Page 10 - CCGA Best Practices Version English

Practice Description: Various items are required on the Development
Plans filed prior to the development of lands. Where a Development Plan is
to be filed, the items required should include the location[s] of both above
and underground facilities traversing the land described on the Development
Plan. Identification of the location[s] of both above and underground facilities
on the Development Plan would provide notice to developers and the public
about the existence of infrastructure facilities, and would alert facility owners
of the need to establish communication with the developers to facilitate
planning for the lands which complements the utility infrastructure. Facility
and owners should maintain timely and accurate records of all abandoned
and not-in-use facilities, and this information should be identified on
Development Plans along with the existing, future, and proposed facilities.

Benefits: The requirement that utility infrastructure locations be identified
on the Draft and Site Plans is shared with the facility owners should ensure
that facility are fully aware of development which will impact on their facilities
well in advance of the commencement of excavation activity. It should also
facilitate the optimal use of the land being developed, and maintain the
integrity of the utility infrastructure.
References:
• CSA S250-11, Mapping of Underground Utility Infrastructure

1-4: Gathering Information for Design Purposes

Practice Statement: The designer/engineer should use all reasonable and
available means of obtaining information about utility facilities in the area to
be developed.

Practice Description: During the planning or preliminary design phase
of a project, all available information should be gathered from the facility
owners, including maps of existing, abandoned, and not-in-use facilities,
as-built of facilities in the area, proposed projects, and schedules of work in
the area. The methods of gathering information should include contacting
a notification service, facility owners, property owners, Public Utility
Commission (PUCs), and government (municipal, provincial, and federal)
departments and agencies. They also include a review of the site for above
ground evidence of underground utilities, e.g. permanent signs or markers,
manhole covers, vent pipes, power and communication pedestals, and valve
covers. The owner provides the locations of his/her underground facilities by
other means, such as by marking preliminary design drawings or providing
facility records to the designer. This latter option for gathering the required
information should be pursued purposefully by the designer. The information
gathered by these methods is used by the designer for purposes of route
selection and preliminary neighbourhood impacts, or in the evaluation of
different design possibilities.

Canadian Common Ground Alliance
Best Practices Version 3.0 – October 2018
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