PRESS RELEASE
September 28, 2011
Contact: Kristin Hogle, HBAM
Communications Dir.
410-265-7400, ext. 111
HBAM’S LAND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ANNOUNCES
2011 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
(Baltimore, MD)–September 28, 2011 - The Land Development Councilof the Home Builders Association of Maryland announced the winners of its Excellence in Community Development Awards at the GramercyMansionon September 22, 2011. The program offers recognition to development professionals who provide superior and creative development projects that are sensitive to the community and make appropriate use of the existing natural elements. All entries were evaluated on four criteria:
(1)sensitivity to the environment;
(2)sensitivity to historic nature, surrounding properties & use;
(3)land design and planning; and
(4)any unique challenges.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
Developer of the Year: Bob Goodier, Goodier Builders, Inc.
Lifetime Achievement: Eliot Powell, Whitehall Development, LLC
Consultant of the Year: Sean Davis, Morris & Ritchie Associates, Inc.
Rising Star: Dan Whitehurst, Clark Turner Signature Homes, LLC
*bios available upon request
PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Maple Lawn
- Developer: Greenebaum & Rose Associates, Inc.
- Builder: Bozzuto Group, NV Homes, Mitchell & Best, Miller & Smith
- Engineer: Gutschick, Little & Weber
This 605 acre mixed use Maple Lawn development in Southern Howard County is the culmination of fifteen years of hurdles including a full year of County Council hearings (29 hearings when all was said and done, about 3-5 per month). The development team had to convince local elected officials to reduce the allowable density from 3.0 units per acre down to 2.2 – although the lower density yield prevented inclusion of multi-family, the result was 1,340 homes and 1.6 million square feet of commercial / retail space, and 212 acres of open space.
The compromise with elected officials and community leaders was for this project to be spread out over 12 yearly phases, and they are currently in phase 8. As part of the planning process, the environmentally sensitive areas were inventoried and mapped and virtually all of it has been preserved in permanently protected open space. Eventually, over 56 acres of trees will be planted. Wetlands and streams were protected with less than 5,000 square feet of total disturbance for road crossings.
This traditional neighborhood design project has turned past opponents into owners. It has a strong and financially stable commercial owners association and home owners association. Having somehow thrived during the continuing real estate slump, this project has turned a wonderful vision into reality.
EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
Walnut Grove
- Developer: Goodier Baker LLC
- Builder: various custom homes
- Engineer: GLW
- Financing: Sandy Spring Bank
Walnut Grove started out as a 202-acre parcel of farmland and because of perpetual preservation easements, it ended up with 88 one-acre home sites coupled with some amazing views of rolling hills, wooded areas, a stream and an historic stone house that a Revolutionary war hero once called home. As it turned out, 75 percent of Walnut Grove is preserved land.
This site also serves as home to a very unique shared septic system using state of the art nitrogen reducing technology. The approved shared septic treatment facility is designed to reduce nitrogen to 10 mg / L before dosing the treated water back on site to filter through onsite disposal trenches. To get this facility up and running, the development team had to oversee over three months of rock blasting. In addition, the system required local government approval and MDE approval.
Tanyard Springs
- Developer: Lennar
- Builder: Lennar and RyanHomes
- Engineer: Land Design
- Financing: Lennar
Tanyard Springs exemplifies a strong workforce housing community. Located on a 258 acre parcel within the Patapsco Watershed in AnneArundelCounty, a Chesapeake Bay Critical Area 100 year floodplain, this project has averaged an astonishing 20-30 sales per month. The amenities offered by this community design make this project especially unique. Tanyard Springs overcame significant environmental hurdles as well. The site features several stormwater Best Management Practices that provide water quality treatments prior to discharging into the natural ravines. A primary goal of the site design was to retain as much of the existing forest cover as possible. They met that goal, which led to clustering of the residential areas which both retained forested land and contributed to floodplain preservation.
Clipper Mill
- Developer: BB&T
- Builder: Integrated Construction Management
- Financing: BB&T
This urban redevelopment project is built on a former industrial site and incorporates LEED for Homes design, construction and performance guidelines. In addition, the site is within a ½ mile of existing water and sewer and it is within ¼ mile of public transportation facilities (Light Rail and Bus).
During construction, erosion controls were put in place to protect the site. In addition, the homes (all of which are LEED certified) have sustainable landscaping, including no invasive plant species, drought tolerant turf, limited turf usage, shaded pavement and drought tolerant plantings. With an average housing density that is less than 1/10th of an acre per house and with the installation of a permanent stormwater management facility, this Green urban redevelopment project defines efficiency.
Of course it’s not enough to just build green. The key is occupant education. To that end, each homeowner will receive a homeowner’s manual and training session detailing the aspects of green home operation and maintenance.
Marea St. Michaels
- Developer: Elm Street Development
- Builder: Keswick Homes
- Engineer: Lane Engineering
- Financing: The Talbot Bank
The concept of Marea St. Michael’s started out with very strong opposition from every angle – the town, the community and the county. Prior to the current developer’s involvement, the plan for this 86-acre waterfront parcel called for over 300 units, a marina and a hotel. That was rejected by the town, with hefty community opposition. The current developer stepped in and, after five years of negotiations, all stakeholders collaboratively settled on a 16 waterfront lot plan, restoration of $1 million in wetlands, significant Critical Area restrictions and improvements to state rights-of-way. This development also includes a 40-acre environmental park that serves as the centerpiece of this luxurious, environmentally sensitive waterfront community.
Shipley’s Grant
- Developer: Bozzuto Homes
- Builder: Bozzuto Homes
- Financing: PNC and M&T Bank
Shipley’s Grant preserved seven acres of farmland, which had been placed on the National Historic Registry during the development process. With rigorously restrictive covenants on architecture, the Shipley’s Grant development team sacrificed a great deal of allowable density (of 700 lots allowed, just under 400 were approved) to accommodate the land owners and had to make changes in product design mid-development to accommodate the slumping housing market. Amenities include an opulent club house with an outdoor pool, a community walking trail, a playground for children and will eventually include 28,000 square feet of commercial/retail space within walking distance. In addition, the development team reassured the landowner and county authorities of the project’s environmental sensitivity with stream preservation and off-site sewer disposal access.
Briar Knoll
- Developer: Gaylord Brooks Realty Company, Inc.
- Builder: various custom builders
- Engineer: G.W. Stephens and Associates
- Financing: Susquehanna Bank
Located on 187 acres in NorthernBaltimoreCounty, a cluster development design philosophy allowed the lots to be concentrated on about 90 acres. In doing this, they were able to retain and dedicate over 40 acres to community open space and preserve all on-site woodlands with zero impact on existing wetlands and streams. The site includes five stormwater management facilities and each lot is served by individual wells and septic systems and exemplifies environmentally sensitive site design.
The Home Builders Association of Maryland is a not-for-profit association that provides governmental relations, educational opportunities and generally functions as a housing industry advocate. HBAM consists of 1,200 member firms, including home builders, commercial and industrial builders, remodelers, material suppliers, sub-contractors, lending institutions, developers, manufacturers, utilities, Realtors and architects from across the central Maryland region.
Photos available of all projects upon request.
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7127 Ambassador Road, Ste. 150Baltimore, MD 21244 410-265-7400 410-265-6529 – fax