No project comes up in a vacuum, and no project site is excluded from laws and regulations, be they federal, state, or local. WithersRavenel’s multidisciplinary team stays updated on rules to ensure any project we undertake remains in compliance.
For instance, starting on June 1, 2023, under the City of Charlotte’s UDO requirements, all residential projects – including individual residential lots – must comply with drainage and urban forestry requirements.
The applications for residential projects are reviewed by the City’s Storm Water Services and Urban Forestry staff, using the Accela permit system.
According to the City’s UDO website, these applications can be submitted before or with Mecklenburg County Land Use and Environmental Services Agency (LUESA) Residential Plan reviews.
The urban forestry review process is tiered, including Non-Development Heritage Tree Permit; Tier 1 (Residential Single-Lot Tree Preservation); and Tier 2 (Residential Single-Lot Tree Preservation).
Similarly, the stormwater review process is broken down into tiers, including: Tier 1 (minimal or no impact to existing drainage patterns or drainage infrastructure); Tier 2 (New storm drainage infrastructure or other impacts to existing drainage or drainage infrastructure); and Tier 3 (Flood Study required [Q100>50cfs] and/or UDO Article 23 [Water Supply Watershed Protection] and/or UDO Article 25 [Post-Construction Stormwater Regulations] compliance is required.)
So what does this all mean?
In a hypothetical and very specific scenario, under the new rules, a City of Charlotte property owner who wants a building permit for a pool, shed, or other small addition may be required to show documentation that they are under the new “built upon area” thresholds and are meeting the “heritage tree” requirements. For any home near the threshold, owners will need to get a survey of their property to make the case.
Tier 2 and Tier 3 under the stormwater review process require survey services. Under Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects, plans and calculations have to be sealed by a design professional such as a Professional Land Surveyor or Professional Engineer. Additionally, if grading changes are proposed on the lot, a topographic survey is required.
WithersRavenel’s Charlotte office has a fully staffed Survey crew, led by Bryan Lackey, PLS. By combining our conventional surveying expertise, depth of staffing, and state-of-the-art equipment, our team provides accurate data to serve as the basis for a successful project.
Crucially, we have the availability to help you complete these reviews in a timely manner and help clients adhere to their deadlines. Our team includes remote sensing professionals, who can, where necessary and required, provide accurate surveys of properties using unmanned aerial systems (drones).
Want to get your project moving with our survey team? Reach out to Tobe Holmes, our business development representative at the Charlotte office, at (843) 345-7709 or tholmes@withersravenel.com.