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Creating a Plot Plan

Play VideoClassroom Design Project Training Video: Creating a Site Plan

A plot plan is essentially a map of a property's legal description. Plot plans usually have a North Pointer and can also include other features such as the location of buildings and setback lines.

To create a plot plan polyline
  1. Open a newChief Architect plan.
  2. Select CAD> Points> Input Point to open the New CAD Point dialog. See "Input Point".
  3. Select Absolute Location and define the point's position at (0,0) and click OK. This is the current point that serves as the Start Point for the first line of the plot plan. See "Temporary Points".
  4. Select CAD> North Pointer , then click and drag to create a north pointer. See "North Pointer".
  5. Select CAD> Lines> Input Line to open the New CAD Line dialog. Notice that the Start Point is at (0,0): the location of the current point. See "Input Line".
  6. Click Num Style and in the Number Style/Angle Style dialog, select Decimal Feet for the Number Style and Bearing for the Angle Style. See "Number Style/Angle Style Dialog".
  7. Click OK to return to the New CAD Line dialog
  8. Select Relative to Start Point and check Polar (CCW to horz.).
  9. Enter the length of the first side of your property boundary's legal description in the Distance field, and the angle of that line in the Angle field.



  10. Click Next and enter the Distance and Angle of the next property line.
  11. Continue until all property lines are entered, then click OK to close the New CAD Line dialog. The property line created should be closed, with the end point of the last line the same as the start point of the first.
To correct an error
  1. If a line is entered incorrectly, click OK to close the New CAD Line dialog.
  2. Click the Edit Object Parts toggle button to edit individual line segments within a polyline.
  3. Click the incorrect line to select it, then click Delete .
  4. Place a CAD point at the end of the last correct line using the Place Point tool to create a new current point.
  5. Select CAD> Lines> Input Line and continue entering data in the New CAD Line dialog.
  6. Click the Edit Object Parts toggle button again to turn it off.
To create a curved property line
  1. Click a property line to select it, then click the Change Line/Arc edit button to turn this line into an arc.
  2. If necessary, use the triangular Reshape edit handle to make the arc concave or convex.
  3. Click the Open Object edit button to open the Arc Specification dialog.
  4. On the Arc tab, click the Lock Chord radio button, then specify the length of the Radius and click OK.

    5. A curved property line can also be created by entering data in the New Arc dialog. See "Input Arc".

To display line length, bearing and radius
  1. Select Edit> Preferences to open the Preferences dialog.
  2. On the Line Properties panel, check Display Line Length as Decimal Feet and Display Line Angle as Bearing, then click OK. See "Line Properties Panel".



  3. Click the plot plan polyline to select it, then click the Open Object edit button.
  4. On the Line Style tab of the Polyline Specification dialog, check Show Length, Show Angle, and All Angles.



To convert to a terrain perimeter
  1. Select the plot plan polyline and click the Convert Polyline edit button.
  2. In the Convert Polyline dialog, select Convert To: Terrain Perimeter, then click OK.
  3. Make any needed changes in the Terrain Specification dialog and click OK. See "Terrain Specification Dialog".
To create setback lines
  1. On the CAD panel of the Preferences dialog, select the Concentric Edit Type radio button. See "CAD Panel".
  2. In the Jump field, type in the setback distance required by your local planning department, such as 10', and click OK.
  3. Click the plot plan polyline to select it, then click the Copy/Paste edit button.
  4. Place your cursor over a corner edit handle, then click and drag towards the center of the polyline. When a second, inner polyline appears, release the mouse.
  5. Select the inner polyline and click the Open Object edit button to open the Polyline Specification dialog.
  6. On the Line Style tab, select a dashed line style from the drop-down list, uncheck Show Length and Show Angle, then click OK.



To accurately position a building
  1. Place a CAD Point at a reference point along the perimeter of the property, such as at a corner. Or use the starting point for your plot plan polyline, (0,0), as a reference.
  2. Select CAD> Points> Input Point to open the New CAD Point dialog.
  3. If you are using (0,0) as your reference point, select Absolute Location and specify the distance that the building should be from this point in the X Position and Y Position fields.
  4. If you have placed a CAD Point at a different location, select Relative to Current Point and specify the desired distance from that point. Unless you want to specify the location in distance and bearing, Polar (CCW from horz) should remain unchecked.
  5. When you click OK, a point is created at the specified location. Use this point as a reference to accurately position a wall or corner of the building.



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