Woods At The Arbors, nature is the very fabric into which this planned community is woven. Our community design has been based not on what to remove, but what to preserve. Our goal is to enhance, not to overshadow, the beautiful forest. Arbors' residents will feel as much at home as do the rabbits, owls, and the fire flies.
The Arbors lives up to its green pledge. From the beginning of the idea, The Arbors employed an ecologist and a tree conservation consultant to identify and preserve as many old growth trees as possible. The community is developed on only a portion of its 92 acres. Its perimeter forest is protected through an innovative conservation easement, granted to the Friends of A Studio in the Woods, a Lower Coast non-profit organization committed to preserving the area's forest. In addition, front, side and rear setback areas must remain in a largely wooded setting, allowing for homes, drives and yards, without destroying the nuttall oaks, sugarberries, maples, elms, and other hardwood trees.
Arbors' residents are passionate about the forest and desire to join the effort to maintain the natural environment. To accomplish this goal, The Arbors and the Friends of a Studio in the Woods have agreed to work cooperatively at managing the forest for its long-term health. The Friends and The Arbors will co-sponsor educational programs and field studies to help residents participate in protecting established tree cover.
Drainage improvements in The Arbors direct storm runoff to interior lakes through open manmade channels and swales. There are numberous benefits to using this natural approach to drainage compared with conventional engineering techniques. Conventional drainage employs curbs, concrete gutters, and underground pipes that require filling and grading lots and cause the loss of trees. The Arbors studied best management practices (BMP's) around the country to design a system that is more ecologically sound and less expensive to maintain.
This ecological approach offers several environmental advantages:
Design Review is required for all new development, including homes and the landscape. The use of high quality finishes and material is required, as is attention to the overall aesthetic of the home design.
The design review process calls for traditional elements including spacious porches that extend living spaces outdoors and that take advantage of the year-round mild climate and thoughtfully placed windows and floor plans that encourage breezes to naturally cool the home.
Example of home with well designed porchesSpecific elements of the design standards include raised slab or crawlspace foundations where needed to reduce fill requirements (and subsequent tree loss), exterior materials including brick and/or plaster, wood lap siding, hardi-plank siding, and roofing materials including metal (tin or similar), clay or slate tile, or architectural shingles; and well-proportioned columns and railings on porches that add to the beauty of the home.
In some areas of the subdivision requiring elevated first floor levels (in order to meet FEMA requirements), creative foundation techniques must be implemented. This may be accomplished by constructing a retaining wall foundation or raised slab foundation both of which minimize the amount of fill which is placed on the lot. This method has been successfully utilized in nearby communities. The use of pervious materials for driveways, such as limestone, will be encouraged. This approach will allow for water absorption and the reduction of storm water runoff. It also provides a very natural, pleasing appearance.
We expect that pursuing environmental protection and site-appropriate architectural standards through this project will make the community more desirable with long-lasting value. This long-lasting value will continue to enhance the Lower Coast of Algiers area. It will serve as a model of quality community development where the mediocrity of conformity is replaced with the highest and best of our creativity and heritage.
The Arbors' master plan was completed after study of several environmentally-friendly communities around the United States, including Dewee's Island in South Carolina and The Woodlands in Houston. The streets were placed to maximize the preservation of the largest trees and to create meandering roads with beautiful vistas. The idea is to transport residents to a place that seems far from the hectic demands of business and life, surrounded by the beauty of natural things. Included in the master plan are 6 acres of stocked lakes, woodland trails, a community pool, and 100 wooded home sites.
As a means of maintaining and encouraging superior standards of single family detached housing architecture and landscape, The Arbors has invited a small group of quality custom homebuilders to participate in the Featured Builder Program. The program is open only to a short list of premium custom homebuilders.
These Featured Builders will set the tone of development, keeping the overall design and construction quality at high levels throughout the build-out phase of the new community.
