Barbour Pointe
www.barbourpointe.com

Located 10 miles southwest from Downtown Savannah, Barbour Pointe is a 38 acre community of single-family residents nestled amongst mature hardwood trees along 1,400 feet of Salt Creek marsh frontage. While the original zoning for the area would have allowed the construction of 57 new residences; the community is designed with a strong focus on preservation, thus only 35 new residences are being constructed on the 18 acres of developable land. Each of the home sites, with maximum square footage footprints, are strategically positioned in order to preserve trees and provide marsh view corridors while protecting the natural riparian buffer and total infrastructure for the site resulted in the removal of only 8 significant trees.

Aside from nestling in amongst the trees, Barbour Pointe is settling into the natural environment by harnessing the earth’s constant temperature of 68F. This is not only energy efficient but it also eliminates the need for outside condenser units. Alongside geothermal as an alternative energy source, Barbour Pointe’s community infrastructure, like outdoor lighting, is powered entirely by a solar installation located along an existing causeway nearby. The array is to provide approximately 6,000 kw/yr.

Embracing many unique water conservation and low impact development strategies, the road system at Barbour Point was narrowed to a 20foot width which serves as a traffic calming design technique while also reducing construction materials and impact of surrounding trees and soils. Furthermore, attention to maintaining the natural hydrology of the site resulted in the use of grass pavers for all roads in the community. This material choice made the installation of curb and gutters unnecessary and greatly reduced runoff.

There are no permanent irrigation systems in Barbour Pointe because the xeriscaping with native flora was employed. Also, landscaping maintenance covenants strictly govern the use of pesticides and fertilizers that threaten the health of the marshes and human community.

Barbour Pointe thought creatively about how to restore the marsh embankment and decided, instead of using conventional hard-armoring banks that employ rock revetments or concrete bulkheads, to use crushed shells for vegetative bank stabilization. The result is a low impact stabilization that protects the natural integrity of the marsh. 

The overall strategy of respecting the features of the existing land is exemplified in the adaptive reuse of an exiting structure which is to be donated to an affordable housing non-profit, and the rezoning required to accommodate the unique land ownership which holds all community common areas in a conservation easements.