Pioneer Grove at Eden's update

 

 

In the future these pathways will be permeable walkways suitable for wheels or feet.

What a journey it has been so far! 

We received the unanimous recommendation for our re-zoning request from the city's planning and zoning board, and the next step, before we can seek financing and start slinging dirt, is a public hearing before what we hope is a passing City Council vote, in early May.

This is my first experience as a developer, so I was not sure what to expect, and I was surprised at how long the process has taken. But, I can see all of the steps are needed in order to help streamline the application process, which can have its own set of challenges. 

I had hoped we'd present our project in the winter and be ready to go this spring. But as it turns out, the more people you bring into the process, the more other projects there are, working simultaneously. Our project team is 5 people now, counting me and the engineer, as well as the architectural firm and buyer's rep. Soon, we'll be adding an attorney or two and a CPA. So I'm preparing myself, to hurry up and wait. 

But we've come a long way since I passed a hand sketched drawing on a piece of tissue paper to my architect under the oak trees on the farm. And it's been an even longer ride since I started pondering ideas in my head for this land that would enable me to retire, and yet honor the land I've been the steward of since 2002. 

We've settled on a website address, PioneerGroveTX.com to give folks a closer look at the plans. Keep checking back for it to go live, soon.  We've had a couple of community meetings for neighbors and invitees, and once we've got the zoning approved, I see at least one more opportunity for in-person viewing of the plans and a tour of the site location. 

Until then, here are a few updated pics of the plans, some examples of proposed house styles, and some images of the land. 

Are you ready to live farm-side at Pioneer Grove at Eden's? 

From Pioneer Road heading east, the property will be "divided" into 4 areas. The 3 acre mixed use space for the retail, possibly shared office spaces, farm to table eating, hoping for a mini-general store/coffee shop or chef driven cafe. The return of our on-farm farmer's market can be expanded to include some permanent vendor spaces with the pop up shops, shown below. The existing farmland growing area will also be where the food prep, distro and tractor/equipment storage area will be. Additionally, a new barn will be built for the existing livestock.

Pop up market shops that can be leased by entrepreneurs.

Area 3 will be the pocket-neighborhood style living that promotes the benefit of neighbors, and a ped x-friendly cul-de-sac style layout, without any cars to dodge. Cottage style efficient, quaint homes with spacious front porches, drought tolerant and low maintenance landscaping, will face courtyards that can vary from seating areas to gardens to play spaces. There will be 4 distinct "pockets" of homes, a community center with a pool, dog park, and plenty of trails. 

Walking is promoted as one of the best forms of exercise there is - easy on the joints, and a lovely way to stop and smell the roses along the way. I see electric carts, bikes, trikes and scooters as folks pick up mail, grab some lunch in the retail portion of area 1, check for new produce or visit the farm - all within the 14 very walk-able, scenic acres.

It's been an interesting spring, with a broken wrist, lots of rain and mild temps extending our winter harvest, the planting schedule for summer has been delayed, and I've been relying on my CSA to help harvest each week. Feeling a lot less independent and pain in my hand every day through these months' long recovery, has me yearning to be healthy again. It almost feels like a forced partial retirement, but with all of the farming responsibilities still hanging over my head. It's given me a lot of downtime to sample what retirement might feel like, though. I'd just have liked to do it on my own terms and without the broken bone. Ah well, such is life. At least I'm typing better. Hopefully, another few weeks and I'll be back on the tractor again!

Eat Your Food - Naturally!

Marie