Massive Dirt Excavation Concerns Fort Worth Neighborhood

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Craig Dyer has always enjoyed bird watching from his backyard, but considering his new surroundings, dirt biking may become his new hobby.

"We had a view of the entire pasture," Dyer said. "Now we have a mountain view."

Dyer says the excavation and digging started in February and went on for weeks behind his Mallard Cove neighborhood along Loop 820 and Randol Mill Road in Fort Worth.

The worst part, Dyer says, is when crews brought in the dirt by the truckload and dumped it behind his and his neighbors' fences.

"We feel like we're being held hostage," Dyer said.

His fence is about six feet tall, but the mound of dirt behind him is easily 20 feet high, he says.

At one time the mound was large enough to support an 18-wheeler.

"We are very concerned about our property value," Dyer said. "Who would buy a home with a backyard looking at what you see a mountain of fill soil?"

The property owner, Mike McGuffin, said he's removing sand so he can grow Coastal Bermuda Hay.

After complaints reached city hall earlier this month, McGuffin appeared before council.

"I'm just trying to improve my hayfield," McGuffin told the City Council. "All I'm trying to do is remove the sand out from the property so it won't wick the water so fast it will dry it out and replace it with top soil."

The city issued a stop work order until it can figure out what exactly McGuffin is doing.

Dyer and his neighbors say they already know what McGuffin is doing to their neighborhood and accuse him of turning their scenic view into an eyesore.

The city said he can remove the mounds of dirt, but McGuffin said he's not doing anything until the city gives him the green light.

Right now, he's expected to get the city documentation proving why it's necessary to excavate to the current depth.