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To turn a piece of raw land, such as a farmer’s field, into a development requires a number of steps. First, the land must be surveyed and found suitable for building. The property must not be part of a wetland that must be preserved for environmental reasons nor flood regularly. It also must have suitable soil to support a house without shifting and causing the foundation to crack. It must have access to roads and utilities. If there is no local sewage system, the soil must be able to support a septic system, which means that it must be able to “percolate” or drain freely. If the land is heavily wooded, an arborist may need to determine if any trees must be saved, depending on local environmental rules