Blog 3

Brooke Henes
Fin 180
Dr. Hansz

Real Property Regulations

When a developer buys a piece of land to turn into a subdivision, they have to go through many steps in order to turn that land into a beautiful subdivision. They have to create a comprehensive plan, look at what type of zoning regulations there are, adhere to local building codes and subdivision regulations. I will talk about these steps in more detail.
A comprehensive plan is a documented long-term guide for a community or region’s future development and growth. In Portland, OR, their goal is to “Maintain Portland’s role as the major regional employment, population and cultural center through public policies that encourage expanded opportunity for housing and jobs, while retaining the character of established residential neighborhoods and business centers.” The policies and objectives are: population growth, urban diversity, annexation, urban lands, future urban areas, open space, Willamette River greenway plan, forest lands, residential neighborhoods, downtown Portland ,commercial centers, transit corridors, auto-oriented commercial development, industrial sanctuaries, living closer to work, strip development, transit stations and transit centers, transit-supportive density, infill and redevelopment, utilization of vacant land, existing housing stock, mixed use, buffering, Terwilliger parkway corridor plan, Central city plan, Albina community plan, and the outer southeast community plan.
Zoning is a restriction on the way that land can be used. This allows government to control the development of communities and ensure they are functional and safe places. For example, Dr. Hansz mentioned in class that in Houston, TX they have poor zoning so there could be an adult store next to an elementary school or a gun shop next to a five star hotel. So it is important for a developer to choose the right lot. My mom has always told me the most important thing in real estate is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
Building codes are a minimum required construction standard used to protect the health and safety of the public. Each state has there own building codes that comply with safety regulations. For example, California has stricter earthquake regulations and Florida has stricter hurricane regulations.
Subdivision regulations are a required minimum standard in subdivision design and construction. They provide application, review, and permitting procedures that guide the design, layout, and structure of the divided lots for elements such as streets, utilities, drainage, landscaping, lighting and other necessary public improvements. Unlike zoning bylaws , which typically apply to individual lots, subdivision regulations establish a process by which a larger piece of land is divided into smaller pieces. These regulations also address how infrastructure, such as roads or utilities, are integrated into the new development.
I thought this was an interesting topic because I am in construction management and may work for a developer some day. There is also a lot behind my house that was subdivided into 14 lots and has two homes built so far. It’s interesting to know how the developer went about to subdivide the lot.


http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=34249

http://real-estate-law.freeadvice.com/zoning/zoning_legalese.htm

www.mounthollyvt.org/planning.../subdivision%20regulations.pdf