I certainly hope you are not involved in any chamber promotions in the area
Colorado Native, To be sure there is a lot of growing yet to come, since this is going to be a huge planned community. However, they are off to a good start and a lot has been accomplished at this early date. The project has been so popular, it has been difficult for the different builders to keep up with the demand.
Kennecott has committed to catching 100 percent of the rainwater that falls, even up to a 100-year storm. The theory is to catch the water as close to where it falls as possible and infiltrate it into the ground, eliminating a large amount of the underground piping and stormwater infrastructure that would typically be used in a new development.
As far as plantings go, Kennecott is conscious of being water wise, trying to incorporate as many native and indigenous plants as possible. Mainly native wildflowers and native grasses have been chosen, which are primarily watered with the secondary water irrigation system.
There are areas that have attached housing around a common space. Six or seven homes are clustered on a single space and the homeowners association maintains it.
There are corridors of trail networks outside the town areas. Along the trails there will be multiple experiences, parks, kiosks, plantings and demonstration gardens.
ABOVE & BELOW: The playground designs and equipment will be everything from traditional to modern Kompan-style equipment, with benches from Landscape Forms and Country Casual for park site amenities.
There is a community garden where people can rent a space and grow vegetables sponsored and maintained by the homeowners association. Spaces range from large to small, and create another gathering place in the community where people can rub elbows and get to know their neighbors. Ultimately, all the neighborliness makes the neighborhood safer.
“It was very rewarding,” said Jeff Haws, “to go to school to learn these concepts and then be able to come out and make it work.”
On this site 85 acres is devoted to the lake, a major amenity. The area around the lake brings it to 165 acres total.
The first phase, 24 acres, will be open end of summer.
A BEBO bridge is being laid in place as the connection to the planned island in the center of the lake.
Only non-motorized boats will be allowed on Oquirrh Lake, however people can reserve rowboats, kayaks or sunfish. There will also be a splash pad intended for the little ones as well as a wading pool 18 inches deep with two fountains running continuously. Other water amenities are planned as well.
The lake has a rubber liner with approximately two to two-and-one-half feet of soil on top of the liner. They had a number of wildlife consultants advise them on habitat requirements. Fish habitats will be constructed on the bottom, for spawning and reproduction. Eventually 220,000 fish will have homes in the lake.
ABOVE & BELOW: A number of wetland shelves will be incorporated into the lake. The perimeter will be planted with an 80 percent wildflower and native grass mix. Other areas, such as turf, will be separated to prevent fertilizer run off. Once the lake wetlands have been established, they will be used as part of the stormwater management system.
As far as shopping is concerned, the retail spaces are not leased yet. They are still in planning stages, to be sure that they have the right grocery anchor with a large office tenant. Much of the retail will be support services for residents and workers in the offices
Kennecott has dug wells 300 feet deep to provide ground-source heating and cooling for the new elementary school and community center. Heating and cooling will be the same for the office and retail buildings. Once the systems are in place, it is essentially free energy.
The home styles and lot sizes are a definite nod to what was popular during the turn of the past century. There are many interesting color palate's to choose from if you want to venture beyond the typical beige, "very much like what you would see in the older neighborhoods."
p.s CoNative, I very much enjoy our good-natured debate. Please continue to contribute to this Wasatch thread. I will try to be more careful about the lurkers who get their little tidy-whitey's all twisted.
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I bet it's going to be hell to drive to the gateway once those lanes are closed.
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