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CHAPTER 8

Legal Descriptions and Plot Plans

Civil Drafting Technology, 7th editionMadsen, Shumaker, and Madsen

© 2010 Pearson Higher Education,Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. • All Rights

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Legal Descriptions Identify specific pieces of property in a survey. Each individual property must be completely described.

Separates property. A plot of land can be legally identified using: Metes and bounds description Lot and block description Rectangular system description

A complete legal description may include all three description types.



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Metes and Bounds Describing and locating property by measurements from a known point called a monument.

Monument – a fixed, known point such as a section corner, rock, tree, or the intersection of streets.

Point of beginning (POB) Metes – measurements of property lines expressed in units of feet, yards, rods, or meters.

Bounds – boundaries such as streams, streets, roads, or adjoining properties.



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Example Metes and Bounds Legal Description BEGINNING at the intersection of the centerline of W. Powell Boulevard, formerly Powel Valley Road and the centerline of S.W. Cathey Road; thence South on a line parallel with S.W. Cathey Road, 200 feet; thence West on a line parallel with W. Powell Boulevard, 184 feet; thence North along the centerline of S.W. Cathey Road to the place of beginning; EXCEPTION there from, however the rights of the public in and to that portion of the herein described property lying within the limits of W. Powell Boulevard and S.W. Cathey Road.



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Example Metes and Bounds Plat



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Lot and Block Describing land by referring to a recorded plat, the lot number, the county, and the state.

Lot – a single piece of property in a subdivision.

Example lot and block legal description: Lot 7, Block 135, Oregon City Subdivision, City of Oregon City, Clackamas County, State of Oregon.



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Example Lot and Block Plat



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Rectangular System “The great land survey”. Developed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Some states are not included in the rectangular system. States that are not included use metes and bounds descriptions.



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Rectangular System Survey division:

Basic reference lines Townships Sections Subdivisions



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Basic Reference Lines Base lines (horizontal parallels). Principal meridians (vertical lines). Base lines and principle meridians intersect to form the initial survey point, or origin.

31 sets of base lines and principal meridians in the United States proper.

5 sets of base lines and principal meridians in Alaska.



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Basic Reference Lines



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Townships An arrangement of rows of blocks formed around the intersection of a baseline and a principal meridian.

6 miles square. Horizontal rows north or south of the intersection of the base line and principal meridian are identified as townships. For example, the third row above the origin is Township Number 3 North, or T.3N



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Townships Vertical columns east or west of the intersection of the base line and principal meridian are identified as ranges. For example, the second column to the right of the origin is Range Number 2 East, or R.2E

Now you can put a township and range together to identify a specific block in the survey, such as T.3N, R.2E

Townships extend as far north and south and ranges as far east and west as that particular great public land survey goes.



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Townships



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Sections Division of townships:

Each 6 mile square township is divided into 36 sections that are 1 mile square.

1 square mile = 640 acres 1 acre = 43,560 square feet Sections are always numbered 1 to 36, beginning at the northeast corner of the township and going across from right to left, then left to right, right to left, and so on.



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Sections Within a Township



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Subdivisions Division of sections:

Sections can be divided into 160 acre quarters (corners).

Quarter sections can be divided into 40 acre quarters.

Quarters of quarter sections can be divided into 10 acre quarters.

Additional subdivisions can be made, such as a residential subdivision of lots less than an acre in size, such as:

LOT 12, SHOSHONE RIVER ESTATES, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT RECORDED IN BOOK "F" OF PLATS AT PAGE 153, PARK COUNTY, WYOMING



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Subdivisions The smallest portion of land is written first, such as the “SW 1/4, SW1/4, SW 1/4” (shown).



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Rectangular System Legal description includes:

Section Township Range Relation to principle meridian County State



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Complete Legal Descriptions May include all three description types.

Always begins with the smallest division and progresses to the largest division.

Study the legal descriptions presented in the “The Complete Description” section of Chapter 8 to better understand the components of a complete legal description. Plot the property according to the complete description.



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Plot Plan Also known as a site plan or plat. A map of a specific piece of land. Typically contain an accurate legal description, drawings, and information regarding the plot of land.

Contents vary depending on local requirements.



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Possible Plot Plan Requirements Legal description. Property lines, dimensions, and bearings.

Direction of north. Existing and proposed roads. Driveways, patio slabs, parking areas, and walkways.

Proposed and existing structures, including dimensions.

Location of well and/or water service line.

Location of wells on adjacent properties.



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Possible Plot Plan Requirements Location of proposed gas and power lines. Location of septic tank, drain field, drain field replacement area, and/or sewer lines.

Dimensions and spacing of soil absorption field, or leach lines.

Location of soil test holes. Proposed location of rain drains, footing drains, and methods of disposal.

Ground elevation at lot corners, and street elevation at driveway centerline.

Slope of ground.



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Possible Plot Plan Requirements Proposed elevations of main floor, garage floor, and basement or crawl space.

Number of bedrooms proposed. Proposed setback from all property lines.

Utility and drainage easements. Natural drainage channels. Total acreage. Drawing scale.



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Example Plot Plan



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Methods of Sewage Disposal Septic Tank – used in areas without public sewer lines, but with porous soil (dirt).1. Waste from house enters a septic tank:

Heavy waste sinks to the bottom. Floating waste is trapped at the top

between the inlet and outlet.2. Waste water leaves the septic tank =

effluent.3. Waste water enters a drain field, soil

absorption field or leach lines.4. Waste water is filtered through the

soil.



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Septic Tank

Section View

Plan View



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Methods of Sewage Disposal Cesspools – used in areas without public sewer lines, but with very-porous soil (gravel).1. Waste from house enters a cylinder:

Heavy waste sinks to the perforated bottom section.

Floating waste is trapped in the non-perforated top section.

2. Effluent leaves cylinder through the perforated bottom section.

3. Waste water enters the very-porous soil.4. Waste water is filtered through the

soil.



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Cesspool

Section View

Plan View



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Methods of Sewage Disposal Public sewers – used in areas with public sewer lines.1. Waste from house goes through a

sewer line and enters a main public sewer line.

Main line is typically under the road or an easement near the home.

Sewer lines identified as sanitary sewer.



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Public Sewer

Section View Plan View



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Vicinity Map Shows a project site in relation to the surrounding area.

Helps with locating and accessing the site.

See Figure 8-15.



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Plan and Profile Plan – provides detailed construction information in plan view. Looks down from above (top view)

Profile – an outline of a cross section of the earth. Cross section through the site showing ground and sewer construction.

See Figure 8-15.



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Title Block and Legend Identifies the plot. Provides information about drawing scales, symbol, compass direction, and special notes.

See Figure 8-15.



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Utilities The following utilities may be drawn on a site plan: Electrical Gas Phone TV cable Water

Underground or overhead (identify).



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Site Design Considerations Storm water run-off:

Slope hard surfaces and lawn1/4” per foot min.

Grading rules: Don’t grade on adjacent property. Don’t slope towards adjacent property.

Slope the site away from the structure.

Provide adequate drainage.



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Site Design Considerations Driveways:

Single car: 10’ min.

Double car: 18’ min., center reduced width.

Turning radius: 15’ min., 20’ preferred.



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Site Design Considerations Provide room for utilities. Don’t build over easements. Identify all trees that are to remain on the site after construction.

Use retaining walls when necessary to minimize slope, reduce erosion control, and level the site.



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Fire Department Access and Site Planning Roads:

15’ min. width. 5’ additional width

clear of vegetation. All weather = gravel or

paved. 50,000 lb gross vehicle

load, including bridges and culverts.

10% maximum road grade, preferred.

150’ long drive? = turnaround at end

400’ intervals = 20’ X 40’ passage space



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Fire Department Access and Site Planning Firebreak – ground cover no more than 24” in height and all dead vegetation removed: 30’ around all structures Greater for steep terrain

Fire department approved address sign.

On-site water supply – pool, pond, water storage tank within 15’ of structure, or home sprinkler system.

Wildfire zone? = no wood roofing



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Property Line Layout Property lines of each lot and the boundaries of the plat are commonly labeled with distances and bearings.

Arced shaped property lines typically require the following curve information: Radius (R) Length (L) Delta angle (∆) – included angle of the curve



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Steps in Site Plot Layout Study the information presented in the “Steps in Site Plot Layout” section of Chapter 8 to better understand how to layout a plot plan. Closely follow steps 1 through 6.



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Chapter 8 Activities Chapter 8 Test Part 1 & 2 Part 3 Subdivision Plat

Chapter 8 Problems P8-3 and P8-4 Part VII Figure P8-9

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