Why Perform a Feasibility Study

Building Better Projects Through Partnership

Before a shovel hits the ground or a design hits the drawing board, every successful development starts with one key step: a feasibility study. While it may sound simple, this early evaluation can make the difference between a project that runs smoothly and one that faces costly delays, redesigns, and unexpected change orders.

At Legacy Engineering, we believe in more than just analyzing a property — we believe in partnering with our clients from day one. A feasibility study is where that partnership begins. It’s where your goals meet our experience, and where we work together to ensure your project moves forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

What is a Feasibility Study?

A feasibility study is a preliminary assessment that determines whether a site can support your intended development goals — and under what conditions. It’s a crucial first step in the land development process, helping developers and property owners identify opportunities and challenges before committing significant time or money.

Every firm approaches feasibility studies a little differently, but the objective is the same: to help clients make informed, confident decisions before they commit significant time and capital to a site.

• When conducted by a qualified engineering or planning firm, a feasibility study can reveal critical factors such as:

• Zoning and land-use regulations that may limit or expand what can be built.

• Utility availability (water, sewer, drainage, and access) that affects project cost and timeline.

• Topography and drainage considerations that influence grading and site layout.

• Environmental or permitting constraints that could delay approvals or add costs.

• Access and roadway requirements that determine how the site connects to public infrastructure.

By addressing these questions early, developers can make informed decisions and move forward with a realistic understanding of a project’s potential — and its pitfalls.

The Developer’s Dilemma: “Why Spend Money Before I Know It’s Feasible?”

It’s a fair question — and one that experienced developers ask for good reason. Every project begins with risk, and it’s natural to hesitate before investing in a property that might not move forward.

A feasibility study isn’t about second-guessing your instincts — it’s about backing them with data. You already know how to spot opportunity, read the market, and envision what a property could become. Our role is to help you confirm whether the site itself can support that vision — technically, financially, and within regulatory bounds — before you commit significant time and capital.

Sometimes the study validates your plan exactly as imagined. Other times, it exposes challenges like drainage limitations, infrastructure upgrades, or zoning nuances that reshape the path forward. Either way, it’s a win:

• If the property proves feasible, you move into design already ahead of schedule — with site data, layout concepts, and utility assessments that feed directly into the next phase.

• If it doesn’t, you’ve saved yourself from months of design fees, permitting delays, and carrying costs on a property that couldn’t perform as expected.

And here’s something many developers don’t realize: the feasibility study isn’t a sunk cost if you move forward. The work done in this phase — site analysis, layout concepts, utility research, and preliminary coordination — all becomes part of the project’s base design effort. In other words, you’re not paying twice; you’re simply investing early in work that would have to be done anyway, but with the added benefit of knowing the right direction before full design begins.

At Legacy Engineering, we see the feasibility study as a smart filter, not an extra line item — a way to validate ideas, eliminate surprises, and set your project up for success before it ever hits the drawing board.

Why Partner with an Engineering Firm for a Feasibility Study?

It’s one thing to assess whether a property looks promising on paper; it’s another to know whether it will actually work in the real world. That’s where an engineering partner adds immense value.

A civil engineering firm brings technical expertise to uncover the physical realities of a site — things that may not be obvious in an online listing or preliminary concept. At Legacy Engineering, we collaborate directly with developers, planners, and city staff to evaluate every angle of a property: infrastructure capacity, grading constraints, drainage requirements, and roadway access.

This partnership ensures that your decisions are rooted in accurate data and real-world insight — not assumptions. By identifying potential challenges early, we help avoid design revisions, delays, and unplanned costs later in the process.

In other words, a feasibility study with Legacy Engineering isn’t just about due diligence. It’s about strategic collaboration that strengthens your entire development plan from the ground up.

What to Expect from Legacy Engineering?

When you engage Legacy Engineering for a feasibility study, you’re gaining a partner — not just a consultant. Our process is built around understanding your vision and helping you achieve it efficiently and effectively.

Step 1: Understanding Your Goals

We start by learning what matters most to you.

Are you building to sell or to occupy long-term?

What’s your preferred timeline and financial target?

What are your priorities — density, cost efficiency, aesthetics, or long-term maintenance?

Understanding your motivations helps us tailor our recommendations to fit both your business objectives and the realities of the site.

Step 2: Technical and Regulatory Review

Our engineers then dive into the details — zoning codes, subdivision regulations, drainage criteria, and public utility standards — to determine what is and isn’t feasible. We’ll identify any required off-site improvements, utility extensions, or special permits.

Step 3: Conceptual Site Layouts and Cost Opinions

We explore multiple layout options to maximize site potential while minimizing cost. From lot configurations to drainage solutions, every layout is reviewed with both efficiency and constructability in mind. We also provide preliminary construction and design cost estimates, giving you a grounded sense of the project’s financial feasibility.

Step 4: Collaboration and Next Steps

Finally, we sit down with you to discuss findings, layout options, and next steps. Whether you decide to acquire the property, adjust the project scope, or move forward with design, you’ll have clear, actionable data to guide your decision.

Our Partnership Philosophy

At Legacy Engineering, partnership means more than sending a report. It means working alongside you — developers, architects, builders, and investors — to shape the best possible outcome for your project.

We believe that early collaboration fosters smarter design, smoother permitting, and more predictable construction. When we understand your business goals, we can design not just for compliance, but for purpose — helping you achieve a project that is both feasible and successful.

The Bottom Line

Performing a feasibility study isn’t an extra step — it’s the smartest way to start. By partnering with a civil engineering firm early, developers can anticipate challenges, reduce change orders, and move forward with confidence.

At Legacy Engineering, we’re proud to serve developers and property owners across Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland/Odessa, and across Texas, providing feasibility studies that turn uncertainty into opportunity. If you’re evaluating a new site or planning your next project, let’s start the conversation early — and build something successful, together.