TORRANCE, CA-Development is clearly back in the US, as any number of indicators will show. To name a few: home building permits reached their highest level in five years in October 2013; multifamily permits surged 20.1% in September and 15.3% in October.

But as attractive as development looks right now (here's another indicator: property values increased by the most in 7 years in Q3 2013), companies should pause before rushing in and conduct a thorough due diligence risk assessment on the proposed project. That, at least, is the advice of executives at Partner Engineering and Science, Inc., which recently held a webinar on this subject in conjunction with GlobeSt.com.

Participants in the webinar included Ken Sisk, Partner's National Client Manager for Consulting & Engineering Services, Clare Broderick, Partner's Director of Facilities Engineering and Chris Daniels, West Coast Director of Surveying & Mapping. They walked listeners through an extensive list of potential pitfalls and hazards awaiting developers. They offer, for example, in-depth reviews of the issues that can arise during environmental assessments, land surveys and impact fees—along with a whole host of other topics.

In this article we will cover some of the basics offered by Partner. In part 2, we will do a deeper dive into the nuances of these points.

Zoning Analysis

Undoubtedly the first--and key--building block of the due diligence process. Issues a developer has to consider to make sure the proposed use fits the zoning designation range from quirks in the local development code to the matter of overlay districts, which can introduce additional restrictions or incentives. Examples of these include airports or historical districts.

The Preliminary Development Plan / Feasibility Study

There are, of course, a number of issues that fall under this umbrella including building height, density, set backs and landscaping. Partner advises listeners to pay particular attention to parking and, depending on the project, the Americans with Disabilities Act & Accessibility Act.

Geotechnical Study

To avoid unexpected costs, the geotechnical study must be complete in scope and referenced throughout the design process, Partner said. For companies inclined to gloss over this step Partner holds up the specter of a national home improvement store that didn't delve too deeply with its geotechnical study and built the store on a capped landfill.

Traffic Study

Another key component to due diligence, Partner's checklist for this category includes the project's impact to traffic and roads, possible road widening and street parking.

Case Study

Partner executives ended the webinar with a number of cases studies including the due diligence process for a New Jersey Cancer Care Center which uncovered a number of requirements.