News Room
'Lay of land' complicates, enhances development
By Courtney Watson - The Tennessean
May 16, 2006
Design of equestrian community takes almost two years
LEIPER'S FORK COMMUNITY - More than 500 acres previously owned by Cal Turner Jr. is slated to become an equestrian community known as Beechwood Plantation.
Northern California development firm Tower Land Co. has announced plans for a 45-lot development for the Leiper's Fork-area property off Bailey Road.
"It's literally taken nearly two years to design this development because of the lay of the land, the beauty of the land and the community," said Alex Marks, Tower Land Co. senior vice president.
Marks said Tower was especially attracted to Leiper's Fork because of the unique community there.
"Our No. 1 goal is to preserve not only the land, but the uniqueness of the community," he said. "That's the real underlying reason people are going to be moving there. You can't build a community like Leiper's Fork."
According to advertising materials, Phase One of the project will begin this month and includes 11 lots ranging from six to 29 acres. Prices for the home sites run from $319,000 to $689,000. Phase One completion is scheduled for September.
Architectural styles will resemble historic country homes, and development amenities will include access to a private trail system from every lot, private barn plots, and private roads and entrances.
The Williamson County Planning Commission reviewed a sketch plan for the development in January. County Planning Director Mike Matteson said Tower representatives will have to return to gain final plat approval for each of the development's four phases.
Marks said Tower focuses in particular on rural developments nationwide.
"Rural developments intrigue us because we love beautiful land, and we like to do our best to keep the Rolex Submariner replica that way," he said. "We've got people around the country looking for projects like these."
Beechwood Plantation is the second of three communities the company is planning in Leiper's Fork: Traceland Estates off Parker Branch Road is the first, and Garrison Springs off Garrison Road will be the third.
"We own two other developments, one has already kicked off a year ago and is doing quite well," Marks said, adding that Beechwood Plantation has had "quite a bit of interest already."
The local development management group for the project is L2R, Inc., led by John and Tyler Ring, the father-son team behind Fountainbrooke in Brentwood and Legends Ridge in Franklin, and Davis Lamb, who was part of the development of the River Landing subdivision in the Grassland area.
Ray Helmsworth, who owns the Williamson County-based RANN Realty, will act as broker for the properties.
For more information on the development, visit.