David W. Depew, PhD, AICP, LEED® AP, brings with him more than 35 years of experience as a county development director, planning consultant, and expert witness and litigation support. Dr. Depew has been qualified as an expert in comprehensive planning, policy analysis, zoning, transportation planning, and related areas in a variety of circuit courts throughout the State of Florida, including the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Alachua County, as well as in Federal Court and in Florida Administrative proceedings conducted under Chapter 120, F. S. Additional areas of expertise include traffic analysis, policy analysis, eminent domain-related planning issues, demographics, and statistical modeling.
Entitlement & Permit Survey Services
Boundary Survey
This survey offers protection to any purchaser of land, from the sophisticated developer to the novice first-time home buyer who is not aware of the different hazards that may exist. A complete boundary survey (in concert with a title opinion or title commitment prepared by an attorney) will almost always discover any encumbrances that may hinder the use of the land, such as unknown or forgotten easements, public rights-of-way that may cut through the property, or encroachments of a neighbor’s improvements onto the property being purchased (or vice versa).
Existing Conditions and Topographic Surveys
An existing conditions survey is a boundary survey where all visible improvements on the property are located, measured and shown on the survey drawing. All surveys done for permitting purposes and rezoning applications require an existing conditions survey.
Based on the entitlement being sought, existing conditions surveys can also be required to include topographic information, where elevations are taken over the entire parcel of land being permitted to determine the configuration of the surface of the ground and the location of natural and man-made features. The topographic survey is vital for design professionals to utilize in their work.
Subdivision Plats and Replats
Platting, or the subdividing of land, is often the goal of many types of land development entitlements. Platted subdivisions were created to help simplify the transfer of ownership of land by way of a simple legal description. All lots and tracts in a recorded subdivision are created at the same instant, when the plat is recorded into the public records, guaranteeing there will be no gaps or overlaps between the lots and tracts.
Chapter 177 of the Florida statutes gives the general rules for the platting of a subdivision, including the rule that any parcel of land divided into three tracts or more must be done by the recording of a subdivision plat. Replats are required when a portion of a recorded subdivision is going to be reconfigured.
Let a Morris Depew mapping and surveying expert guide you through the complexities involved in all aspects of entitlements and permitting. Obtaining the proper legal documentation is a crucial early step in the development of real estate — make sure you enlist the aid of someone with deep experience in this critical area.