Civil Design

Engineered designs are required for the development of residential, subdivision, commercial or industrial sites.

Land Planning and Layouts

This is a preliminary design to see if the site you want will fit the required design needs. These can be done for any size site and include preliminary plans and cost estimates. These preliminary plans are generally used for pre-development meetings with the city to discuss your desired site and the costs associated with developing it. These can also be done for sites you own and would like to develop further. It’s a “Quick look” to see if the site will fit your design.

Meeting With City Personnel

This is a way for you and your engineer to meet face-to-face with the city personnel who will be reviewing and permitting your project. In this meeting, the city will provide the codes, ordinances, and requirements applicable to your project; explain the process; and answer any questions you might have.

Grading and Drainage Plans

Residential & Multifamily
A Grading & Drainage Plan will typically show the minimum required height of the proposed floor(s) elevation, proposed new grading, general drainage patterns, and size and location of retention basin(s). Depending on the municipality, lot size, and subdivision, a retention basin may not be required. Specific requirements are dependent upon the local municipality.

Grading and Drainage Plans

Commercial & Industrial
A Grading & Drainage Plan will typically show the minimum required height of the proposed floor(s) elevation, proposed new grading, general drainage patterns, and size and location of retention basin(s). Depending on the municipality, lot size, and subdivision, a retention basin may not be required. Non-residential plans are usually more detailed. Specific requirements are dependent upon the local municipality.

Erosion Control and SWPPP

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans
Effective erosion controls are important techniques in preventing water pollution, soil loss, wildlife habitat loss and human property loss. The SWPPP will include Best Management Procedures to mitigate dust and its potential to leave the construction site.

TxDOT Plans

For Driveways and Deceleration Lanes
For locations where TxDOT is the permitting authority, the need for an engineering study, and the level of detail, will be determined by TxDOT. The purpose of an engineering study is to determine the safety, mobility, and operational impacts that the access connection will have on the highway system.

Residential Subdivision Plans

This design is for residential subdivisions with as little as 2 to over 200 lots in one or multiple phases. This design usually includes paving, drainage & grading plans with offsite utility extensions if required.

Commercial and Industrial Development Civil Construction Plans

These designs include the above mentioned designs as well as the following:

  • Site Plans: A detailed layout of proposed (or existing) construction that typically would include building(s), parking, pedestrian access, refuse location, etc.
  • Water Plans: If an existing public water main is not located in front of your property and the municipality requires you to tie into their system (as opposed to having a well), then an (off-site) water main extension will be required to service your lot.
  • Sewer Plans: If an existing public sewer main is not located in front of your property and the municipality requires you to tie into their system (as opposed to having a septic system), then an (off-site) sewer main extension will be required to service your lot.
  • Paving Plans: Public (off-site) road plans that typically are constructed for the half street fronting your lot. Paving plans could be anything from a couple of feet of new asphalt pavement to a full street width of pavement. Paving plans may include curb, gutter, and sidewalk.
  • Fireline Plans: Layout of a fire sprinkler system as required. Additionally, required fire hydrants may get included in these plans.
  • Drainage Studies: Depending on the jurisdiction, drainage areas of 160 acres or less can be evaluated by our in-house personnel. Drainage studies will show the watershed being evaluated and calculate the amount of runoff generated by that watershed. Other factors such as erosion and hydraulics may be evaluated.
  • Septic System Designs: Typically accomplished by septic installers.
  • Retention Plot Plans: For certain municipalities a storm water retention plan and supporting calculations may be required. These plans are for residential properties.

Other Services

We do not perform the following services in-house; however, we continually work with numerous professionals and are more than happy to either assist you with references or accomplish complete co-ordination as part of our services. Surveying & Platting: We typically coordinate all required surveying to include topographies, boundary work (setting and flagging lot corners), ALTAs, Minor Land Division Maps, and Plats.
  • Landscape and Irrigation Plans
  • Urban Forestry Plans or Native Plant Inventories
  • FLOOD/HEC-RAS Studies
  • Traffic Studies
Civil Design Process
  • Pre-Development Meeting with the City as needed to determine impact fees and site restrictions
  • Preliminary Civil or Sub Consultant Cost and Quantity Estimates for the site development
  • Proposal with Cost layout
  • Submit Signed Contract and Down Payment
  • Design & Subsequent Design changes completed as needed
  • Final Payment & Final Design

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