What access easements must be created to serve all subdivided lots?

When land is subdivided for industrial use, especially in multi-lot layouts, access easements are crucial for ensuring that each parcel has legal, physical, and operational access to internal roads, utilities, and emergency services. These easements protect against future disputes, maintain infrastructure flow, and are often mandated by local planning regulations.

Below are the key categories of access easements that must be created to serve all subdivided industrial lots:

1. Ingress and Egress Easements

• Purpose: Guarantee uninterrupted vehicular and pedestrian access across lots to common internal roads.
  
• Application:
  
  • Required for any lot that does not front a public or private access road directly.
    
  • Must accommodate heavy commercial vehicles, with a recommended minimum width of 9 to 12 meters.
    
• Legal Requirement: Should be recorded in sale deeds and layout approvals, ensuring all future owners retain usage rights.

2. Shared Driveway and Internal Road Easements

• Purpose: Allow multiple lots to use a common access point or shared road system.
  
• Design Considerations:
  
  • Easement must match or exceed industrial vehicle turning radius standards.
    
  • Include cul-de-sacs or turning loops at the end of dead-end access routes.
    
• Responsibility: Maintenance responsibilities must be assigned through owner associations or development covenants.

3. Emergency and Utility Access Easements

• Purpose: Provide right-of-way for fire trucks, ambulances, police, and utility service providers.
  
• Regulations:
  
  • Fire access roads typically require a minimum 6-meter width with clear vertical clearance.
    
  • Utility corridors must allow maintenance and inspection of power, sewer, water, and storm drains.
    
• Placement: Run along rear or side lot boundaries to minimize building footprint interference.

4. Cross-Access Easements for Circulation

• Purpose: Enable internal traffic to circulate between lots without re-entering the main public road.
  
• Benefits:
  
  • Improves operational efficiency.
    
  • Reduces congestion at the entrance and exit points.
    
• Design Note: Particularly useful in parks with warehousing, logistics, or multi-tenant blocks.

5. Temporary Construction Access Easements

• Purpose: Allow initial construction vehicles and equipment to pass through undeveloped or neighboring lots.
  
• Use Case:
  
  • Needed when internal roads are built in phases.
    
  • Must include time limits and restoration clauses.
    
• Legal Documentation: These easements should be temporary but documented in project agreements.