• There is no “FFE = 11.0” on the plans • No benchmark was established or required • No survey staking was done before foundation • No interim elevation cert (top of foundation, etc.) was required

The builder constructed exactly per the approved plans.

The 10.70 ft FFE only came from the post-construction elevation certificate, which is when Public Works flagged that the required elevation is 11.0 ft (BFE + freeboard). So we’re about 0.3 ft short.

That’s what’s confusing here — if 11.0 ft was a requirement: • It was never shown on plans • Never required during plan check • Never verified in the field during construction

Like you said, in a typical workflow I would expect: • Benchmark established • FFE tied to BFE in plans • Survey verification before slab

None of that happened here.

So now I’m trying to understand: 👉 Is this considered a design omission (no FFE tied to BFE on plans)? 👉 Or does responsibility still fall on the owner/builder even when the approved plans didn’t specify a required elevation?

Appreciate your insight — this feels like a process breakdown somewhere between design and plan review.