Site Design and Engineering should provide the guidance you need if you’re a property owner, developer, architect, engineer, student, or contractor in America, delving through the minefield of rules and regulations about residential and commercial site development. Or it may act as a refresher for your skills.

Over his four decades as an engineer and consultant, Ali Shasti has been asked hundreds of questions by developers, consultants, and the public. In this book, he outlines the responses to those critical questions that helped them to find solutions to their concerns and negotiate to their advantage.

Learn from his experiences to understand the permitting process and how to get fast-tracked permit approval, develop sound engineering projects, and create a sound set of approvable and constructive construction plans to ensure the success of your project.

The first chapter evaluates a suitable site for the type of development a potential property owner may seek. How to select a property with the least number of problems and risks. Also be mindful of potential issues to avoid ensuring profitability. Acquiring a valuable property sets the stage for the rest of the chapters in the book.

The second and third chapters focus on gathering the survey and geotechnical information for the site. Although surveying is different from geotechnical engineering, they are two of the essential elements of any successful design and construction project. What data and information to seek when ordering a survey and a geotechnical report?

Chapter four provides some design information and processes after the first three chapters. There are many ways of designing a specific project. However, there aren’t probably too many ways to optimize a design. This chapter aims to provide a basic understanding of design elements and processes, hoping to achieve the most efficient method in any site condition.

Chapter five reviews different activities and their definitions and requirements for construction and other activities within the right-of-way. Understanding how to approach the AHJ and obtain the necessary permits for encroaching right-of-way for construction and non-construction activities is essential.

Chapter six provides information regarding single-family residential and accessory dwelling units (Mother-in-law) and how to prepare construction plans to start permitting process. How to prepare site engineering construction plans and what to submit to the AHJ? This type of permit is probably the most common since there is always a need for additional homes. As of March 2022, a shortage of four million homes exists in the United States of America. This trend will probably continue for years and perhaps for decades for various reasons outside the scope of this book.

Chapter seven discusses the design and construction plans prepared for a small sixteen-lot residential subdivision. Project 2, featured in this chapter, starts from vacant land to the survey map to a final completed construction plan—the only example in this book that provides comprehensive design and construction plans for the entire project. For readers interested in the design, construction plans preparation, and permitting, I recommend reading or studying this chapter before proceeding to chapters 8 and 9.

Chapter eight is the same as chapter seven, except it is an example of a larger nineteen-lot residential subdivision. Plus, each lot is much larger than the lots in Project 2. Therefore, it has different challenges reviewed and discussed in this chapter. Readers are encouraged to read or study chapter seven before venturing into this and the following chapter, 9.

Chapter nine presents commercial project site improvements for a three-story chain hotel and a potential dine-in restaurant. Even though there are similarities between this project’s stormwater management system with the previous projects, settled differences are essential to pay attention to in commercial sites—differences in the parking lot design and other facilities such as commercial swimming pools and spas. This chapter discusses all those elements specific to a hotel site design. The author recommends the reader read or study chapter 7 before venturing into this chapter.

Chapter ten reviews and discusses the permitting agencies’ processes and requirements. Since numerous permitting agencies have many provisions that could significantly differ from others, covering all these requirements is almost impractical and impossible. However, covering many general requirements and processes provides some ideas about the needs and procedures, which helps the permittees have realistic expectations.