CREJ - Land and Development - July 2016
In summer 2010, the homebuilding and real estate industry was facing its most challenging times in decades. The “Great Recession” was upon us. It was in this difficult climate that master planning for Leyden Rock began. Faith in authenticity. A memorable community begins with the end in mind. Community imaging is not an ornament to be tacked on at the end of the design process. It begins at the opening stages of design and is incorporated into initial master plan design concepts. It continues as the design evolves, changing to accommodate the qualities of the site and its context. The result is an image that forms an authentic, coherent and organic vision and theme that helps to forge a strong community identity. The image for Leyden Rock was derived from the history of the site and the ranching heritage of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West. The team worked to create a refined concept and palette from both. Preservation of the pastoral landscape and the use of metal, stone and timber beams are consistent throughout. Jack fencing, a historic Colorado fence style, highlights community entries to maximize the rustic appearance of the land. Community identity monuments were inspired by the Monjeau Lookout in New Mexico and were designed to be signature landmarks in scale with the panoramic open space setting. Embracing the vision. The Leyden Rock design team and city of Arvada staff collaborated over several months to create a master plan that embraced the collective vision and goals for the community. Anchored by the panoramic mesa top views overlooking Leyden Creek, downtown Denver, the Flatirons and the Front Range foothills to the west, the Leyden Rock master plan offers a breathtaking experience of the natural world. Open space permeates each neighborhood. Parks are visual focal points and centers of activity, contributing to overall community character as well as creating a distinct identity for each neighborhood. Design goals included: • Creating a community that is a gateway from the foothills to the city of Arvada. • Accommodating the proposed Jefferson Parkway as a critical component of growth and development for the city and region. • Protecting regional watersheds and water quality by implementing low-impact development techniques. • Consolidating open space and preserving native landscapes and wildlife habitat while simplifying maintenance. • Over 600 acres of land (more than 60 percent) was preserved as open space. • Over 95 percent of open space was preserved or restored to a native condition. • Providing open space and trails that connect to surrounding regional open spaces and conservation areas. • Using drought- and cold-tolerant native and naturalizing plant materials. • Preserving ridgelines to avoid impacts on existing vegetation. The master plan used low-impact neighborhood design to reduce the overall development footprint and increase open space preservation. The result is a community that achieves more than twice the housing density of traditional low-density residential developments while preserving three times as much open space. Breaking through clouds. In August 2011, “Weathering the Storms” was the headline of a local newspaper. Throughout Leyden Rock’s design and entitlement process, elected officials and Arvada city staff demonstrated that they were looking beyond the wild market fluctuations and daily “doom and gloom” of the headlines. With ongoing staff support and a unanimous recommendation of approval by the Planning Commission, the master plan for Leyden Rock received unanimous approval from the Arvada City Council Aug. 1, 2011. In summer 2012, a year after initial entitlements were in place, the future arrived at Leyden Rock. With an emphasis on sustainable design and “doing simple well,” the “Lookout” neighborhood, the first at Leyden Rock, was under construction. The first model homes opened in September. Several homebuilders were involved or looking to become a part of the exciting new community. Future phase neighborhood designs were moving through the approval process, following quickly on the heels of the work already underway. It certainly had been stormy for a while, but it appeared as though the clouds were breaking. In December 2012, the second phase of Leyden Rock was unanimously approved by City Council. Entering 2013, we welcomed signs of continuing improvement in the homebuilding marketplace. Model homes opened and home sales were brisk. Wayfinding signage was complete and construction of the main entry landscape, monuments and signage was underway. May 20, 2014, the final phase of Leyden Rock was unanimously approved by City Council. This final entitlement approval represented an overall approval of 1,439 homes, or 100 percent of the units, approved with the original master plan in 2011 and included the final portion of over 600 acres of parks and public open space that includes over 19 miles of trails. Results, naturally. On Jan. 19, Leyden Rock was awarded The Nationals Silver Award for Best Landscape of a Master Planned Community in the International Builders Show in Las Vegas. With a focus on sustainability and preservation, Leyden Rock’s landscape design was critical in communicating to the diverse market of future residents that the community genuinely brings people together through nature. The award also validated the design’s emphasis on the conservation and stewardship of water and the natural environment. In the May 2016 issue of Builder Magazine, Leyden Rock was No. 9 among the 25 top-selling communities in the United States – the only Colorado community to make the list. Design diversity in neighborhoods, street scenes and home styles continues to contribute to the beauty and sustainability of Leyden Rock. The community now includes 10 homebuilders, seven product lines – second move-up, third move-up, small patio, luxury patio, paired patio, semicustom and luxury – 52 models and 156 different elevations. Thriving community. By preserving the inherent virtues of the site, establishing a unique community character and integrating nature into every aspect of the master plan process, Leyden Rock transcended the troubled economic climate into which it was born. Following through on the integrity of its original vision, it has matured into a vibrant, dynamic community that will endure for generations.