It sounds like part of your concern is related to disturbance due to construction, such as noise, drainage, dust, etc. The construction will have to abide by City by-laws, such as noise (cannot start before certain time, cannot continue after certain time).
You can call 411 the City's service desk, explain your conerns and you'll get redirected, probably more than once. Providing an address will help. For example, noise is handled by by-law enforcement, drainage by engineering, etc. If there was a development application you can ask to speak with the planning department and obtain a copy of the site plan/subdivision agreement that will outline standard clauses such as disturbance and drainage. It's not plain language and reads like a contract, which it is. You'll have to interpret these yourself and ensure the construction follows suit. If not call the City.
WRT trees, municipalities often do not have tree cutting by-laws. Or perhaps the trees that were cut were not healthy, were an invasive species or needed to come down for construction staging and will be replaced after construction.
You don't have rights on another property except for impacts therefrom. That's where the noise by-law and drainage requirements above come in.
Due to north american sun angles there should be no shadowing impact even if the houses were south of you during spring, summer and fall. Maybe in winter when sun sits lower (still doubt it) but most folks don't use their backyards during the winter.
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