How are subdivisions developed? Most people are familiar with the process of building an individual home, but how do entire planned subdivisions come to be? What steps are taken for subdivision development?
Before you can understand the process of subdivision development, you must understand what a subdivision is and how ownership of subdivisions works.
Here’s a brief overview of what you should know.
An introduction to subdivisions
A subdivision is an area of land that is split into multiple plots so it can be sold, developed or transferred. A development company purchases a large area of land and then is able to divide it into a number of subdivision lots. The amount of land tracts that can be subdivided depends on the total area of land and the local building permits and zoning laws.
The land for subdivisions is usually owned by local, county or state governments. Developers purchase the land from whomever owns it and then begin the planning process with a survey to determine the boundaries of the land as well as structures and property located within the areas.
The process
Once it comes time to start planning out a subdivision, the first step is for the developer to get a contract and the permission of the local governing body. This could include a local plan commission, city council, municipal office or another land developer with the proper connections. The proposal you submit to the required body should include schematics, layouts, and detailed site plans. Try also to include as much information and data as possible about the project goals.
You will need to know the zoning ordinances in the area where you wish to develop. Zoning laws dictate how specific geographical locations can be used for development. Some areas are strictly residential only; others can be designated for commercial or mixed-use development. In some areas, you might be allowed to create residential developments but may have to seek additional approval for subdivisions—if they’re even allowed in that zone at all.
If the zoning allows for a subdivision, you’ll still need to secure the necessary building permits. These permits give you official permission to erect structures on the land and also give developers access to local utilities, roads and other infrastructure in accordance with your local regulations.
Throughout this process, you will need to keep in mind that the definition of a subdivision can vary a bit and that there are unlikely to be specific rules as to how many units such a subdivision will contain. You might run into different issues or challenges in each municipality you work with, simply because every community will treat subdivision development differently.
So how are subdivisions developed, and what idiosyncrasies do you need to know about subdivision development before deciding to take on such a project? We encourage you to reach out to the team at Randy Roan Construction Inc. with any questions you have for us about subdivision development. We look forward to speaking with you about your upcoming project.