed inspectors, and submission of plans to the watershed inspectors for approval and filing.
  9. What is a variance?
    • A variance is a relief/waiver of the application of specific requirements to the municipal code.
    • When a client applies for a variance, they have the burden of showing that the specific conditions are met to allow for such a waiver. This is why municipality meeting attendance by the applicant in addition to the design firm is crucial.
  10. What is a "perc" test?
    • A perc test is short for percolation test, and it is a soil test for projects requiring one such as new or replacement wastewater (septic) systems.
    • Percolation tests measure how quickly water drains into the ground at a specific location.
    • If you are located in a protected watershed, you may need to have your soil tests witnessed by both an engineer and a watershed inspector.
  11. What is a Deep Hole test?
    • A deep hole test is a procedure that analyzes soil drainage and the different types of soil present to help determine the best location for a septic system.
    • The test involves digging holes that are typically 4-6 feet deep using an excavator, collecting soil samples and inspecting and testing them.
    • If you are located in a protected watershed, you may need to have your soil tests witnessed by both an engineer and a watershed inspector.
    • Marks Engineering is able to bring our excavator to your property to complete this test, or you can utilize your own excavator as long as an engineer is present.
  12. Do you install septic systems?
    • No, our office strictly designs septic systems. You will need to hire a contractor who installs septic systems to complete the excavation and ground work.
    • We are happy to give you the names and numbers of excavation contractors/installers we work with.
  13. Do you design houses?
    • No, our office does not design houses.
    • We work closely with many architects in the Finger Lakes region and are happy to provide you with a list of architects we work with at your request.
    • We partner with the architect you choose to get a footprint for the house you are building to include in the engineered site plan.
  14. What determines my project "complete?"
    • When all items outlined in Schedule A - Scope of Services have been fulfilled.
    • Please note that contract fulfillment by Marks Engineering is not contingent on approvals or permits granted by municipalities or government agencies.
    • Furthermore, payment of invoices to Marks Engineering is also not dependent on approvals or permits granted by municipalities or government agencies as per your contract.