Sustanee: Connecting Community in Nature

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The Sustane Community Plan has evolved into a cutting edge model of sustainable planning and development. The plan is groundbreaking in that it is envisioned as a 5-generation plan that will sustain its residents for over 100 years. The site is connected to a 706-acre environmental preserve and is close to the University of Central Florida and the Central Florida Research Park. A “Smart Growth” opportunity is to link the neighborhoods to these job centers by e-bikes and pedestrian trails.

Sustanee is a community designed around the interface of people and nature in a new urbanist setting of walkability with 2-lane pedestrian-friendly roads and landscapes that are crafted for shaded walks. Each of the eight neighborhoods will have a variety of housing types organized around a one-acre park. In addition to the 8 central focal points, the community will also have a centralized 3-acre park for the enjoyment of residents and visitors.

Sustanee plan

The community is intentionally designed around the idea of resident education and active engagement with nature. A special feature of the plan is a commitment to building a Nature/ Education Center building called the Sustanee Community Education Center (SCEC) in the heart of the community. This facility will be open to the general public and will also function as a learning and social center for residents. The SCEC will offer educational programs and meeting events in partnership with the University of Florida, the Institute of Food and Agriculture (IFAS) and other interest groups.

Permanent funding is considered essential to enable the longterm objectives of learning, research and scholarship related to best management practices. To this end, the developer CHCG Land Services will create the Sustanee Foundation at an initial stage in the development. This nonprofit foundation will rely on a guaranteed income stream to sustain the programs in the community which will continue long after the last home is built at Sustanee.

Silverleaf: Structured for Success

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The newest project for Sunterra Communities, Silverleaf, is located in the rapidly growing Horizon West area of west Orange County. The Canin Landscape Architecture studio has been providing design and permitting services for multiple phases of Silverleaf. The design features a landscape aesthetic which will blend with the neighboring Hamlin communities and still provide distinctive branding through the judicious use of silver leaved trees and a native planting palette. 

The landscape architecture team first designed a streetscape strategy and created a signage palette for the entire Silverleaf development. The entry features are designed with the existing aesthetic of the community but stand out due to the primary use of composite wood features and bold white accents. 

The first phase of development includes townhomes, a county public park, and two new school sites for Orange County public schools. The second phase of development includes approximately 320 residential lots that are adjacent to conservation lands. Within the second phase, the Canin team designed multiple community park sites, regional trails, and a primary amenity site for the community. Construction has just begun on the first phase of the Silverleaf project and future phases will include multiple residential neighborhoods, a public park, and a mixed-use commercial center along Avalon Road.