Obviously OT - Sewer Taps

[Frye7127]

A new subdivision is being built behind us and the best place for them to tap into a sewer is in our front yard. Our lot is extremely deep, so there will be a lot of digging to get it to the back of our lot and into their subdivision.

Being the brilliant group you are, what should I be aware of and expect? They have agreed to resod our front and beside our house and will only sew grass up the rest of the property. Anything else I should cover before receiving the contract from them that this is okay?

Any help would be appreciated, as it is not everyday someone wants to dig up your yard!

 

[hiwaygal]

Are they purchasing a permanent easement?

What size is the line they are putting in (I'm assuming it's at least 8" for a new subdivision)? And how deep does this line have to go?

 

[Frye7127]

They are not purchasing a permanent easement. They have to go down eight feet to get to the actual line and that might be about all I know about the actual line

 

[JR6ooo4]

A new subdivision is being built behind us and the best place for them to tap into a sewer is in our front yard. Our lot is extremely deep, so there will be a lot of digging to get it to the back of our lot and into their subdivision.

Being the brilliant group you are, what should I be aware of and expect? They have agreed to resod our front and beside our house and will only sew grass up the rest of the property. Anything else I should cover before receiving the contract from them that this is okay?

Any help would be appreciated, as it is not everyday someone wants to dig up your yard!

Generaly a municipality will not place a sewer line without a permanent easement granted to the municipality and any utility companies. Since you are granting the easement you can decide if you want the uses to be sanitary sewer only or other facilities like phone, water etc... THe easement will be a burden on your property and you should be compensated. Make sure it will not abstruct future expansion of your home or your lot will be considerably devalued compared to similar surrounding properties. Other than original construction the easement language should also reference future repairs and redesign. Limit the size or number of houses allowed to connect so they do not come back in five years and try to double the size.

Mikeeee

and definately limit the location. Something like "... in the north five feet of lot 7..."
You can also limit the location for construction damage. So they do do something like drive the dump trucks to your back yard from the other side of your house, or any other unforseen ridiculousness that utility construction is infamous for creating. Limit the construction time so they do not drag it out for two years, and if it does happen you are compensated additionaly. ALso set construction hours and specify no weekend work if possible. Utilities construction crews can start very early. Like the machines are fired up at 6 am!!!!
If I think of anything else I will add it.

remember some developer is going to profit greatly from your actions so do not feel like you are being greedy in the easement compensation costs. It is only fair. They are not giving the houses away with good will. they are only doing it to profit. and get paid up front or they can fold the corporation if sales are not good and you could be stuck with a trench in your yard.

 

[trip]

They have agreed to resod our front and beside our house and will only sew grass up the rest of the property.

How big is the needle?

 

[Frye7127]

Huge!~!~!

 

[hiwaygal]

They are not purchasing a permanent easement. They have to go down eight feet to get to the actual line and that might be about all I know about the actual line

Eight feet is pretty deep. At the very least, they will have to excavate at the connection and that could be a really big/deep hole! Ask how long it will take. And if it's more than a day ask how they intend to keep it safe overnight.

Are there any other "structures" going in your yard? Like manholes or clean-outs?

Mke sure YOU have final say/acceptance on the yard being seeded/sodded to YOUR liking. You might want to make sure that the ground put back in the hole is completely compatcted/settled before they seed/sod again or there could be low spots.

I can't think of anything else right now. If there are "maintenance" issues in the future, they will have to work with you again.

 

[Frye7127]

Generaly a municipality will not place a sewer line without a permanent easement granted to the municipality and any utility companies. Since you are granting the easement you can decide if you want the uses to be sanitary sewer only or other facilities like phone, water etc... THe easement will be a burden on your property and you should be compensated. Make sure it will not abstruct future expansion of your home or your lot will be considerably devalued compared to similar surrounding properties. Other than original construction the easement language should also reference future repairs and redesign. Limit the size or number of houses allowed to connect so they do not come back in five years and try to double the size.

Mikeeee

and definately limit the location. Something like "... in the north five feet of lot 7..."
You can also limit the location for construction damage. So they do do something like drive the dump trucks to your back yard from the other side of your house, or any other unforseen ridiculousness that utility construction is infamous for creating.

Thanks for that insight, especially about the property devalue. What type of compensation should we be looking at? I didn't even consider this and nothing was mentioned to me from the developer of the property. It will only be sewer and not phones, water, etc.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Thanks for that insight, especially about the property devalue. What type of compensation should we be looking at? I didn't even consider this and nothing was mentioned to me from the developer of the property. It will only be sewer and not phones, water, etc.

Of course they did not offer to give money...... hehehehhe

ask a local civil engineer if he/she will estimate the value for you. Maybe a one hour fee to him. Sewers are epensive, per foot, so if an alternate route would have to be used if you do not agree, calculating the extra sewer distance costs can be used to see how much control you have. But the developer may decide to just go to the lot next door if it is not much more expensive and you ask too much...

 

[Wishing on a star]

Where is the main entrance to the development???

I suppose it is hard for me to imagine that they just 'have' to cut thru your property. Why can't they use the developers property, wherever the entrance is.

If this is just a 'cheaper' 'quicker' shortcut for them, then I would seriously consider whether to sign-off, especially without compensation.

 

[mickeysgal]

Will this limit you to what you can put on this land directly over the sewer line? In other words, you may not be able to put any kind of permanent structure (garage, room addition, shed) on top of this area or within x amount of feet of this area in the event they ever had to access it again. Depending on where they have to dig and for how long they have to dig through your yard, this can be very limiting and may devalue your property. I wouldn't be too thrilled that they're asking you to do this. If there was another way, I'd ask them to find it.

Now...heres a question, can a city step in and claim rights to this new easement?

 

[hiwaygal]

If there is no easement, then there are no restrictions on the property and "technically" no devaluation.

I thought it was odd that there was no permanent easement purchased as well...which makes me think there may already be a dedicated easement on the OP's property (particularly if the developer knew this when she bought her property).

 

[JR6ooo4]

Will this limit you to what you can put on this land directly over the sewer line? In other words, you may not be able to put any kind of permanent structure (garage, room addition, shed) on top of this area or within x amount of feet of this area in the event they ever had to access it again. Depending on where they have to dig and for how long they have to dig through your yard, this can be very limiting and may devalue your property. I wouldn't be too thrilled that they're asking you to do this. If there was another way, I'd ask them to find it.

Often you can not even place a tree over sewer line.

Now...heres a question, can a city step in and claim rights to this new easement?[/

This is a problem facing our country. The unobstructed right to own land. If the city will benefit from the new houses then they may take extreme steps. There are numerous cases where entire properties were taken, houses and all, because a developer wants to put in a huge mall or something.

MIkeeee

 

[Frye7127]

Thank you for your input and for giving me some food for thought. They are wanting to start this week and will have a contract for me to sign. Obviously they think I will just sign away, but I will at least have my lawyer look at it before that happens.

Thanks again!

 

[hiwaygal]

Thank you for your input and for giving me some food for thought. They are wanting to start this week and will have a contract for me to sign. Obviously they think I will just sign away, but I will at least have my lawyer look at it before that happens.

Thanks again!

That's the best thing you could do!!!

Good luck!