Business owners need to be able to use their property in the way they intended and the way that’s allowable under applicable laws and zoning. One thing that some business owners may not think about is what happens if there’s construction near the business.
In some cases, a temporary construction easement may become necessary when construction is occurring near the business. This may seem like a minor inconvenience, but there’s a chance that it could have a significant impact on the daily operations of the business. Access to the property, parking and customer flow can all suffer.
What should business owners know about temporary construction easements?
A temporary construction easement is only for a defined period, which should be clearly stated. The easement should also describe where workers can enter, what equipment can be stored on the property and what type of restoration will be done after the project concludes. In some temporary construction easements, the property owner may receive compensation, so this should be in the documentation if it’s part of the situation.
It’s important for business owners to fully understand the scope of the project so they can plan for the ways that it will affect the business. This can sometimes become a logistical nightmare. Staging areas, utility work, graded surfaces, fencing and changes to traffic patterns are some of the challenges that may occur.
Determining exactly what the documentation for a temporary construction easement means can be challenging. Because these easements can have such a major impact on the business, the business owner may opt to have someone review the easement to determine their rights and responsibilities throughout the process.