BFA, Inc.

Commercial Development Services

BFA’S Commercial Portfolio includes the development of over 1000 retail and commercial retail centers throughout the United States, ranging from small single stores to expansive shopping centers.

 

BFA is a consulting engineering firm specializing in site planning, engineering, and surveying with a diverse portfolio of experience acquired through working with a variety of clients since 1968.
Our experience includes the development of over 1000 retail and commercial centers throughout the United States, ranging from small single stores to expansive shopping centers.

Many of our sites require modification to existing intersections and roadways and/or the construction of new ones.
BFA Project Managers and Engineers are adept at meeting the requirements of local transportation authorities and obtaining permits and approvals for new entrances, turn lanes, and intersections.

Retail & Commercial Development Services:

  • Site Investigation Analysis
  • Due Diligence Coordination
  • Permitting and Public Approvals
  • Prepare Site Construction Documents
  • Parking and Street Design
  • Traffic Analysis
  • Client Representation at Public Meetings
  • Landscaping and Irrigation Design
  • Utilities
  • Grading
  • Lighting

BFA has developed 1000+ retail and commercial centers throughout the United States ranging from small single stores to expansive shopping centers.

BFA has been associated with numerous restaurant projects, consisting of both stand-alone facilities, as well as facilities that are part of larger retail shops.

We are accustomed to working closely with architects and understand the sensitivity of grades immediately adjacent to the building and the drive-thru.

Stand-alone projects we were involved with include McDonald’s, Hardee’s, Fazoli’s, Steak ’n Shake, and Bob Evans.

Services Provided:

  • Site Layout
  • Roadway Design
  • Grading
  • Drainage
  • Stormwater Detention Systems
  • Site Utility Design
  • Permitting

BFA has been associated with numerous restaurant developments and projects.

BFA has extensive experience in distribution center and industrial development.  We have worked with Walmart logistics since 2008 on a wide range of projects for their distribution network.

This work has included maintenance of the Walmart and Sam’s Distribution Center pavements (PCI Program) and stormwater systems, as well as design of new distribution facilities.  We have recently designed a new ground-up Walmart Food distribution center facility and a Sam’s Crossdock facility.

Industrial Services for Municipal Clients Include:

  • Roadway Rehabilitation, Expansion & New Design
  • Industrial Park Sanitary Sewer & Water Distribution

BFA has extensive experience in Distribution Center and Industrial Development.

BFA has provided stormwater design for hundreds of projects in its 55+ years in business. We have been at the forefront of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I and Phase II compliance as it pertains to construction site runoff control, post-construction runoff control, and land disturbance permits, since Phase I regulations were promulgated in the early 1990s. We work with Municipally Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) and non-MS4 communities nationwide to gain permit approvals and develop Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) that meet their requirements.

BFA stands ready to satisfy the needs of commercial, industrial, municipal, and private clients. We excel at developing solutions that garner stakeholder opinions and collaborate to include consideration of all design interests.

Erosion & Sediment Control Plans & Design

BFA is dedicated to providing professional erosion and sedimentation control for all our projects.  We developed SWPPPs and obtained permit coverage for projects in over 15 states. Our project teams are adept at contacting the proper local and state authorities and ensuring our projects meet their requirements.
We also maintain an active part in our community’s Professional Organizations. Our company continues to present at conferences and workshops as an expert in Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans and in the inspection of permitted construction sites.

  • Preparation of SWPPPs
  • Inspection of Construction Sites
  • Permitting Assistance

Stormwater & Design Calculations

The Professionals at BFA completely understand Stormwater Management.  From designing a parking lot or road without areas of ponding water, to creating stormwater runoff studies to meet local jurisdictional permit requirements. We can put together the plan and information to keep your project moving forward. Our Stormwater Technicians and Engineers are familiar with many types of software and calculations to generate the reports and information needed to design your site properly. We use the appropriate combination of software applications and experience to get the answers we need to design the project and secure approvals.

Inspections

BFA’s qualified staff can perform construction site Erosion and Sediment Control Inspections and Post Construction Inspections for Detention, Retention, Sediment Basins, and other Stormwater Infrastructures.

Presentations & Training

BFA has experienced speakers and has developed presentations to provide a cost-effective solution for your education and training needs. These sessions include general MS4 and Clean Water Act education, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) development, Construction Site Inspections, Constructing Bio-Features to improve Water Quality and to treat runoff, and others.

Additional Stormwater Services:

  • Storm Sewer Design
  • Stormwater Detention, Retention & Infiltration Design
  • Planning, Design & Installation of Stormwater and Detention Systems for Public & Private Projects
  • MS4 Stormwater Management & Phase II Compliance
  • Stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) Sustainable Design
  • Hydrologic/Hydraulic Studies for Site-Specific, Local & Regional Stormwater Projects
  • System Analysis & Plan Review
  • Stream Relocations
  • Stream Enclosures
  • Pond, Lake, & Dam Design
  • Dam Monitoring
  • Floodplain Management
  • FEMA LOMA (Letter of Map Amendment) Applications
  • Flood Elevation Certificates

BFA has long been involved in the planning and preparation of hydrologic/hydraulic studies for stormwater projects and systems.

BFA has designed Fueling Stations as stand-alone projects directly for the Walmart Fuel Program and also as part of larger retail developments with various building and canopy sizes.

Past Services Include:

  • Topographic Survey
  • Engage Geotechnical & Environmental Investigations
  • Acquire Permits
    • Site Design
    • Entrance
    • Stormwater
    • Municipality Entitlements/Approvals
  • Working Directly with the Owner & Architect Throughout Design & Construction

BFA has designed Fueling Stations as stand-alone projects and also as part of larger retail developments.

To date, BFA has completed 150+ peer reviews,

suggesting site design modifications with

potential savings of more $2 million.

BFA is one of four Engineering Firms contracted nationally by Walmart to conduct 3rd Party Engineering Reviews for proposed Commercial Site Design projects. BFA targets cost saving design considerations, as well as potential budget over-runs, on each review we perform.

Peer reviews are typically performed at two Design Stages during each project which are at Design Civil and Out to Bid and include a Summary Report of our findings.

  • Design Civils Stage (approximately 40% completed plans) we review documents for potential cost savings, safety concerns, coordinate the building layout with the Architect’s shell plan, utility entry locations and spot grades with the latest building prototype.  We also cross-reference the site design to the client’s site development guidelines and latest design criteria.
  • Out To Bid Stage (95% completed plans) we review the same items reviewed at the Design Civil Stage and also review other bidding documents for completeness, coordination, clarity, and conciseness. We review plans for potential cost savings, safety concerns, check for coordination of the site improvement plans with building plans, utility entry locations and spot grades with the Architects plans.

Any items that are not constructed “to plan”, but accepted by the owner may be noted in an “as-built” survey.  This information is recorded on the plan sheets to document the changes from the original plans.

The scope of our review covers, but is not limited to:

  • Prototype vs. Design Inconsistencies
  • Site Layout Efficiencies
  • Safety Concerns
  • Construction Plan Conflicts
  • Land Title Issues
  • Environmental Concerns
  • Geotechnical Report Findings & Recommendations

BFA is one of four Engineering Firms contracted nationally by Walmart to conduct 3rd Party Engineering Reviews.

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