Not All Dirt Is Worth the Dig: Why Feasibility Matters
Updated: Oct 2
Why Choose JRH Engineering
Why Developers, Contractors & Property Owners Choose JRH
Most engineering firms talk about technical capability. We focus on what actually matters to your project: speed, cost, communication, and results.
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We have successfully delivered civil, structural, and land development projects for developers, contractors, and owners throughout Texas, North Carolina, and Florida.
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Why Civil Feasibility Should Come Before the Deal
The purchase price is only the start of what a development site costs.
Floodplain fill, a detention pond, utility extensions, pipeline conflicts, impact fees and review time can change the real cost of a tract long after the contract is signed.
JRH Engineering is a Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer and Land Development firm serving Texas, North Carolina and Florida.
JRH guiding principles are: Engineering Excellence. Delivered on Time. Built on Value.
Issues That Can Change a Project Budget
Floodplain and fill: raising pads above the flood elevation can require large volumes of fill and mitigation
Detention pond footprint: storage takes land that could otherwise produce revenue
Utility extensions: "available" utilities may be far from the property line or short on capacity
Pipelines and easements: existing lines can dictate where roads, lots and sewer can go
Impact fees and entitlements: water, wastewater and roadway fees, plus any rezoning or platting
Review time: multiple agencies can each add review cycles
Feasibility Is a Negotiation Tool
A site with obstacles is not automatically a bad site. It may simply be worth less than the asking price, which is why feasibility belongs in the due diligence period, before closing.
Project: "Utilities Available" on a 100+ Acre Texas Site
100+ acre development tract in Texas listed with "utilities available"
Due diligence and utility design before development
See more due diligence and feasibility case studies
Challenges
Water service required an extension of about 12,000 feet
Sanitary sewer required an extension of about 5,500 feet
The sewer route had to cross an existing pipeline, and the initial 5-foot clearance requirement would have forced a lift station
Objectives
Confirm the real utility extension scope.
Keep a gravity sewer connection.
Solutions JRH Engineering Provided
Civil engineering utility routing and feasibility review
Coordination with the pipeline operator to reduce the required clearance from 5 feet to 3 feet
A gravity sewer design that crossed the pipeline at the negotiated clearance
Results:
Gravity sewer connection maintained
A wastewater lift station and its long-term operating costs avoided
Real utility costs known before the development moved forward
Feasibility in Texas, North Carolina and Florida
Texas
Pipeline safety is regulated federally by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; see Key Due Diligence Steps for Land Development Projects.
North Carolina
Subdivisions often hinge on sewer capacity and extensions; erosion control plans for more than one acre need approval at least 30 days before work under G.S. 113A-57.
Florida
Water management district review and flood zones shape undeveloped tracts; check flood zones on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and see Site Feasibility Scorecards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "utilities available" mean for a development site?
It can mean capacity exists in the area, not that lines reach the site; extension distance and cost should be verified.
Why would a sewer extension need to cross a pipeline?
The shortest or most gravity-efficient route may cross an existing pipeline easement.
What is a wastewater lift station?
A pump station used when gravity sewer is not possible, adding construction and long-term operating cost.
Can pipeline clearance requirements be negotiated?
Sometimes; working with the pipeline operator can reduce clearance enough to keep a gravity connection.
When should a civil feasibility study happen?
Before closing, during the due diligence period.
Does JRH Engineering obtain building permits?
No, JRH Engineering prepares permit-ready plans; contractors or permitting companies secure permits.
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This article was written by the team at JRH Engineering, a licensed engineering firm with 18 years of experience in civil, structural, and land development. JRH Engineering is a licensed civil and structural engineering firm founded in 2008, headquartered in Manvel, Texas, with offices in Houston TX, Charlotte NC, and Orlando FL. Certified WBE, WOSB, and HUB-eligible. Phone: (800) 227-9635 | sales@jrhengineering.net | jrhengineering.net. Texas PE license is F-10385. North Carolina PE license is P-3118. Florida license is 38516.
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