The six homes on that tract will feature, for now, two models, the Woodcrest and the Ridgecrest.

According to architect Jeff Weller with Summit Architecture, which is part of the Sanctuary Developers team, which model is destined for which lot depends on the lay of the land.

“The plans are lot specific, so the choice is the plan and/or the lot. The dif- ferent designs fit the varying topography of each lot,” he said.

The parcel is zoned R2 and although the town’s recent ruling on Short-term Rent- als (STRs) prohibits new STRs in the R2 zone, each home in Sanctuary at 1st features a garage apartment so these homes would qualify for STRs under the Homestay cat- egory. In the Homestay category, the home- owner must be in the “main” house during the “rental” period.

Sanctuary Developers will build each home on the minimum required 1⁄2 acre lot per home.

The Preliminary Plat prepared by Aar- on Garrett Land Surveying, P.C. and Stillwell Engineering show the first lot at .53-acres, the second lot at .50-acres, the third lot at .50-acres, the fourth lot at .51-acres, the fifth lot at .50-acres, and the sixth lot at .51-acres. Each lot will have its own driveway and will be served by a subdivision road.

As required, Town Engineer Lamar Nix has signed off on the roadway construction, the water distribution plan, and the electric distribution plan – all of which meet the Town of Highlands subdivision standards, he said.

The sewer collection proposal consists

of hooking into the Town’s gravity system on 1st Street but the proposed collection system within the subdivision will be pri- vate.

“The proposed system consists of a small diameter gravity system which goes to a duplex sewer pump station at which point the sewage will be pumped to the Town gravity system,” said Nix. “It is noted in the plans that this system is to be pri- vately permitted, owned and maintained. I strongly recommend that this system re- main private and should be noted as such in all discussions and approvals.”

In addition, both the water distribu- tion plan and the sewer collection plan require a North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality permit.

As to water runoff, which is always a concern, according to Weller, 90% of run-off from the community will go down toward US 64 west not Oak Street. In preparation for the construction of the Fire Department, the town upgraded the stormwater collection system in that vicin- ity.

“The erosion control and storm drain- age plan is for everything to go between Main Street Nursery and the Fire Depart- ment property,” said Weller. “We have an easement through there.”

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services/ Meadows Mountain Realty is the real estate firm representing the subdivision, Byrd Landscape Design is handling the extensive landscaping and Bill Futral of Futral En- terprises is the building contractor for the subdivision.

Futral said he hopes to break ground once the Town Board signs off on the sub- division.