CHAPTER 6 earn Siew poe SRO CEAectl Pree Belg ay Fret a Pree The location of the bullding lot, defined through legal procedures, and dimensions for construction of the house at the correct location on the bullding lot are shown on a residential plot plan (also known as a site plan). The plot plan is submitted to a title company for verti cation of property ownership. A clear title of ownership Is required before a Plot Plans building construction loan can be ob- tained. The house, driveways, sidewalks, and other items are placed on the fot according to the dimensions shown on the plot plan. Dimensions for both ver- tical and horizontal placement are noted In addition to this information, the availablity and locations of utility ser- vices are also shown on the plot plan. 092 esbeniaL PRONTREADING GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS ‘The United States has a system for dividing and identifying parcels of land by township, range, section, and quariersetion. These divisions have ‘names and numbers that appear on the plot plan to provide a legal description of the property location, Townships, Ranges, and Sections A aridwork of lines risseroses the United States in a north/south and exstwest pattern. See Figure 6-1. The north/south nes are meridians and the ceasi/west ines are baselines. The squares formed by these lines are 36 miles on each side. These are divided into 6-mile squares called townships (1). “Townships are named or numbered for identifica: tion. A township is square 6 miles long on each side, Townships in a north/south row are called ‘range (R). For example, a township three rows to the east of a meridian is in Range 3 East, ‘Townships in an eat/west row are identified by their northerly or southerly relationship to the baseline. For example, a township two rows north ofthe baseline s noted Township 2 North. The entte description for locating & township tree rows tothe east ofa meridian and two rows north ofthe baseline is T2N, R3E. ‘Townships are subdivided into I-mile squares called sections, Sections are aumbered from 1 t0 436, beginning. in the northeast comer of the township and reading right to left for sections ‘numbered I through 6, Section 7s located directly south of section 6 and the section numbers inthis row (Sections 7 through 12) are read from left to right, Remaining sections are read following this same system, ‘Sections are divided into four equal pars called quarter seations. Quarter section corners are ‘marked witha permanent point called a point of Deinning (POR). PROPERTY LINES Property lines on residential prints show the out- side boundaries ofthe building lot. See Figure 62. ‘These lines are solid or dathed. Property lines are ‘curved orstsight, depending on the shape of the building lot. The locaton, ditestion, and length ‘of each property line is noted on the plot plan. ae nes Figure 6-1. Geographic divisions into townships, ranges, sections, and quarter sections provide Starting points and location identification for building lots. Location Ina subdivision development, a number may be provided on the plot plan which is the number of the building lot. The numbers are also given for adjacent lots. The width, center line, and name of the street or road that provides access to the hhouse are shown. The distance to the closest adjacent cross streets may aso appear onthe plot plan94 RESIDENTIAL ROVTREADING ‘The point of beginning is used by surveyors to begin measurements for the establishment of building ft locations. In urban area, the point of beginning occurs at the intersection of streets fat comers or strect center lines, In rural areas, the point of beginning is marked atthe quarte section divisions with a ste stake or concrete marker. The location ofthe point of beginning is given on the plot plan. This is the beginning Point for horizontal location measurements ona buliding lot. Measurements are made from the point of beginning to establish the building lines. The lstanes from the point of beginning to property lines are given as feet and inches, or feet and tenths and hundredths of a foot. ‘Compass Directions. The primary directions denoting property line direction are north and south. The direction of north is noted on a plot plan by an arrow pointing in that direction with an “N" at some point along the arrow. This ar- row indicates the north/south reference line. Letters denoting direction and angle measure- ‘ment along property lines show their compass directions. The primary direction ofthe proper- ty lin is indicated firs, either north (N) or south (G). The primary direction notation is followed by areading of degrees and minutes. The degrees and minutes give the angle between the property line and the north/south reference ine, This anele reading will no exceed 90". The secondary direc: tion follows the angle. This direction is either east (8) or west (W). For example, a reading of N7° 45’ E indicates a property line seven degrees and forty-five minutes tothe east ofthe north/south reference ine, headed in a northerly direction. The notation is read as seven depres, forty-five min- tes east of north, In addition to the compass direction reading ‘long each property line, an angle dimension may be given at each intersection ofthe property lines, ‘An angle dimension indicates the degrees and minutes of the angle that i created by the prop- erty nes, Dimensions Lengths are given along each property line. Dimensions are shown in feet and inches, or feet ‘and tenths and hundredths of a foot. Length dimensions ate written directly on the property lines, or extension and dimension lines are used. Dimensions fora curved or erculr section of the property line are shown with a radius symbol Because ofthe sizes of the items shown, plot plansare drawn ata smaller scale than other draw= ‘ngs in a set of biveprints. Common scaling sizes for plot plans are 1” = 20°-0*, 1" = 30-0", ‘or smaller ifthe size of the building lt is very large. ‘An engineers scale or civil engineers scale is used {or scaling dimensions on a plot plan. See Figure 63. The sealeis triangular, has sx faces, and has ‘an appearance very similar to an architects scale, The scales on the engineers scale are 12* long. Scales on the engineers scale are 1° = 10” 20',17 = 30,1" = 40", 1" = $0°,and 1 = 60 There is one scale on each edge’ The scale on each edge of the engineers scale i ead inne dtestion only. There are no inch divisions (of a foot on the engineers scale. ENGINEERS im 'SCALE Cry bese, Figure 63. An engineers scale Is used to scale lines on a plot plan,PROPERTY ELEVATIONS {In adltion to location and length measurements, plot plans also provide information about the hight of slopes and contours on the building lot. ‘The height of an object is referred to as elevation EL). The elevations of the building lot have a direct effect on the building appearance, hookups to various utilities, and the runoff of surface water. ‘The United States Coast Guard has established the average elevation between high and low tide. ‘the mean sea level. See Figure 6-4. The Plot Plans 98 elevation of mean sea lve is established as eleva- tion 0.00’. Other elevations are based on their sistance above or below ths elevation. Elevations related to the mean sea level elevation are called true elevations For eae in figuring elevations ata particular jobsite, stationary point can be ereated ata con- ‘venient location and given an elevation of 100.00". ‘This eliminates the need for figuring any eleva- tions with negative numbers (elevations below ‘mean sea level) and simplifies most elevation caleulations. Eventhough the elevation measure ‘ments ae acurate, they are called fae elevations Figure 4. Elevation refers tothe height of an object above mean sea level or another reference point.96 ResiDpNTIAL PRITREADING because they are not related tothe mean sea level elevation, Datum Point ‘A datum point is a reference point forall eleva- tions. It is established by surveyors or civil cenginers. The datum point is established on a very stable object, such as a concrete slab or building cornerstone, to provide a constant reference point that does not move. ‘ditional reference points are created at loca- tions convenient to building construction sits ‘These are bench marks (BM), See Figure 6S. Each bench mark is marked with an elevation. The loca- tion and elevation of the bench mark is shown fn the plot plan, Bench marks may be stakes or points inthe stret or curbing. The building lot elevations shown on the plot plan are related to the bench mark. Figure 65. A bench mark serves as an elevation Felerence for residential bullsings. ‘The comers of the building lot are given as cither one or two elevations, One elevation at a property lin comer indicates that the elevation fof that point isto remain unchanged after con- struction is completed. Where two elevations are siven, they are identified asthe natural, or ex- isting, grade and the finish grade, The natural rade isthe elevation of a point before construc- tion begins. The finish grade isthe final eleva- ‘fon ofthat point after construction is completed. For example, lot corner with the marking "NG. 100,00°/F.G. 98.92°" requires a lowering ofthe ‘comer by 1.08" from the natural grade to the finish grade Contour Lines ‘The natural grade and finish grade of the building lot are shown with contour lines. Contour lines are straight or curved with the slope ofthe lot. ‘A dashed contour line represents the natural ‘rade. A solid contour line represents the finish srade. Dimensions for both the natural and finish contour ines are given in feet and tenths and hun- dredths ofa foot. These dimensions relate to the bench mark elevation given onthe plot plan. Con- tour lines are shown at equal intervals of elev tion. Contour lines are given at 1,2", oF some other equal interval the architect determines. As the steepness of the slope of the lot inereases, the contour lines are closer together. Where the ‘round is flatter, the contour lines are farther apart. Refer to Figure 53 in Chapter 5. Natural Grade. Elevation readings are taken at regular spacings on the building lot. These readings are recorded, plotted, and dashed con- ‘tour lines are drawn atthe location where specific elevations oocur. Ths creates aseris of lines that shows the natural grade of the building lot In addition to the natural grade, the existing landscaping may also be noted on the plot plan. Existing trees and bushes can be shown, and also architectural notes showing the trees that wil r= main after construction and those that wil bere- moved. Finish Grade. Elevations are written on solid contour lines that show the grade ofthe lot atthe completion of construction, Finish grades are designed by the architect to create @ pleasingappearance and to allow rain water to run away {rom the house and into new or existing drainage systems, Where ground is sloping toward a house, ‘swale (small depression) is designed to provide for drainage. A swale may be noted on the plot plan along with the direction of drainage. BUILDING LOCATION ‘The location of a residential building is deter- mined by the architect within the requirements of the local building code. See Figure 66. A mini- ‘mum distance is maintained between the front of the house and the edge ofthe sitet. This is the ‘building line ot building setback. There are also minimum distances required between the sides of the house and the sides of the buildin lot. The Plot Plans 97 ‘building location as shown on the plot plan must be in accordance with these dimensions before a building permit is issued. Dimensions. ‘An outline ofthe houses shown on the plot plan ‘with object lines. Horizontal dimensions forthe locaton ofthe house are piven from the property lines. Dimensions are given in feet and inches ‘along dimension lines, The dimensions of the out- side of the house may also be provided. In addition to these dimensions, the size of garages, sheds, driveways, sidewalks, and patios ate given. Dimensions for other non-building con- struction, such as retaining walls, swimming pools, or fences are also located on the pot plan. ‘These dimensions are shown in feet and inches. 73h at Bee te mares oy : =a me cro geovinen ono \ SSE 7 Zire 2LAr ‘tee Figure 66 The location of the house on the ots indicated with dimension lines fom the property lines.Building Elevations ‘The elevation of the first floor or the basement floor of a house i given on the plot plan. This elevation is written within the house object ines. The elevation is given in fet, cents, and hun-