Environmentally Friendly First green subdivision in Highland Village

Pam King
Published 08/06/2009 - 11:16 a.m. CST

L to R: Marnie Peterson, wife of Darrin Peterson, Vaughn Andrus, Texas Land Development, Victor Myers, Victor Myers Custom Homes, Sue Thompson, Community Development Manager, HV, Jack Oppel, Bud Bartley Homes, Patrick Davis, HV Councilman, Darrin Peterson, partner, Texas Land Development, Wayne Atkins, Sterling Brook Custom Homes, LLC, Mayor Dianne Costa, Jeff Crannell, Crannell, Crannell & Martin, Don Combs, partner, Texas Land Development, Robert Gravley, Gravley Construction, Janet Combs, wife of Don Combs and Michael Leavitt, HV City Manager.

On Tuesday morning, July 30, Texas Land Development Partners Don Combs and Darrin Peterson hosted the Grand Opening of the latest Texas Land Development Community and Highland Villages newest, premier subdivision, Highland Oaks (www.highlandoakshv.com). Even the early morning tornadostrength winds and drenching rains cleared long enough for the developers, select builders, Bud Bartley Homes, Sterling Brook Custom Homes, LLC and Victor Myers Custom Homes, as well as Highland Village officials, business representatives, friends and family to enjoy the official ribbon-cutting, new home tours and refreshments. Highland Oaks, a 16-acre parcel off FM2499, north of FM407, at Saddlebrook Drive, is of historic value to Highland Village. The property, owned and occupied most recently by Beverly and Ron Gibson, has been in Mrs. Gibsons family, the Porter Family, since the 1880s. Wanting to develop the prized property with distinction and integrity, Combs and Peterson designed the community around the natural contours of the land and with an eye toward saving the stately oaks throughout the property. The community, when completed, will hold some 40 new, custom homes, each tucked away within this enclave of century-old trees and pleasantly curving streets that add to the seclusion and tranquility, yet adjacent to Highland Villages Trail System. In fact, to ensure the continuity of the towns signature Trail System, Texas Land Development donated 1.5 acres to connect the new community with the adjacent Trail System and seven acre park and pond, on the west side of FM2499, at Saddlebrook. Developers Combs and Peterson praised the parties involved in working with them to accomplish their dream for the community. The City of Highland Village was extremely helpful in making this possible, said Combs, noting with humor he was speaking as a business man and developer, not as Highland Village Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem. It was a great joy to work with the engineering firm, Crannell, Crannell &

Martin, Robert Gravley, who is managing construction, and JRJ Paving, for the great efficiency with which they worked. Peterson added, We are also pleased to be collaborating with builders of such quality. Our focus and commitment in choosing builders was to those of integrity, quality and the energy efficiency of their homes. Highland Oaks is the first green subdivision in Highland Village! Homebuilder Victor Myer spoke of the Green Built North Texas (GBT) initiative, launched by the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas in 2006, as the bottom line minimum protocol for todays energy efficient building, by setting new standards for site development strategies, indoor air quality, materials usage and homeowner education. Myer said such protocol increases not only the longevity of the home, but can reduce energy costs by 40 percent or more. Builder Wayne Atkins, of Sterling Brook Custom Homes, explained several of the new standards being used in Highland Oaks, including advanced framing techniques and fully encapsulating the home with an, insulation envelope that includes the air conditioning equipment. Atkins explained this not only better equalizes temperatures between living and attic spaces, but also better seals in and improves the homes air quality. Atkins said the all-encompassing encapsulation drastically reduces typical North Texas summertime attic temperatures from as much as 135 degrees, on a 100 degree day, to 80-85 degrees.

Highland Village Mayor, Dianne Costa, summed up the occasion calling the developers vision and implementation, a bold step. Ms. Costa added, This is a community nestled in the trees, reminding us of times past, yet close enough to the amenities Highland Village offers, to make it an enviable location.