To be safe and economical, roads should follow the countours of the hill. This prevents the land from sliding and minimizes the expense of retaining walls.

Lots should be laid out in blocks which are curved to conform to the contours of the hill. Also lots should be set so that one home does not block the view of another. The view is one of the main attractions of hillside living.

Homes should be built parallel, not perpendicular to the contours of a hill. In multistory homes, upper floors can be offset from the first floor and pushed back into the hillside. This will help the home to blend with the hill and cut down on the wind hitting the home.

Another way to help the home blend well with the hillside is to use natural building materials or at least natural building colors.