Sustainable Land Development Today - November/December 2007 - (Page 11) the fields, they like to feed them and watch the horse shows. They like to be in that general environment, but anyone is allowed to board a horse there,” Dodd said. Marketing of the equestrian center was relatively simple. Well-established Indian Point Farm is well known in the area, which means it has a built-in clientele. The developer’s plan also made the equestrian center a money-maker for the Saddlebrook Estates Community Association. “We have a long term lease with an equestrian center operator who actually lives on site, in the original farm house built in 1779,” Dodd said. “The equestrian center is responsible for keeping the grounds and taking care of the horses.” By continuing the operation, the developer also enjoyed the spin-off benefits of the green space it provides. “As you know, most developments are required by the cities to have a certain amount of open space and amenities and this helps to satisfy those requirements,” Dodd said. Reese Smith has set down guidelines to maintain a certain traditional “look” for the development meant to blend with the historic equestrian operation. Pains were also taken to maintain the existing landscape “We tried hard to keep woods and pastures behind most of the home sites so that very few are looking into the back of another person’s home,” Dodd said. She also pointed out that most people wouldn’t want to take care of a farm, but they like the atmosphere. “This way, we feel they get the best of both worlds,” she said. “We think it is a win-win because we know that people enjoy living around horses, farms and equestrian pastoral settings.” Bigger Lots-Smaller Stables Coalinga in Central California, 60 miles west of Fresno has a western style culture that echoes of old Texas—-oil rich with a strong link to the cowboy. The area, however, is thin on equestrian operations, making it ripe for Platinum Land Company, based in Simi Valley, California, to step in with Lost Hills Ranch, a residential development soon to be under construction in Coalinga. “Owning a horse is a very big part of life in Coalinga, however there is only one boarding stable and it is very old and over subscribed,” said Bruce Beck, a spokesman for the development company. “There are more horses than places to board them in the area, which bodes well for a development of this type. Site development for the 320-acre community will begin late this year or in early 2008. The two-year build out will result in 91 large-lot ranchettes, a 13-acre recreation and community center with a 22,000 square-foot covered equestrian arena and more than four miles of hiking and equestrian trails. In a different design approach from Saddlebrook with its more typical lot sizes and centralized stables, the lots in Lost Hills will range from 1.5 to five acres and will allow homeowners to stable their horses on their own property. “While this community has its roots in oil, it also has a rich cowboy history and many people here would love to own a home where they can also board their horses,” said Coalinga City Councilmember Mike Oxborrow. “More importantly, Lost Hills Ranch provides the type of housing needed for the jobs that are being created by the nearby state hospital and prison. No longer will candidates for these jobs have to look for this type of housing in Fresno or Paso Robles,” he said of the communities larger but distant neighbors. The O’Connor Signature Equestrian Facility at The Oaks, Lake City, Florida www.SLDTonline.com 11 For Platinum, there is an economic incentive to market larger lots, according to Beck. “We believe there to be a stronger market for spacious ranchettes over tract homes,” he said. “Like golf course communities, in which it is estimated that only 25 percent of the residents golf, not every buyer will own a horse. Some people will also buy for the open and tranquil feel of the development, which is rare at this price point in California. Plus it will be a lot easier to sell 91 home sites than the typical six pads to an acre. We can turn this around pretty quickly,” he said. A focal point of the community will be a one-acre, man-made pond whose water will be used for irrigation of trails, common-area landscaping as well as recreational use. Additionally, the nonpotable pond water will be pumped to each ranchette for the irrigation of personal pastures and landscaping. “By using well water on the property, the development will not tax the city’s water supply,” said Platinum Land Company CEO John Vogel. “The 320acre development will require only a fraction of the city water required for a conventional subdivision.” To ease the financial bite of overhead costs to the homeowners’ association, which will own the amenities, the developer is tapping into another sustainable feature. Power for the water systems and equestrian center will be supplied by state-of-the-art solar panels located on the equestrian center roof The developers are going to great lengths on the solar technology, which http://www.SLDTonline.com
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