Planning Construction Chapter 15

Private Sector  Most buildings and other structures are built for ordinary people. These people make up the private sector (part) of our economy.  The private sector is responsible for 3 of the 4 types of construction.

Private Sector  For example: A family may need a home (Residential).  A person in business may need a store or a warehouse (Commercial).  A company may need a factory or other facility (Industrial).  Private funds are used to pay for the design and construction of these projects.

Public Sector  The public sector of our economy is responsible for public works construction.  This public sector includes municipal (city), county, state, and federal governments.  Responsible for initiating construction projects such as highways, post offices, and fire stations.

Public Sector  Tax money is used to pay design and construction cost.  Poorly conceived public works projects can waste millions of dollars collected from taxpayers.

City Planners (Study)  The size and character of the population  The economy of the community  The nature and quantity of natural resources such as oil, gas, water, timber, and farmland.  Transportation facilities  Educational facilities  The history and culture of the area.

City Planners  Identify areas of potential growth.  They also identify potential problems that might limit future growth.  Make recommendations for future community development.

Fascinating Fact  Designed by Joseph Strauss and finished in 1937, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is crossed by 40,714,000 Cars each year.  People pay about $55,000,000 in tolls each year to cross it.

Zoning Laws  Tells what kind of structures can be built in specific parts of a community. These laws are designed to protect homeowners from traffic, noise, and other environmental problems.

Zoning Laws May Specify  Maximum property size  Maximum height of a building  The number of families that can occupy a house  The number of parking spaces a commercial building must provide  The distance structures must be from the property’s boundary lines.

Selecting a Site  Important factors to consider consist of: Location Location Size Size Shape Shape Topography Topography Utilities Utilities Zoning Zoning Cost Cost

Selecting a Site - Questions to Ask  Location – Is the site in the city or the country? Is it near roads or highways?  Size – Is the site large enough? If not, can an adjoining site be acquired?  Shape –Is the site long and narrow, short and wide, pie-shaped, or L-Shaped?

Selecting a Site  Topography – refers to the site’s surface features. Is there a lake or stream? Are there hills, gullies, large rocks, trees? What is the nature of the soil? Is it dry sand or wet clay?  Utilities – services such as electricity, natural gas, and telephone. Are these available at the site? How much will it cost to have them installed?  Zoning – Will zoning laws permit the type of planned structure to be built there?  Cost – Is the price of the site reasonable and affordable?

Survey  A survey is a drawing that shows the exact size and shape of the piece of property.  It shows the position of the property in relation to other properties and to roads and streets.

Surveying  It shows levels or elevations (heights) of the property, and any special land features (rivers, streams, hills, gullies, trees, etc.)  The survey also includes written description of the property.

Power of eminent domain  Is a law that states the government has the right to buy private property for public use.

Eminent Domain  (The rights or needs of all come before the rights or needs of one)

Condemnation  The legal process for taking over land that an owner has refused to sell is called condemnation.  The government must prove that the property is needed.  If it does then the owner has to sell.

Scale Drawings  A small measurement is used to represent a large measurement.  For example (1/4”) may represent one foot (1’).  There are five types of architectural working drawings.

Working Drawings  Site plan – Shows where the structure will be located on the lot.  Floor Plan – shows the locations of rooms, walls, windows, doors, stairs, and other features.  Elevations – are drawings that show finished appearance of the outside of the structure, as viewed from the ground level. Fig Pg 344

Working Drawings  Detail Drawings - show any features that cannot be shown clearly on floor plans or elevations that require more information. Fig Pg 344  Section Drawings - show how part of a structure looks when sliced by a cutting plane. Fig Pg 345

Specifications  Are written details about what materials are to be used for a project, as well as the standards and government regulations that must be followed.

Review  Construction may be initiated by the private sector or public sector  A city planner may study a community and analyze its needs, then make recommendations to planning commissions.  The site is acquired through direct purchase or the power of eminent domain.  Architects and engineers design and plan structures. Working drawings and specifications are prepared.