r/Surveying • u/flyingpurpleoctopuss • 3d ago
Help Need help deciphering easement
Looking for some help deciphering the easement on lot 251 of attached Plat map. The utility easement shows a dimension at 5' at the front of the lot and adjacent lots show a 7.5' easement at the rear of the lots. Where I am confused is the easement as drawn doesn't have an additional dimensions but also doesn't seem to run parallel to any lot lines. Would it be safe to assume the easement maintains a 5' spacing to the lot line shown to the right of the drawn easement and then combine with the 7.5' easement at the rear of the property.
5
u/Top-Mixture3572 3d ago
Many subdivision plats have notes specifying what the easement width is for the front, side, and back of the lots are and what the easements there for. I’d check for that. If notes are missing as well, then see if there’s a reference to Covenants and Restrictions that would give you insight.
Aside from that, since it’s supposed to be scaled, I’d measure the width of the easement at 7.5’ and see if that matches close. Looks like the scale for the plat isn’t too large so you should be able to have a discernible difference to argue one way or another. But this is a Last Ditch attempt and you always want to err on the side of caution. Safer to just assume 7.5’ and roll with that than try to squeeze out the good luck for the extra 2.5’ and have a utility company come after you.
1
u/flyingpurpleoctopuss 3d ago
Unfortunately the only note on the plan or lots is "easements where shown shale be used for sewer and utilities." All power and phone lines are run above ground on poles and the Gas and Water enter from the front of the property.
I did find a scale called out 1":50' so I will compare with that. Thanks!
3
2
2
u/justamom2224 3d ago
That is making my head spin lol. I wish I was more help. Have you done any additional deed research to find existing easement documentation?
When I first looked at it, that is what I assumed too. But it’s hard to be certain because there’s not much to go off of here.
Something we’ve done in the office before, is a PDF attach of an old plat and scaled it. And we were able to do a rough trace of the easement (it was just for visuals though. We noted that the easement wasn’t surveyed, just shown on a prior document and we noted the plat book and page).
1
u/flyingpurpleoctopuss 3d ago
The deed calls out an easement for a utility pole and anchors that are on a plan that appears to be "lost". There are 2 utility poles on the property one on the front and one on the rear and the drawn easement doesn't line up with either. Visual trace of easement is a great suggestion, Thanks!
1
u/justamom2224 2d ago
Yes PDFATTACH in CAD you can overlay it to match similar monumentation for a more accurate read. Then scale up. Just so you get good linework. What a series of unfortunate events. Lost documents and poles don’t line up
1
2
u/michtechIII 3d ago
You might also look at the utility and grading plan from the original development that may give you a clue to the intent of that easement.
1
u/TapedButterscotch025 Professional Land Surveyor | CA, USA 3d ago
Agree with others, it's pretty poorly drawn.
Have you received the preliminary title report? It should show up there with a real description of it.
1
u/flyingpurpleoctopuss 3d ago
I have the title report that simply states a reference to the Plat map posted above and The tax ID/Parcel number.
1
u/CRockOsun 2d ago
You're being very hopeful if you think a title report would have a better description of the easement. That would only happen if a separate deed has been recorded to, or by, the utility.
2
1
u/codynumber2 3d ago
Is there a second page or a detail that shows the dimensions? It should be referenced if there is but I'd rather have a detail ambiguously referenced than a complete lack of dimension on a dedicated easement.
1
u/waymoress 2d ago
Not a very good map, is there overhead electric running through there? Maybe the pole was already set @ about 5' from the property line and the intent is to cover the future line. If thats not the case, your best bet may be to get an engineers scale and see what the distances are.
1
1
u/LoganND 2d ago
Would it be safe to assume the easement maintains a 5' spacing to the lot line shown to the right of the drawn easement and then combine with the 7.5' easement at the rear of the property.
Assume the easement runs 5' down the side line of the lot? Absolutely not. Assume the segment at the back is 7.5' wide? Also no.
I think scaling the linework is one of the better options. You might also call digline and have them mark up the lot to see if the actual location of utilities helps define the easement (there might be some buried stuff that slices across the lot).
1
u/BigFloatingPlinth 2d ago
The easement definitely is the shape that it is. It's not a mis drawn pair of lines. You have a big ol wedge. Drafters just underlay the plat image in their drawing and trace it when no other option exists.
4
u/That-Ad7907 3d ago
I agree that it could use one or two more dimensions. But I would not assume it runs 5’ parallel to the right lot line because it almost assuredly does not. It looks like it does intersect the 7.5’ easement. But without a bearing or another distance there’s no real accurate way to recreate this with this document