Community Development Activity

Have you noticed bright green permits peppering the community, or recently had work done which required one? Does it seem like you are seeing more and more construction happening across the island? If you answered yes to these questions, then you are correct.

Following the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020, there has been a steady and sustained increase in the construction activity throughout The Landings. This, in part, was spurred by residents spending more time at home or indoors and having available time and resources to finally tackle those long set aside home renovations. The pandemic also spurred existing home and vacant lot sales which, when combined with the uptick in renovations, has resulted in a flurry of activity for the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) as it reviews the applications for new homes, exterior renovations, landscaping upgrades, and other minor improvements to properties.

If you did not know, the ARC is the regulatory committee charged with the review and approval of new construction and all exterior modifications to existing homes and landscapes. The committee members represent the common interests of The Landings’ homeowners and residents by interpreting and enforcing the Architectural Guideline standards in a fair, reasonable, and equitable manner. The committee is composed of eight members, one of whom serves as Chair and a non-voting, TLA Board of Directors Liaison, which is the position I have held for the last nine months.

 As the Liaison to the Architectural Review Committee, I have had the pleasure of seeing activity turn from ideas on paper into beautiful new homes, amazing screen porch additions, incredible landscapes, relaxing pools and patios, and even outdoor entertaining areas like fire pits and kitchens. Nothing could be more satisfying as a Board member than seeing the hard work of our dedicated volunteers shaping the community into one of the most beautiful areas in the South. Knowing that so much time, dedication, and work go into the review process, I thought it would be helpful to share some highlights of the work they have been doing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The chart above shows the number of applications reviewed by the ARC year over year. As you can see, there was a substantial increase in the number of applications presented to the ARC from 2019 to 2020 (nearly 40%), which has remained steady through 2021. These applications, along with requests for minor improvements such as repainting, re-roofing, driveway repairs, and other minor alterations which are reviewed by the Community Development Department (CDD) Staff, have resulted in a record number of those bright green permits being issued over the last year and a half. The chart below shows the intensity of the increase in activity. From 2019 to 2020, there was a 45% increase in permit activity, and thus far this year, there has been more than a 55% increase from this same time last year! At this rate, we are likely to have doubled the numbers from 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This level of investment is noteworthy, as even the smallest of improvements to one’s property has an impact on your neighbors. When reviewed overall, this is a case of where all boats rise with the tide, and the improvements made to properties today will have a lasting impact well into the future. This work could not be done without the eight volunteer residents of The Landings who serve on the ARC and the CDD staff who support them

Your TLA CDD staff, led by Erin Schumacher and her team, work a significant number of hours handling all aspects of community development around The Landings and coordinating the ARC’s activities. All of these development efforts require substantial time reviewing homeowner applications and ensuring a fair review of the Guidelines. The job that Erin’s team does is absolutely superb, particularly when you consider the volume of work that they perform each day. In summary, it has been a very busy 2020-2021 for the CDD. Likewise, the ARC members should be commended for sharing their talent and skills and investing their time to benefit The Landings. If you know an ARC member or work with the staff, please let them know how much you appreciate what do to assist the community.