Who We Are
Hula Engineering is a sole proprietorship. The owner is a seasoned professional engineer with many years experience in the corporate engineering environment. Hula Engineering was founded in 2002 to provide personal professional engineering services directly between the client and those involved in land development.
Why We Do What We Do
Sometimes engineers are subject to negative stereotypes as are land developers and government officials. Good communication and a sense of working toward the same goal almost always leads to a better understanding of one another and in the end, better projects for everyone involved. Born and raised in West Michigan, we are committed to a future of increased opportunity and a better quality of life for our children and grand children.
To that end we will engage in and encourage good land use decisions.
Good engineering practice and presentation
Protection of the public health, safety and welfare
Increased respect for the engineering profession
More efficient engineering works
Less cost to everyone involved
Better public understanding of the human environment
Good land development practices
More efficient land use, less waste
Less environmental impact
More open space
More housing opportunities for our children
Less public maintenance cost
Good planning and zoning
Better quality of life
Sense of community
Better traffic distribution
Appropriate densities
Less waste of land and time
More public cooperation
Less environmental impact
Good design standards and review procedures
Less environmental impact
Less waste of time and resources
More cooperation, better engineering solutions
Increased public understanding
Engineering
Engineers are problem solvers. We take theory and apply it to each unique situation to develop the best answer to any given set of circumstances. Applying a concrete policy to every situation is not engineering. In most circumstances a consistent policy is appropriate and should be enforced, sometimes not. Understanding the theories and engineering principles used to formulate a policy is necessary to evaluate whether or not it should be applied to a given set of circumstances. That discernment, along with developing an appropriate and acceptable alternative is engineering.
The problem solving process:
1. Identify the problem
2. Evaluate all possible solutions
3. Implement the best possible solution
Planning and Zoning
A speaker at one of the Grand Valley Metro Council events in Grand Rapids a few years ago stated the following principle:
"If you don’t like the way land is being developed, take a look at your zoning ordinance; developers and engineers simply follow the instructions they’re given."
Planning is developing a clear vision of the future. Zoning ordinances need to be crafted to promote construction of the vision. Historically, ordinances were developed with a vision of residential suburbs, separated from other land uses, based on the free and easy use of the automobile. They were very successful. That vision is changing, and our current zoning ordinances and land use decisions need to reflect that change. If we want to construct communities rather than simply provide housing, we need to plan for it and encourage its construction through our zoning ordinances.
Services
Land Division
Lot Layout
Driveway/Private Road Layout, Design and Permitting
Drainage Routing and Detention or Retention
Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Design and Permitting
Subdivision
Preliminary Plat documents and approvals
Street and public utility construction plans
Easements
Drainage routing and detention or retention
Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plans and permitting
Environmental permits
Construction bidding and monitoring
Commercial Development
Site layout grading plans
Drainage Routing and Detention or Retention
Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Design and Permitting
Traffic control
Utility plans
Construction plans, specifications, and monitoring
Permits
Driveway and access permits
Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control
Environmental permits
Drainage permits
Mining permits
Grading permits
Other permits required by Ordinance
Reports
Preliminary site evaluations
Traffic reports
Drainage and hydrology reports
Specific engineering reports for reviewing agencies
Expert Testimony
Drainage
Takings
Geometric road design
Traffic control devices
Zoning ordinance compliance
Experience
Roads
Twenty-five projects were engineered for the Michigan Department of Transportation, from construction of a new section of freeway in Wexford County to reconstruction of US-23 through the City of Omer, the smallest city in Michigan. These highway projects are located from Cadillac to Barrien Springs and from Zeeland to Port Huron. Many more road and utility projects were engineered in West Michigan with funding from local units of government or special assessment districts. Services performed include scoping reports, geometric design and construction plans, signing, maintaining traffic, specifications and special provisions, traffic control devices and construction monitoring.
Subdivisions
Twenty-two subdivisions, most of them plats have been completed. Services performed include preparation and presentation of the preliminary plat to construction plans, specifications and construction monitoring. All related permits and approvals were procured as part of the services performed.
Mineral Mines
Many mining permits have been procured. Services performed include all drawings and exhibits required by ordinance, presentation to the public, environmental permits, access permits, and SE&SC permits.
Site Development
From paving a parking lot for an automobile dealership to a site development plan for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, site plans have been prepared for a variety of uses and clients. Each site is unique and the people involved from the client to the reviewing agencies have been different. Each set of challenges were met and the projects successfully completed.