Highlands Ranch Herald 5
June 14, 2018 Sponsored Content
Sterling Ranch landscape design protects water, saves residents money When it comes to the soil and everything that grows and blooms in the Sterling Ranch master-planned community, great thought and care went into protecting water resources and saving its future residents money. In 2011, five years before construction started, Sterling Ranch visionaries began studying the soil, native plants and water conversation best practices across the landscape industry. These studies came through a partnership with the native land experts at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Larry Vickerman, director of Chatfield Farms for Denver Botanic Gardens, said the partnership has far exceeded his expectations, as the dedication from Sterling Ranch developers to not only protect, but add value to the land is truly a “template” for other Colorado housing developers to follow. “When it comes to saying they want to protect water, Sterling Ranch not only talks the talk, but they walk the walk,” he said. “That’s what has impressed me the most as we’ve continued working with them.” Harold Smethills, founder of the growing community in Douglas County south of Littleton, said Sterling Ranch made a serious commitment to water sustainability from the very beginning. “We are doing good, we are saving water and we are saving residents on water costs,” he said. “More and more communities are integrating water sustainability into land-use plans, and we hope to continue to inspire others.” It all began with studying the soil of the land, Smethills explained. Choosing an expert from Chatfield Farms was the logical choice because they are located near the development and have the most knowledge of what is sustainable in the particular
Five years before construction started at Sterling Ranch, developers teamed up with the Denver Botanic Gardens to create a test garden for the studying of plant life on the building site. This effort ultimately rendered a list of 150 different plant varieties that are approved for use in the community as a result of their fit with the site’s climate and soil conditions. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Visit Us Where: Sterling Ranch Information Center - 8220 Piney River Ave. Littleton, CO. 80125 What: 8 builders, 21 models Hours: Sales Center is open daily 10 am - 6 pm Whatch us as we grow on Facebook and Instrgram: @SterlingRanchCO soils and climate of the area. The process started with the creation of a five-year test garden off of Titan Road. “We wanted plants that were attractive and appealing, but wouldn’t require much water, and wouldn’t die in a drought,” Smethills said. “Working with the Botanic Gardens allowed us to understand the soil and created a set of landscape standards, which we assist
our residents in implementing with the help of instructional classes and inspecitions aimed at ensuring landscape success for the benefit of the whole community.” Taking into consideration quality of life issues, Smethills said they also focused on plants and concepts that would be bird friendly. Eventually, the study rendered a list of more than 150 plant variations that are not only planted in the common areas and roundabouts surrounding the development, but also are set as established guidelines for Sterling Ranch residents to use in designing their own yard landscapes. “To have these principles Sterling Ranch developed in a test garden, and have them carried into individual lots is incredible,” Vickerman said. “This approach is truly a selling point for home buyers. Today’s homeowners want to protect water supplies, they want native plants, and they are more environmentally aware.”
www.sterlingranchcolorado.com
As Sterling Ranch continues to grow over the next 20 years, it is estimated that the development’s homes will use a third less water than Douglas County historically has required used. Spring’s Showers Make Way for Summer’s Flowers The Sterling Ranch community is aiming even higher, as it is also currently undergoing a rainwater harvesting pilot project. This project, the first of its kind in Colorado at a community scale, is slated to even further supply the water needed to grow the site’s landscape vision, ultimately providing 40 percent of the public landscape’s irrigation supply. The Sterling Ranch Visitor Center is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There you can learn more about the community’s amenities and find a map to help you and your family visit the 21 model homes currently on the site.