February 23rd is Terminalia! 🎉

Posted by Adam Hoffman on

Terminalia: Ancient Rome’s February Festival 🏗

Land Surveying Celebrated at the end of the Roman Year (February 23rd)

What is Terminalia?

February 23rd boasts this festival. It is named after the Ancient Roman God of land boundaries, Terminus. Terminus was portrayed as a stone with no arms or legs, symbolizing the boundary marker between plots of land. This portrayal of Terminus was especially important in emphasizing how the boundaries were binding. The name is derived from the Latin word for such a boundary.

Romans believed that a sacrificial festival must occur at the end of each calendar year, February 23rd, in order to remain on good terms with the god. These sacrifices included adorning the physical terminus (boundary marker) with floral garland and offerings of sweets and other meals. It also included physical sacrifices of lambs or pigs.

The terminus was believed to be the peacekeeper between neighbors. It ensured that there would be no arguing over property lines. Neighbors would meet at their local terminus for this celebration annually.  A large feast would then occur! 🍾

Why Celebrate Terminalia?

February 23rd Celebration of Land Surveying
Modern Land Surveying

You may be wondering why a group of land surveyors and civil engineers in the 21st century would want to celebrate an Ancient Roman festival…🤔

The use of terminuses in ancient Rome are the some of the earliest forms of the modern practice of boundary marking with the use of specific objects, markers, or locations. Without the ancient Romans creating a practice of respect between neighbors and foreigners, by placing terminuses between their properties, the art of land surveying may not be where it is today.

Join Us!

While we may not be adorning stone boundary markers or offering sacrifices to a deity, we are celebrating the great history of our profession and the advancements we have made through the centuries. Check out these great resources on Terminalia:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Terminus

https://pantheon.org/articles/t/terminus.html

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/word-history-of-terminate-terminator

https://www.berntseninternational.com/home/blog-builder/happy-terminalia?utm_source=constant%20contact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2021Terminalia

Why Land Surveying is Worth Every Penny

Posted by ghhllc on

If you are thinking about buying or selling a property, you are likely wondering whether a land survey is necessary. It is undoubtedly tempting to bypass the land survey to save money, yet it presents quite a considerable risk. A professional land survey should preface nearly every single land transaction. Here’s why:

Land Surveys Provide Precise Boundaries Every Property Buyer and Owner Should Know

The sad truth is the majority of current property owners do not know the boundaries of their property. Many such property owners rely on faulty anecdotal evidence for property boundaries. Land surveys might add another step into your project planning, but they are worth the money and time.
Some property owners base their assumptions on information passed on from parents, prior property owners and/or real estate agents. However, there is no guarantee this information is accurate. You need a professional land survey to determine the exact property lines. Every individual bidding on a property and those selling a property should know precisely where its boundaries are. Our professional land surveyors are here to provide this critical information.

A Guideline for Fencing

Plenty of people who buy property intend to add fencing between their property and neighboring land. However, the fencing’s exact positioning is often estimated without concrete evidence of the property’s actual boundaries. It is not enough to simply guesstimate property lines based on where the neighbor stops mowing. You need to know exactly where your property begins and ends to erect barriers appropriately.

Identify the Space for New Construction

If there is confusion about the boundaries of the property, it will be difficult to properly build new structures in exactly the right areas. In some cases, these structures extend beyond the property line. The money you spend for a professional land survey pales in comparison to the cost of moving a building or tearing it down and building it within the actual boundaries of your property.

Understand Exactly What You are Buying

You should know exactly where the property in question extends to, whether a corner is missing, if the neighbor’s fence is on the land and so on. In short, a land survey is a means of protecting this important real estate investment.

Once you know exactly how much land is up for sale, you will be able to enter a truly informed bid that reflects the value of the actual land. Otherwise, you may bid blindly, uncertain of the property’s exact boundaries. It is quite possible misinformation provided about the land’s size will end up costing you thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Pay the comparably minor cost of a professional land survey and you will know how far the property in question actually extends. Armed with this valuable information, you can bid on the property in full confidence.

Godfrey Hoffman Hodge LLC is at Your Service

We are proud to provide surveying and engineering services for those located in Connecticut. If you are thinking about buying or selling property, it is imperative that you have it surveyed. Reach out to our main line at 203-239-4217 or our Farmington line at 860-673-0444 to find out more about our land surveying services. If you prefer to contact us online, fill out our contact form and we will be in touch.

Tips For Subdividing Land

Posted by ghhllc on

Subdividing land requires careful planning well ahead of the time at which the subdivision will occur. However, if you plan accordingly and consult with experts, subdividing land can be successful! Do not attempt a project of this complexity on your own in a DIY (do it yourself) manner. Lean on our team for assistance, follow the tips detailed below, and this process will prove as smooth as possible.

Mind the Steps Necessary for Subdivision

Subdividing a piece of land into smaller pieces for residential and commercial use requires attention to detail. This is not a single step process in the slightest. In fact, there are multiple steps that will take some time to complete. It might take upwards of several months or even several years to complete the subdivision. Be patient, complete all the necessary steps, and your subdivision project will be a success.

Produce a Survey

A survey is required to identify the metes and bounds, meaning the specific boundaries of the property in question. These boundaries set the stage for the proper subdivision of the corner of the property. Land surveys for parcels are priced in accordance with a number of factors including the number of acres, geographic location, and the properties terrain.

A Site Plan is Necessary

The site plan is a detailed document that shows the development plan. The development plan is a description of how one intends to use the land. The amount of detail in the document plan differs from one town to the next. Even the proposed use for the land plays a part in the amount of detail within the site plan. The typical site plans rely on the mapping from the survey, natural resource features, a true north arrow, and elevations. Unnatural developments including paved areas and structures are also considered.

The Property Might Require Rezoning

We urge caution when purchasing a large plot of land that will be used for commercial purposes unless the property is zoned in the proper manner. It is quite challenging to pinpoint available land in residential spaces that are zoned for commercial use. Such plots are typically zoned strictly for residences or rural/agricultural purposes. If the area near the land in question is zoned as non- residential, it might be considered commercial or industrial.

Changing zoning has the potential to prove quite challenging depending on the nuances of the particular area and project. All sorts of different factors have the potential to impact the development time for timely zoning alterations. If the area is in good shape, it might prove challenging to get it rezoned for industrial use. If the land in question is to be used for commercial development yet it is currently zoned differently, you must request a zoning waiver, present a plan to those who staff the zoning board and/or public meetings and provide the board with time for review.

Land Evaluation for Suitability

Development officials typically require in-depth testing along with an extensive evaluation to gauge whether the land will prove suitable for the requested use. Such studies and reviews are a necessary component of the subdivision process. Examples of these tests include site evaluation studies, also called feasibility studies, and environmental impact studies. Feasibility studies consider whether the intended project can actually be implemented on the land.

As long as the soil on the land is acceptable and there is adequate space, your proposed project should pass this evaluation. Environmental impact studies gauge the impact of the proposed project on the surrounding environment in terms of plants, water, air, land, animals, etc.
There is the Potential for Approval With Modifications

After the evaluations are conducted, local boards will gauge whether the proposed project adheres to specific criteria. If the project in question is in full compliance, the office of development will provide approval.
However, if the plan for subdivision is rejected, it is possible to obtain legal remedy through the judicial system. It is much more common for approval to be provided with specific modifications. Implement the suggested changes to achieve compliance and your subdivision of land can move forward in a modified manner.

Godfrey Hoffman Hodge LLC is on Your Side

Our team is here for your surveying and engineering needs in Connecticut, reach out to us today for assistance! You can contact our surveying specialists by dialing 203-239-4217. If you prefer to reach out to us online, fill out our contact form and we will be in touch at our earliest convenience.

A Message About COVID-19

Posted by ghhllc on

Dear Valued Customers & Friends,

Godfrey Hoffman Hodge remains open for business.

We are following the CDC guidelines for health & safety and will abide by recommendations as they evolve.

We are, and have been for some time, well-positioned to work from home and can make that transition smoothly should we be called upon to do so. Some of our work may be impacted by town hall closures and meeting cancellations. However, we want to assure clients that we will continue to provide the level of service, communication, and responsiveness that we have built our reputation on.

Surveying by design is a socially distant profession.

Veteran Affairs & Surveying: Assisting Those Who Served

Posted by ghhllc on

This past Monday, we celebrated and honored the past and present members of our armed forces on Veterans Day. It is an enormous sacrifice to put your life on the line to protect your country and its citizens. 

Godfrey Hoffman Hodge LLC has been working with VA related projects over the years, and it has been an incredibly humbling and beneficial experience to help out these essential groups. 

Connecticut Fisher House

The Connecticut Fisher House is a vital sanctuary for Active Duty Service Members/Veterans and their families. This “home away from home” serves as a temporary living space while these Service Members are undergoing medical treatment. 

West Haven Veterans Hospital

Godfrey Hoffman Hodge LLC has assisted the West Haven Veterans Hospital throughout the years on numerous projects. This branch of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System provides inpatient care to active and veteran service members.

Services for Veteran facilities include:

  • Base mapping for site design
  • Construction stakeouts
  • As-built surveys

As a company, Godfrey Hoffman Hodge LLC is passionate about helping Veterans affairs. If you are looking for surveying & civil engineering services, contact us at info@ghhllc.com

How Can You Reduce Land Degradation in Connecticut?

Posted by Adam Hoffman on

Man’s abusive behavior over the last 150 years has caused tremendous damage to the earth’s topsoil resulting in vast land degradation such as erosion, deforestation, waterlogging and a decline in soil fertility. Land degradation has become a critical global issue because of its harmful effects on agronomic productivity, the ecosystem, as well as its impact on food security along with the quality of everyday life. Continue reading “How Can You Reduce Land Degradation in Connecticut?” →

the art of Geocaching

Posted by Adam Hoffman on

 Who would have thought that marrying technology with recreation would result in a game so adventurous and full of fun? The way finding technique maybe a new one, but the idea is as old as probably the advent man himself. Geocaching is an entertainment method that makes use of the accuracy of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the easy availability of devices which carry this system. With a basic smart phone or a positioning device, today anyone has access to global positioning accuracy up to ten meters.

Several websites, both paid and unpaid offer various geocaches all over the globe which people can log on to and choose. These have varying difficulties from beginners to expert players. Real time communication can happen between geocacher and people searching for geocaches via internet where they can share geographic coordinates, clues, pictures and other information.

Here are few Geocatching websites to visit:

Geocaches are often boxes buried into ground containing a notebook to log in when the geocache is discovered in addition to everyday objects to swap when seekers find it. This game can be played by friends, families and even solo adventurists. The primary website portal for geocaching is Geocaching.com which as per July 2007 said it listed 422,892 active geocaches worldwide. This fun way of discovering and way finding is here to stay and only to get more popular.

References:

Webb, Robert M. (2001) Recreational Geocaching: The Southeast Queensland Experience. In 2001 – A Spatial Odyssey- Australian Surveying Congress – Brisbane September 2001., September 2001, Brisbane Convention Centre.

WhatIs.com,. “What Is Geocaching (GPS Stash Hunting)? – Definition From Whatis.Com”. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Mar. 2016.

Open.ac.uk,. “Geocaching And Learning”. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Mar. 2016.

Surveyor Spotlight: Steve Strinie Radio

Posted by Bill Nagle on

steve-1Ever wonder what Steve Strinie does in his spare time? Probably not, but you may have heard him on the radio without even knowing it!

Steve has long had a tradition of hosting a show Sunday evenings on WFCS Radio 107.7. He plays a wide array of artists, but generally classic rock and blues rock. His favorite group is “Moody Blues”, so you’ll be sure to hear a song or two from them on a regular basis.

record-336626_640True to the music of his era, every song is played from the “Vast Vinyl Library”.

You can view Steve’s playlists here.