Question
Behind my house they are building a complex. According to the plans the elevation of the complex should come to a very gradual slant until it is even with my yard. However, the developer did not truck away the dirt when he excavated. The complex is at least 18 inches to two feet higher than my yard. A few feet from my yard there is a steep hill until my yard. How will this effect my yard? What steps should I force them to take to alleviate the potential problems that will arise?

Answer
D:
The effects that a steeper slope could have on your yard are minimal. If anything it would mean the slope will erode faster than it would if it was a more gradual slope. At most I would think it could mean that you get some excess soil washing onto your yard.

As to fixing it, if the work is still going on and the project is not complete you just need to call the city or county building department and ask them what if any recourse they have to verify the grading has been done according to approved plans. If not done correctly, they should be obligated to make the contractor fix it or the site will not be granted a certificate of occupancy (this varies from location to location). If you can show pictures of water with silt in it on your property you may be able to complain to local environmental enforcement agency. Here the Department of Natural Resources deals with this issue.

Best of luck,

Sean J Murphy, LA, ISA, LEED AP
Please check out my websites
http://www.seanjmurphy.com
http://www.amenityarchitects.com