×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Local Government Planning & Regulatory Functions

Local Government Planning & Regulatory Functions

Local Government Planning & Regulatory Functions

(OP)
In your opinion, how much does Local Government Planning & Regulatory Functions affect the design process during land development design.

Is there a way to avoid the Local Government Planning & Regulatory Functions thru politics (befriending the mayor and stuff like that.)

RE: Local Government Planning & Regulatory Functions

Local Gov't Planning and Zoning functions are put in place to monitor and steer land use. They do have a say in the use of land and design of projects. However trying to subvert this process is NOT in your  best interest. Nor is it in the best interest of the Public. They are your ultimate client.
did you take any course work in ethics in college?

RE: Local Government Planning & Regulatory Functions

I agree with most of what dicksewerrat says above.  I would add that the ethics comment works both ways.  There are a LOT of frustrated designers in planning and zoning departments WORKING the ordinances inside and out to make over the cityscape in their image without a thought to cost.  I'm sorry, but some of their requirements are just plain silly and it is time someone said so.  I don't agree with trying to do an end around the ordances.  The key is to get active in the process and get them changed to something more in tune with the real world!

That's my two cents.

RE: Local Government Planning & Regulatory Functions

There is always a way around some of the regulations of local communities through politics.  Getting commissioners to support your project is the best way.  However, there are some aspects that even the planning dept. bosses cannot sidestep. These are the laws that coincide with state and federal laws such as SWQ and flood control regulations.
In respect to one's career, it's not a good idea to try and circumvent the regulations, especially regs. that require mitigation of impacts (flood control).  Law suits are everywhere.

RE: Local Government Planning & Regulatory Functions

I agree with all the above.

Land development regulations are a game with fixed city/county and state and federal rules.  One must play by all the rules or risk ecconomic and professional damages (There is even a case of a engineer being jailed for wetland violations).  Even silly rules must be fully obeyed.  I consider complex rules as job security and an opportunity to provide greater services (and collect greater professional fees).

In the real world, many engineers "game" the system by politicing or enticing or just resubmitting a project a dozen times with minor revisions to get some slack in the land development regulations because they can not or will not design it per the regulations. (They even cheat and do not get caught!)  If they are doing it to save money for the client, that client will readily sue them if the non regulation cheap out causes any problems.

I firmly follow the policy the I will not cheat.  If I cheat, then I might have to pay for the correction.  If I do not cheat, then the client pays his rightful developmental costs.  It means that I have to work harder, but I always sleep soundly.  

The role of the developer is to politic with the regulatory and governmental officials.  The role of the engineer is to design a cost effective solution that meets all rules and accepted engineering practices.  Lots of times there is hidden slack in the rules, you just have to find it.  

You will find, that as you work more in certain jurisdictions, that you will aquire a reputation.  What kind of reputation do you really want?  People remember your mess-ups much longer that your sucesses, so be careful.

Finally, any job worth doing, is worth doing right.  

Clifford H Laubstein
FL Registered PE 58662

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources