Three housing developments honored by Florida Yards & Neighborhoods
UF/IFAS’ Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program has chosen three housing developments communities as Outstanding Florida Friendly Communities for their efforts to protect natural resources by adhering to Florida-friendly landscaping principles.
The three communities, which use drought tolerant and low maintenance plants and landscapes and are designed to conserve and protect water, are: The Hancock Place in St. Johns County, Pelican Preserve in Lee County and Connerton in Pasco County.
The Hancock Place, developed by the St. Johns Housing Partnership, is a 7-acre development that maintains an average cost for a single-family home at $135,000. It uses low-impact design elements, such as roadside swales instead of curbs and gutters and an ecologically enhanced stormwater pond. Once established, yards are designed to exist on rainfall and homeowners attend an introductory Florida Yards & Neighborhoods class.
Pelican Preserve, a WCI community, sits on more than 1,000 acres with more than 50 percent devoted to recreation, preserved wetlands and natural wildlife corridors. Many of the development’s employees have undergone FYN training and lead nature walks and bird-watching tours, while residents maintain an educational butterfly garden.
Connerton, developed by Terrabrook in Pasco County, is a “New Town” community on nearly 7,000 acres that includes extensive preserved areas, a town center, a regional park, wildlife corridors and a pedestrian trail system. Brick paving and water-permeable concrete were used in building pedestrian paths, driveways, sidewalks and parking areas help reduce runoff, and every new homeowner signs a pledge to protect nature and wildlife in the community.
Other communities that received a Florida Friendly Community Recognition include: Mediterra in Lee County, developed by Long Bay Partners, LLC; Willow Chase in Sarasota County, developed by Lee Wetherington Homes; University Groves in Manatee County, developed by Fidelity Homes; Veridian in Lee County, developed by Gulfstream Homes; and Lakes of Mount Dora in Lake County, developed by Pringle Development, Inc.
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods is a public education and outreach program available through UF extension offices in most counties.
Click here to visit the FYN home page
Click here for a Pelican Preserve photo
Click here for a The Hancock Place photo
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