Land development and urban design
Land development and urban design
This domain tests the surveyor's role in subdivision and urban development: interpreting planning rules, preparing survey plans, coordinating infrastructure and showing that lots can be used as intended. It links cadastral surveying with the Resource Management Act 1991, district plans, consent conditions and engineering design.
Core rules and concepts
- Check zoning, overlays and district plan rules before testing yield; a compliant boundary plan does not guarantee a compliant development.
- Resource consent conditions may control lot size, shape, access, services, reserves, esplanade and stormwater.
- Subdivision plans must match approved consents, easements, covenants and instruments.
- Infrastructure capacity - roading, three waters, power and telecommunications - must be demonstrated, not assumed.
- Urban design outcomes include legibility, connectivity, safety, sunlight, privacy and usable open space.
Worked example
A 1.20 ha site has 0.18 ha road, 0.12 ha reserve and 0.05 ha stormwater reserve. Net developable area = 1.20 − 0.18 − 0.12 − 0.05 = 0.85 ha = 8,500 m². At an average lot area of 450 m², the gross yield is 8,500 ÷ 450 = 18.9, so about 18 lots. That is only a first test: shape, frontage, access, earthworks, servicing and district plan minimums may reduce the yield. The reasoning is to subtract non-developable land first, then apply the lot standard as an average, not as a guarantee.
Traps
Counting road or reserve area as saleable lot area; ignoring district plan overlays; treating an average lot size as a minimum; overlooking infrastructure capacity; and letting the survey plan conflict with consent conditions.