Sustainable Land Development Today - April 2008 - (Page 33) Woodson Place “Bamboo is considered a rapidly renewable resource,” he said. Team Profile Experience to Pass On Allen said they have learned a great deal from the project that began in 1999, acknowledging the fact that his family was in a better position to carry on such a vision because it owns the property outright. Developers who have to carry debt as they go through the approvals process have a greater incentive to do a traditional development to maximize on speed and efficiencies. But he has some advice for the developer that wants to do a similar project. A true conservation subdivision is one that is more than 50-percent preserved, which means the project should be located in an area that can command lot prices on the developable land to subsidize the preserve. The most important thing is to assemble early on an integrated team that will be able to think through everything to deliver a real conservation subdivision that can be defended to third parties such as state agencies and nature groups that could otherwise challenge its validity. “The classic mistake among developers is that, ‘I can do business as usual and slap on some green at the end,’” Allen said. “There needs to be open space for wildlife. A lot of mini-parks won’t do. It doesn’t work. You’ll end up with some weird conglomeration, an attempt to look green that falls far short.” It is also critical to hire engineers that understand the vision, are willing to think outside the box a little bit and have an understanding of ecological-engineering principles. They need to be able to work with landscape planners and architects as a team and be solutions oriented. “A lot of engineers want to stamp out plans one after the other. Many have a lot of work to do,” he said. But for this type of project to succeed, the land planners, engineers and architects must create an integrated plan. “Otherwise somebody designs something, hands it off to the next guy. From “The Woodson Place is truly a family affair. All of the four family members bring distinct skill sets and experience to the project.” ~Chris Allen Developer: Cromo Developments, LLC (family owned) Project Manager: Chris Allen Marketing: Myra Sontheimer Investors: Marilyn Glass (mother of Chris and Myra; heir to the Woodson Place farmstead) and husband John Glass. “Passion and enthusiasm are very high and that is valuable in team building with the professionals below.” ~Chris Allen Architect: Bill Larson Architects, Dallas, Texas Engineer: Christopher Webb & Associates, Bellingham, WA Marketing & Sales: Beth Johnson, Advocates Realty, Dallas, Texas humid climate like Texas is totally different than building in a dry, high-altitude, arid environment.” There were also consultants available who were familiar with the Austin standards and its key elements related to: energy efficiency, indoor air quality, health and safety and how the home integrates into the rest of the community. There are hundreds of strategies that could be applied to certify a home under the Austin program. “There is 180 points required for the Five-Star rating We achieve 194 points. The majority focus on energy efficiency,” Allen said. Those include high-efficiency HVAC, a high number of high-efficiency windows to take advantage of natural light, and a passive orientation of the home to minimize the affect of summer sun while taking full advantage of solar heating in the winter. The home is also designed to take advantage of prevailing winds to reduce cooling costs. The homes are heavily insulated, including “Cathedralized” insulation in the upper reaches of the structure. “We insulated the roof rafter level instead of the joists in the attic,” Allen said. Coupled with a reflective metal roof, the air in the attic space is kept from becoming hot and moist. Among the host of other feature: on demand hot water heater; advanced framing which is 2” x 6” studs, 24 inches on center instead of the typical 2” x 4” studs 16 inches on center; all natural, cellulose blown-in insulation; concrete floors on the bottom level and bamboo floors on the top. Landscape Architect & model home design: Feldman Design Studios, Dallas, Texas General Contractor for homes and Phase 2 Construction: Green Tree Builders, Emory, Texas Home Construction: 2 Bit Construction, Emory, Texas Trail Planning: Bowman Melton Associates, Dallas, Texas Surveying: Votex Surveying, Dallas, Texas his perspective he may inherit a lot of problems related to the green aspects and may not understand why those decisions were made,” he said. If the developer wishes to create a conservation easement, which preserves a portion of the land from development as his family has done, develop relationships with land-trust officials. Their network of naturalists, biologist and botanists can provide consultation in the early stages, often at no cost. “It’s not rocket science. If a developer can build those relationships with people who really understand how a conservation easement needs to perform, over the long term, you end up with a fantastic product,” he said. SLDT About the author: Frank Hill is a freelance writer and contributor to Sustainable Land Development Today. www.SLDTonline.com 33 http://www.SLDTonline.com
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