Feasibility, planning & site layout
Evaluate the property and organize the site design around the project’s goals and constraints.
- Site feasibility and due diligence
- Master planning and conceptual layouts
- Site demolition, layout, and grading
Our services
The details below
every successful site.
Commercial site development and custom residential engineering across Houston and surrounding counties. The civil scope is tailored to the property, project team, and reviewing jurisdiction.
Core civil scope
One coordinated site design.
These services support commercial developments and custom residences. The proposal defines which tasks are included for each project.
Drainage, detention & storm sewer
Design site drainage and stormwater infrastructure for the applicable project criteria.
- Grading and paving plans
- Drainage studies and calculations
- Detention and storm sewer design
On-site utility design
Coordinate the utility layout with the site plan, building team, providers, and applicable agencies.
- Water and sanitary sewer design
- Fire service utility layout
- Lift stations and force mains when required
Stormwater quality & construction controls
Prepare stormwater quality and erosion-control design items included in the project scope.
- Stormwater Quality Management Plans (SWQMP)
- Stormwater quality design details
- SWPPP and erosion-control plan sheets
Permit drawings & coordination
Prepare civil permit documents and coordinate submittals and reviews as included in the agreed scope.
- Civil permit drawings and submittals
- Agency review and comment coordination
- MUD, TxDOT, and right-of-way coordination when applicable
Construction-phase support
Help the owner and project team address civil questions as construction proceeds, within the agreed scope.
- Responses to contractor questions
- Coordination on civil plan items
- Project-specific floodplain mitigation when required
Project-specific coordination: FEMA floodplain mitigation, MUD and agency coordination, TxDOT work, and right-of-way improvements depend on the site and agreed scope.
Regional experience
Local context matters.
Every site has its own constraints. We identify the agencies and criteria that apply to your location and coordinate the civil scope accordingly.
Based in Houston, MacDonald Engineering serves Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller Counties, with project experience elsewhere in Texas.
Common questions
Before we begin.
Can MacDonald Engineering help with an existing property?
Yes. Civil work can include redevelopment, paving modifications, drainage improvements, utility changes, and flood mitigation planning. We begin by understanding the proposed improvements and existing site conditions.
What is included in SWQMP?
A Stormwater Quality Management Plan (SWQMP) documents the stormwater quality approach for a project. The proposal identifies the plan sheets, calculations, and related services included in that project’s scope.
What permits are required?
Permit requirements depend on the property location, existing conditions, and proposed improvements. Each jurisdiction has its own minimum design criteria, submittal requirements, and review process, so the civil design and permit needs must be evaluated for the specific project.
Depending on the work, approvals may involve site development, drainage, stormwater quality, utilities, or driveway and right-of-way improvements. We work with the owner and design team to identify applicable civil approvals. The proposal defines the permitting coordination included; agency fees and services outside that scope are addressed separately.
Let’s talk about your site.
A new development, an existing property, or a question about what comes next.