First Custom Homes Appear at Eco-Friendly Preserve

First Custom Homes Appear at Eco-Friendly Preserve

Roddan Paolucci Roddan Advertising and Public Relations


August 5, 2002

The initial two custom homes have been completed at Shady Canyon, the private residential preserve in Irvine, California. These are the first of approximately 400 estate homes ultimately to be integrated with the rolling topography and adjacent, 16,000-acre nature sanctuary in the San Joaquin Hills.

Pacific Design Estates built both residences in accordance with Shady Canyon's rustic design guidelines that recall the classic California style of Wallace Neff and George Washington Smith. Soon to join these two will be other luxury farmhouses, many of which incorporate authentic Old-World materials, such as salvaged beams and ancient fireplaces. Created by Irvine Community Development Company, Shady Canyon has broken home sales records in the area.

All State and federal environmental requirements are integrated directly into the community's master plan. The vast majority of the property's streams and wetlands are preserved. Also preserved are major slopes, rock outcroppings sensitive habitats, including riparian habitat, oak woodlands and coastal sage scrub and sensitive plant populations.

Shady Canyon is one of the first developments to employ California's Natural Community Conservation Program (NCCP). The NCCP achieves habitat and species preservation goals while allowing a reasonable amount of development. The NCCP is embodied in the State Endangered Species Act and recognized by a formal rule adopted under the Federal Endangered Species Act. It provides for dedicating and managing conserved areas and the important habitat corridors between them. At Shady Canyon, the NCCP protects more than forty identified plant and animal species that form or are dependent upon the coastal sage scrub ecosystem, including the California gnatcatcher, which is listed as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act. It also protects other sensitive types of habitat, including oak woodland and rock outcrop habitats.

Shady Canyon Golf Course-a habitat-sensitive course designed by Tom Fazio-comprises an NCCP "special linkage" providing for wildlife mobility between preserved acreage and the Sand Canyon Reservoir area. The golf course design avoids much of the scrub and chaparral-covered slopes, and maintains the three major east/west streambeds, Shady Creek, North Shady Creek and East Shady Creek. The 300-acre course includes large areas of permanently protected open space, including 63 acres of protected and maintained coastal sage scrub. Landscaping and landscape maintenance guidelines for the golf course are designed to prevent non-native exotic plants from invading natural habitat areas to facilitate long-term use of the corridor by wildlife.

Related Link: Shady Canyon

For more information contact:

Jack Skelley
Roddan Paolucci Roddan Advertising and Public Relations
2516 Via Tejon, suite 114
Palos Verdes Estates
California 90274
USA

Phone: 310-791-2759
Fax: 310-791-2750
Email: [email protected]

Posted August 5, 2002



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