Heatherwood Conservation Development
Closer to Austin is a 12-acre conservation development in Dripping Springs. Heatherwood is the brainchild of developer Matthew Duffy who says he was motivated to build an affordable conservation development when he realized that local teachers, firefighters, and other medium income families were quickly being shut out of the semi-rural Dripping Springs area. Duffy, who lives in Heatherwood, is using modular homes to keep the development affordable. The homes, rated at 2 stars by the Green Building Program, come in five different designs. They include such features as:

• Front porches
• Hardie lap siding
• R-30 in roof insulation
• Vinyl dual pane windows
• ENERGYSTAR® rated appliances
• Water saver toilets

The 17 homesites are clustered on three acres, leaving nine undeveloped acres. There are plenty of trees, open space, and wildlife habit, along with walking trails, picnic areas and a children's park.

One of the more interesting aspects of this development is the waste water management system. The development has created only 14% impervious cover on the site, leaving large native plant and wetland areas which help manage storm water runoff. The community also uses an On-Site Septic Facility (OSSF) that treats wastewater and returns it to the site as landscape water.

Benefits of Conservation Development

• Protected water quality
• Protected wildlife habitat
• Reduced infrastructure construction costs
• Reduced maintenance costs
• Reduced demand for publicly funded greenspace
• Means for expanding public trails and greenways