Site Plan

[Bill]

I am looking to develop a site plan for 21 acres where I am first going to build a barn (20x34) and then a home. I would put in a well first and live in my travel trailer while building. Are their any good books, software, web sites etc that I can use to get advice on the proper approach to a site plan?  

[glenn kangiser]

Many times a site plan to satisfy the building department  requirement is as simple as drawing it up on a piece of graph paper - our county supplies a standard form with graph paper.  You just draw things up with pencil to scale the way you want them observing setbacks - clearances - distances for well and septic separation, size of buildings etc.  The building department can probably help you out with their requirements.

[davestreck]

Bill,

As far as references on how to best plan a small homestead, 2 sources come to mind:

Reader's Digest did a great (if at times goofy) book a few years back that has a lot of good info, incuding a layout for an "ideal" 15 acre homestead:
http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-Readers-Digest-editors/dp/0895779390/sr=8-3/qid=1159123350/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-7167195-2423326?ie=UTF8&s=books

This book is one of my favorites and highly recommended if youre looking to build and expand your homestead the way the old Yankees around here did:
http://www.amazon.com/Big-House-Little-Back-Barn/dp/1584653728/sr=1-2/qid=1159123506/ref=sr_1_2/102-7167195-2423326?ie=UTF8&s=books

Hope this helps.