Site access to mountain real estate

The Importance of Clear Site Access to Mountain Real Estate

A poorly designed or constructed road can be a major headache for a homeowner. It can limit access to your house, especially when the weather is snowy, icy or wet, and can also cause erosion and stream sedimentation that can lower the value of your property and destroy the beauty of the land. Also, find out who is legally responsible for maintaining the road to the property or house: the state, the developer, or the property owner. If the road to the property is private, make sure that you have legal access in and out to a state maintained road.

Accessibility to your home should be a major concern. Emergency vehicles such as fire and rescue will need a turn around space. This also applies to the large moving vehicles that will be loading and unloading. Place special attention to tree canopy as well as slopes and curves. To avoid these potential problems, plan ahead. Many communities do not have safeguards such as subdivision regulations so consider contacting your emergency services for consultation.

Road grades of 12% or less is desirable. A 12 % road grade means the road rises or falls approximately 12 vertical feet in each 100 feet of length. Unpaved roads with grades in excess of 12% erode easily and are difficult to maintain.

Road embankments should be stabilized and covered with healthy vegetation to help prevent erosion and localized land slides You should visit the property when it is raining to evaluate how well surface water drains off the site. Water should be diverted away from the road and the homesite. Badly eroded roads, road embankments and ditches indicate an improper or non existent drainage system for the property. they also lower the value of your property and destroy the beauty of the land.