We addressed the challenge of developing multi-family housing on a sloped, undeveloped 9.82-acre site in Tallahassee, Florida. Our goal was to create a subdivision design that balanced housing demand, environmental protection, and Leon County regulations. The site’s steep slope, natural drainage paths, and limited access created significant constraints that required careful planning to ensure safe slopes, proper stormwater drainage, and vehicle accessibility.
We developed a complete civil layout that included roadways, utilities, stormwater systems, and slope support. We placed a detention pond at the site’s lowest point to facilitate downhill stormwater flow and reduce flooding risk. We designed a reinforced retaining wall to support home foundations, backyard loads, and roadway use while reducing unsafe slopes. Our roadway design accommodated low-speed vehicle travel and included pedestrian space. We connected water, sewer, and storm utility layouts to existing infrastructure while meeting required slopes and spacing standards.
We evaluated three design alternatives to compare density, cost, and community impact. Our selected alternative used the land efficiently while remaining practical to build and maintain. The final design complied with city, county, and state regulations, including zoning, environmental, roadway, and stormwater codes. We used engineering software to demonstrate how grading, drainage, and utilities would function on the site.
This project demonstrated how civil engineering design can transform a challenging site into a safe and functional residential development.