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Design Professional Requirements: Builders Pavement Plan (BPP)

Applicability of Code and Zoning

For New Building or existing building alteration projects, Builders Pavement Plan (BPP) work must comply with NYC Construction Codes, DOT Rules and Regulations, and the DOT Standard Details of Construction and Standard Highway Specifications publications.

*Note: While the followings are a list of key zoning, code and other regulations that may be relevant in the project’s design, it does not cover ALL applicable regulations.*

The following is a list of typical Code and Zoning regulations that must be taken into consideration for BPP projects:

Construction Codes

All projects must comply with the General Administrative Provisions. For BPP projects, the NYC Building Code, and other applicable code and laws may be involved:

Zoning Regulations

BPP projects must comply with the following Zoning regulations:

DOT Regulations

All BPP projects must comply with the NYC Department of Transportation Guidelines for the Design of Sidewalks, Curbs, Roadways and Other Infrastructure Components, and Street Works Permits. The DOT guidelines cover design considerations of BPP components, some of which are listed below:

  • Ribbon Sidewalks and width: DOT Standards – VIII (B)

  • Sidewalks and width: DOT Standards – VIII (C)

  • Drainage and slopes: DOT Standards – VIII (F), X (H) (2) (a)

  • Curb Types: DOT Standards – IX (B)

  • Horizontal and Vertical Alignment: DOT Standards – IX (C), IX (D)

  • Curb Reveal: DOT Standards – X (I) (1)

  • Minimum width of roadways pavement: DOT Standards – X (B)

  • Location of above-ground utility structures: DOT Standards – XI (A) (1)

  • Location of street drainage inlets: DOT Standards – XII (B) (1)

  • Encroachments: DOT Standards – XIII (A) (1)

  • Bollards: DOT Standards – XIII (B) (1)

  • Trees: DOT Standards – XIV (A) (1)

Completeness Check

Other Agency Requirements

Additionally, BPP projects must also comply with the rules, regulations, laws and codes of other city agencies, such as the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Fire Department (FDNY), NYC Environmental Protection (DEP), NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, and others:

  • DEP and FDNY regulate location of fire hydrants

  • DEP regulates catch basins and associated street infrastructures

  • DPR regulates tree and sidewalk plantings. Refer to DPR Tree Planting Standards.

  • PDC review and approve Distinctive Sidewalk material

  • LPC regulates landmark districts

  • Utility companies regulate utility poles

  • MTA regulates sidewalk grates, subway entrances and bus stops

  • The United States Postal Service regulates mailboxes location

  • DEC Department of Environmental Conservation for Freshwater or Tidal Wetlands

Guidelines for Submission of BPP Project Plans

Prior to preparing the design drawings and construction documents, the Registered Design Professional (RDP) must perform a pre-design review that analyzes related elements of the building and other components affected by the proposed scope of work, to verify a code compliant design of the proposed project scope. Based upon the complexity and scale of the project, the information provided on the drawings must clearly describe all of the work required for the code compliant execution and completion of the project per AC Article 104 or BC 107.2.

Complete Submission of BPP Drawings/Construction Drawings

Construction drawings should represent complete work, including survey, multiple disciplines such as architectural and plumbing (if applicable). There must be coordination between the disciplines for the proposed scope of work to ensure Code compliance*; reference AC 28-104.7 and BC 107.2.

A complete submission of drawings should include:

  1. Construction Documents. Drawings necessary to convey essential information such as roadway, curb cut, sidewalk, catch basin, existing and proposed street tree, utilities, and any public right-of-way encroachments. The applicable Construction Codes and notes should be stated on the drawings as required to demonstrate code and zoning compliance. Where essential, clarify overall layouts and details – a scale should be included on the drawings; a graphic scale is recommended.

  • Initial Survey.  A topographical survey that is no older than 90 days must be submitted to show right-of-way, adopted and mapped street width, property lines, relevant grades, catch basins, trees, light poles, utility poles, hydrants, signs, meters, etc.

  • Lot Diagram.  may include the size and location of the property line, building, sidewalk, street; distance to corner street intersection, street names, location of all utility poles, traffic signs, trees, hydrants, catch basins, gas valves, bus stop, all curb cuts on the lot and adjoining lots.

  • BPP Drawing. Details of the proposed BPP project showing all the elements, with proper dimensions, notations, schedules and quantities.

    • Project Elements: Sidewalk, curb, roadway and curb cuts

    • Locations of street furniture and other street elements: Utility poles, bus stops, DOT or MTA signs, benches, USPS mailboxes, fire hydrants and street trees

    • Details: Sections through roadway curb and sidewalk, sections through dropped curb, pedestrian ramps at intersections, including any vaults present. Coordinate with DOT standard details.

      Construction Notes: As required for project details relevant to Department of Transportation Guidelines – for example, these could include notes for the details cited above and corner sections, cross sections of the roadways, fire hydrants and bollards, etc.

  • Photos of existing conditions. Colored photos of existing street conditions signed and sealed by applicant to show sidewalk, curb and roadway.

*Refer Construction Project Guidelines for Curb Cuts, Public Right-Of-Way Encroachments, and Parking Garage projects.

Submission of Construction Documents

  1. Drawings. The BPP project drawings should reflect clear scope of work and include all affected elements. Examples of this are as follows:

    2. BPP-100.00 Title sheet shows the project location, general notes, construction notes, DOT notes, DEP notes (if applicable) and site safety notes
    BPP-101.00 Drawing that shows the lot’s property lines, total street frontage, sidewalk width, legal street width, top and bottom of curb elevations every 25 feet, and plan view locations of curb cuts, utilities, street trees, fire hydrants, catch basins, and legal grades; and a street profile indicating top and bottom curb, curb cut and roadway elevations
    BPP-102.00 DOT details: Roadway, curb, sidewalk, and curb cut; details of catch basins, street furniture, utilities, hydrants, and street trees

    Drawing Legend to include: Symbols, abbreviations, notes and definition, list all applicable Building Code section numbers, and list of all construction materials to be used with estimated quantities.

  1. Required Documents. Based on buildings location and designation, and the project’s scope of work, the following submissions may have to accompany the drawings at intake:

    • DPR Letter (to request tree removal)

    • PDC Approval (prior to permit for distinctive sidewalk)

    • DEP Authorization (for Catch Basin and drainage system if applicable)

    • FDNY Letter of No Objection (prior to permit for Fire Hydrants)

    • Landmark Approval

    • MTA Approval

    • Utility Companies Approval

  1. Waiver for DOT requirements. In all BPP projects, existing horizontal curb alignment of the street must be maintained. Therefore, any BPP application that seeks to waive alignment requirement, or to change the street width, must be reviewed and approved by DOT prior to DOB approval. The following forms are required to waive DOT requirements:

    • BPP-15 form is required for waiver of all improvements or partial improvements

    • BPP-16 form is required for waiver of curb alignment and/or sidewalk and curb

  1. Post Approval Amendments.  Any changes to the approved scope of work that are substantive must be submitted as post approval amendments. Approval for an amendment must be obtained before the work is completed. Changes that are not substantive do not require a PAA; however these changes must be shown on plans and included in the “as built” submission at the end of the project, per AC §28-104.3.

    Substantive changes that meet the following criteria should be submitted for review to amend the approved plans:

    • Changes to enlarge or reduce the length of street frontage and overall scope of work

    • Changes to number of street trees

    • Changes to areas for the sidewalk or roadway

    • Relocations of street furniture and/or curb cut

    • Changes in materials used in constructing curbs

      • For a Development project comprised of multiple buildings, changes to the number or configuration of the lots listed under the BPP Plan can be recorded as an Administrative Modification.

  1. As-Built Submission. All changes must be submitted in an ‘As-built’ drawing at the end of the project.

*Reference Note: Organizations like the AIA, CSI and National Institute of Building Sciences work jointly to create national standards for consistent documentation and data organization, to assist in communication and coordination across the design and construction industry.*

(See http://www.nationalcadstandard.org for more information.)

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