What sets our Site Design team apart
raSmith's Site Design Services Division helps developers, property owners, architects, and general contractors navigate site challenges by combining civil engineering precision with landscape design creativity. Our team delivers buildable, sustainable, and visually engaging sites that reduce costs, accelerate approvals, and enhance long-term value.
Site design projects are complex. Navigating regulations; securing entitlements; coordinating among project stakeholders—while addressing site constraints—can delay progress or increase costs. Since the 1970s, the Site Design Group at raSmith has built a strong reputation nationally for excellence in private sector land development Our collaboration with developers, architects, general contractors, and municipalities —combined with a deep understanding of site construction – allows us to develop creative, cost-effective solutions for projects of all sizes.
We offer a full continuum of services from due diligence through construction administration. Our in-house resources also give clients access to specialized ancillary disciplines that support and enhance site design, including land surveying, structural engineering, traffic analysis, wetland delineation, LiDAR (3D laser scanning), and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) services. These integrated capabilities strengthen our ability to solve complex site challenges and deliver fully coordinated land development solutions. We bring our expertise to a wide range of project types—from retail and mixed‑use developments to entertainment & hospitality, higher education & K-12, residential, industrial, civic & community, parks & recreation, senior living, and health care.
Site Design Services
- Civil engineering
- Stormwater management
- Site planning
- Entitlements & approvals
- Site due diligence
- Construction administration
- Feasibility studies
- Landscape Architecture
raSmith’s Site Design & Land Development Consulting Process
What Sets Our Team Apart
Our proven, multi-step process is designed to align with your project goals, meet all technical and regulatory standards—and exceed expectations.
- Preliminary site assessment. We identify early-stage challenges that may affect the project’s viability. This includes a thorough site visit, early coordination with authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), as well as a review of available geotechnical, environmental, and title documentation.
- Due diligence. We resolve development uncertainties by performing a thorough due diligence process and through proactive coordination with relevant agencies. At a minimum, core due diligence tasks often include:
- Title review
- Land survey
- Phase 1 ESA
- Wetland delineation
- Preliminary traffic report
- Water supply analysis
- Site planning. We develop thoughtful, well-informed site plans that align stakeholder interests and address the physical and regulatory realities of the site. Our planning process considers a range of constraints and opportunities to lay the groundwork for a successful design and development effort.
- Existing structures and on-site uses
- Environmentally sensitive or hazardous areas
- Visibility and site access
- Zoning and stormwater requirements
- Site operations (circulation, loading, and service needs)
- Entitlements, design, and permitting. We lead the entitlement process by preparing detailed site and civil engineering plans, securing permits, and aligning all engineering documents with agency feedback and conditions of approval.
- Construction coordination support. We assist the project team by responding to contractor questions during construction, clarifying engineering plans, and addressing site-related issues that may arise. Our involvement helps ensure that the design intent is maintained throughout the construction phase.
- Quality control. We also use a multi-step quality control process (QC), in which every project is reviewed by the assigned project engineer, senior engineer, and project manager to ensure accuracy. This QC process and our overall project approach help reduce project unknowns, minimize costs, and maintain the integrity of the design and operations for a successful project.
