Site Zoning Dorf Solutions Summary

Read and took notes on 4/20 between 9:45pm-11:15pm for 1.5 hours


Description
- Tests the understanding of zoning and other setback restrictions in plan and in section.
- Task 1, You will receive a program, site plan, cross-sectional grid and be required to draw areas suitable for construction of buildings and areas suitable for surface improvements on two separate lots
- Task 2, Site section, draw existing grade profile and max. profile of the two buildings (above grade)


Considerations
- profile of the existing grades
- location of the section cut line
- legal front yard, side yard, rear yard setbacks from existing property lines
- easements, view corridors, other restrictive building areas
- setbacks from natural features, tree lines, well points, existing buildings
- the delineation of suitable building areas, and
- the delineation of suitable surface improvement areas
- height restrictions
- solar-access planes
- restrictions on which grade elevations buildings can be placed


Site Analysis Recommendations
- Must be completed before attempting to delineate the profiles of the buildings.
o There is only one correct solution to this portion, be sure to follow program EXACTLY or will get downgraded or fail
o No subjective thinking options, just one answer
- Thoroughly review existing conditions noting ALL plan notes or dimensions
- Setbacks are measured perpendicular to given elements, even when curved
- Use sketch tools to show construction limits and setbacks
- 10’ grid tool is valuable, USE IT.
- Determine setbacks for irregular shapes with sketch circles
- Two tasks, show building allowable area of coverage, show surface improvement allowable area of coverage
- Do each task separately, use layers
- Typically, easements will be available for construction of surface improvements, but not always, READ PROGRAM
- Accuracy is a main ingredient of solution even though the software may prohibit
- Look for small areas that still may be within setbacks, they will count
- Use “ortho” tool whenever possible, it’s faster


Site Section Recommendations
- draw existing grade accurately
- sketch tools for various height or setback limitations on the grid
- be sure to accurately the bench mark elevation as it is important in location of other elevations
- use ortho
- only one solution, check for accuracy, then check again
- angled sun exposure lines or planes can be determined by using a sketch line and drawing it at an angle, draw line at correct angle using triangulation
- EXTREMELY important to take notes of the various restrictions, DO NOT TRY TO MEMORIZE, a single error will be fatal
- Building profiles required are all above grade, it will not be necessary to trace over the existing grade line


Scoring Issues
- setbacks and height limits are properly and accurately shown
- front yard, side yard and rear yard setbacks are measured from property lines
- buildable areas (both buildings and surface improvements) are MAXIMIZED
- easements are respected per program
- measurements are reasonably accurate
- grade line is drawn reasonably accurate
- Since there is only one correct solution to this problem, any deviations will be downgraded, or if serious will trigger a fail. Mistakes on the site plan portion of this vignette will cause profile errors


Task 1 approach (site plan)
turn on 10’ grid
sketch limits per grogram perpendicular from elements, circles may be helpful for curved or odd shapes


Task 2 approach (site section)
draw existing grade, check scale of grid, it MAY differ between horizontal and vertical
use sketch tool to drop points that correspond to grade elevations at cut line
connect the points with straight segments with the draw grade command
OR
immediately enter draw grade command, use full cursor and click on the points as you go, this takes practice but may save some time
Draw all required lot line setbacks, easements, height restrictions, bench mark (ON BOTH SIDES OF SECTION), solar access planes, etc.
Take care in locating point where solar access plane initiates. It should be accurate, zoom in if necessary
outlining maximum volume of buildings should be straight forward after this point


Site analysis tips
- ‘surface improvements’ can occupy same area as the ‘building construction’ since they are on separate layers
- For speed make use of ortho 10’ grid and eyeballing 5’ setback increments
- Draw segmented lines for setbacks at curved elements, use sketch circles to help
- If more than one street, the program will indicate which is considered the ‘front’
- Buildings may be built over easements but generally only improvements will be allowed
- Keep within 1’ tolerance for showing setback restrictions
- Not required to leave both layers on before exiting vignette


Building profile tips
- area most likely will not be completely orthogonal, must show correctly, use sketch lines
- building outline starts and ends at a part of the grade, do not trace the grade too
- grade line does not need to show beyond the property line, but may help get a more accurate profile where it meets the property line
- use move / adjust tool to fix grade line if inaccurate, do not redraw
- use line sketch tool for sun exposure plane, stretch for more control and accuracy
- do not square off limits with an angle, draw them with the angle
- stay within 1-2 feet tolerance and 1 degree for angles
- use sketch circles as required for setbacks
- most time is dedicated to setting sketch elements for limits, drawing actual limit outlines and grade will take less time
- no need to hide sketch lines when leaving vignette