Cost of Surveying when Monuments Destroyed

[kwilson]

Just a quick note about the cost of doing boundary surveys when monuments have been destroyed by negligence.

As we all know, some cities have done a good job to preserve original monuments. We find centerline monuments or recorded ties that provide the location of the original subdivision lines. On the other hand, some cities have neglected this and as a result nearly nothing is left except the curbs. When the streets are straight it is not too difficult to re-establish the lines. When there are multiple curves, it can get tricky.

It is our standard in our office that when splitting curbs is used as the method to re-establish the boundary, a Record of Survey should be filed. This is based on the idea that material evidence is being shown that in whole or in part does not appear on any recorded map.

Based on that, I am just throwing out some general numbers but i have noticed the difference between doing a standard boundary and topo survey for a house addition in a subdivision where the centerline monuments exists and where curb splits are needed could easily be $3000 or more. This includes the need to file the Record of Survey vs. a Corner Record. In some Counties the fees make it much worse.

Really too bad for the consumer when jurisdictions allow construction without monument preservation (still going on all the time)

Ken Wilson