When my business partner Bob Appert and I set out to create White Oaks Savanna, our primary goal was to preserve this beautiful piece of land and keep it from getting clear cut and chopped up into cul-de-sacs. Guided by our own version of the Hippocratic Oath, “First, do no harm,” we created a master plan for the 320 acres. We spent hours walking the land and making an inventory of all the natural features we wanted to protect, including:
Spectacular, open-growth oak trees, since they’re a hallmark of the savanna landscape.
The historic barn and iconic outbuildings that belonged to the Carlson-Masterson farm.
Rich agricultural soils that will one day become part of the Farm at White Oaks Savanna where small local farmers can grow fruits, vegetables and grains.
Long and short views from east to west and north to south, since there’s no better way to experience the progression of the sun as it moves across the land.
Woodlands and wetlands that have provided a home for wildlife for hundreds of years.
Gentle hills and valleys that helped define our road, which you can read about here.
From there, we embarked on a strategic site plan with Travis Van Liere of TVL Studio, Peterssen/Keller Architecture and Carlson McCain Land Engineers. Using the City of Grant rural preservation guidelines, we identified 30 home sites of 5-7 acres each and nestled the lots deep into the land to preserve the views into perpetuity. We’re really proud of our site plan, since it allows our homeowners to feel as though they own 320 acres of rare oak savanna for the price of 5!
Sincerely,
David Washburn
P.S. While Bob and I get a kick out of sharing our stories on this blog, the best way to experience White Oaks Savanna is in person, so please let us know if you’d like to schedule a complimentary tour. We look forward to showing you around!