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? :)
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.
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.