Working to develop environmental easement surveys requires experience, ingenuity, resourcefulness and health and safety mindfulness. Fortunately for environmental consultants and commercial developers, DPK Consulting has leveraged its 3D scanning, surveying capabilities and H&S culture to capture geospatial data on everything from skyscrapers to historic churches – for decades.

For this project, DPK was tasked with the preparation of an Environmental Easement Survey. This survey would be utilized as a background document for recording of an environmental easement. Just as a reminder, Environmental Easement Surveys play a crucial role in both environmental consulting and commercial land development, especially in large urban areas.

Here’s a brief summary of the benefits:

• Regulatory Compliance – In big cities, regulations related to land use and environmental protection are often stringent. Environmental Easement Surveys help consultants and developers ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws, avoiding potential legal issues. For the permitting processes, these surveys can be a prerequisite for obtaining necessary permits, streamlining the approval process for development projects.
• Risk Management – Surveys help in identifying potential environmental hazards such as contamination, wetlands, or protected habitats. This is crucial for managing risks and avoiding future liabilities. They are also tools for avoiding costly delays. By identifying environmental constraints early, developers can avoid delays that could arise from unforeseen environmental issues.
• Sustainable Development – Environmental Easements often protect areas that are critical for water quality, wildlife habitats, or green space. Surveys ensure that these areas are preserved, contributing to sustainable urban development. Compliance with environmental easements can also contribute to achieving green building certifications like LEED, which can be attractive to investors and tenants.
• Economic Benefits – By understanding the environmental constraints on a property, developers can optimize land use, potentially increasing the value of the development. Some environmental easements may qualify developers for tax incentives, grants, or other financial benefits, making projects more economically viable.
• Community Relations – Adhering to environmental easements demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship, which can enhance a developer’s public image and strengthen community relations. It can also reducing opposition from environmental groups or local communities, making the development process smoother.
• Long-term Planning – Future-proofing Projects! Understanding the environmental aspects of a property allows for better long-term planning, ensuring that developments are resilient to future environmental changes or regulatory shifts. Environmental Easement Surveys help in retaining the long-term value of the property by preventing degradation of natural resources that could negatively impact property values.

Getting back to the project story, this city location serves as an active commercial and residential property. Utilizing DPK’s internal research team and documents supplied by their customer, e.g., deeds, previous surveys and maps, title commitments, etc., DPK identified existing easements and restrictions on the property that may represent issues that could affect title and use of the property.

DPK’s survey depicted significant improvements in the area including buildings, walls, fences, steps, parking lot striping, sign locations, sidewalks, curbs including depressed curbs, and bollards. Adjacent properties, edges of landscaped areas, and other property details were also mapped. Additionally, DPK’s survey reported and resolved any minor discrepancies found in the record deed information.

DPK’s internal systems team developed AutoCAD electronic files and final maps to fulfill all of the required deliverables. Needless to say, they have a very happy customer!

LEARN MORE about DPK Consulting’s unique capabilities and value-driven solutions for the environmental and commercial development industries. Discuss your next project, call 732-764-0100 and ask for James Heiser or Ray Hyman. Alternatively, visit our 24/7 Quick Quote page at DPKConsulting.net/quick-quote to upload your scope of work and site reference documents. A DPK project manager will respond promptly.

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