Architectural Guidelines for The Estates at Cottonwood Creek

Highly valued for its scenic landscape and rural purity, Cottonwood Creek rejoices in its ability to bring a truly remarkable living experience to the people who call it home. As such, architectural guidelines have been developed to preserve the delicate natural tapestry as well as your real estate investment.

Like the views from Cottonwood Creek's sweeping valleys, homes should be designed to preserve this slice of prairie history. For this reason, you'll find our architectural guidelines focus more on timeless Country American architecture, as it is applied specifically to your individual home. In other words, designing and creating appropriate living spaces that demonstrate great attention to exterior detail-communicating crispness, continuity and clarity that is representative of county architecture.

At Cottonwood Creek, our goal is not to stifle originality and creativity, but rather to enhance it. Our guidelines challenge you and your architect to venture outside those designs that traditionally seem best suited for high density, smaller lot subdivisions in the city. And instead adopt a design approach that embraces the very qualities that have drawn you to Cottonwood Creek. This vision reflects our desire to:

• Demonstrate the quality and character of country architecture and living.
• Celebrate creativity, continuity and variety.
• Preserve the natural qualities of the land.
• Bring value to your investment.
• Unite residents in a community that is connected by common values and aesthetics.
• Embrace the natural beauty of the landscape with open spaces that offer recreation, freedom and flexibility.
• Seamlessly transition landscape themes between lots, home sites and the natural boundaries that separate them.

Like Nebraska's seemingly endless horizon, your home design options are limitless at Cottonwood Creek. To assist you in this process, we've provided numerous examples of home designs and details that have their roots in country architecture. These do not represent an exhaustive list by any means and are meant merely as a starting point in your creative process. You may also feel free to contact us in the early stages of design to ensure you're able to proceed with confidence.

So how do I know that my dream/vision for a home in this community will be acceptable?

1. Look through some of our recommended styles to draw from. (Please note specifically the style that is NOT appropriate for building in this community.) The recommended styles are not exhaustive for we believe there are numerous other styles and interpretations of styles that are appropriate for country living.

2. If there is any concern that your concept doesn't seem to match any of these styles or blends of styles please forward us a copy of a picture or style that you desire to build. Please do this prior to having your plan designed so that you can proceed with confidence. No plans can be built without prior approval from developer.

3. Please take a look at the Spec. Home design that we are choosing to build in Cottonwood Creek. It does not specifically reflect any of the recommended styles shown in our architectural guidelines, but it is a blend of country architecture that should leave no doubt it represents the heart of country living.

4. Familiarize yourself specifically with the Covenants, Article I.

What does it mean by way of design for a home to celebrate the "Best in Country Architecture"?

We are asking you to be creative and design a dream home that celebrates the best in Country Architecture, American Country Architecture or Country Architecture from around the world. From the Southwest to the Northeast, from the Plains to the Northwest, we have all been inspired by the crispness and character of these designs. On the International front we have also been captivated by the simplicity of Italy's Tuscan designs or the rich detail in French Country! And let's not forget the timeless beauty in English Manor or Cottage designs with their rock walls and wood gates in the front yard. As a reminder, we do not want suburban styled homes which are best suited for restrictive lots in the city.

Have fun! Be Creative! (Please refer to the Architectural Guidelines for the recommended process.)

Think 360 Degree design possibilities. Take advantage of all the views. Don't be restricted by typical suburban designs i.e. front load attached garages with glass and primary views on the rear of the house only. Take advantage of the generous spacing between home sites. We encourage designs to take advantage of views from all four sides on the home.

Think of new outdoor living and entertaining spaces. These can now be smartly designed on all sides of the home. In addition to the suburban emphasis on the rear exterior living room only, you can now create these functional spaces on both sides and the front to take advantage of sun or shade.

Think side load and detached garages. This helps create limitless design options. Although some form of attached garage might be considered practical for our climate, a similar result can be achieved by breezeways, covered walkways, trellis and porches that connect the garage to the home.

Think porches and covered verandas. Make exterior access and living practical by creating options. Don't make the mistake that porches can only belong on farmhouse designs.

Think of fresh new exterior design possibilities. Make creative use of various textures of exterior building products, i.e. stone, brick, stucco, siding details with texture/style combinations. We are not of the belief that a 75% or 100% stone/brick front makes a quality design. For instance, in and of itself, a home can be all siding, beautiful, and appropriate with the right details.

Think of going vertical! No... ultra contemporary designs are not acceptable. What we are open to are designs that take advantage of the view possibilities from the third story attic spaces.

Think of yard boundary design possibilities. Why has it become the norm for subdivision covenants to consider all front yard fences unacceptable? We believe that if you are designing something along the lines of English Country, French Country, or European Cottage it is entirely appropriate to have stone walls and possibly a wood/iron gate. These elements can protect or frame the front yard! Likewise, there are numerous designs where it would be appropriate to have a white picket fence that adds detail and charm to the street side view.

Think creative and manageable. When it comes to site planning and landscaping we want you to consider the value of efficiency. Lots are most manageable and sustainable when the portion that you irrigate, fertilize, mow is kept to a reasonable size. Plus, it is environmentally friendly because the natural grass buffer zones act as a filter strip for pesticides and herbicides. (See Article 1, paragraph 16 of the covenants.)

Think "Nesting". We want you to creatively place your home on the lot and frame the living area with berms, trees or other landscaping elements. This allows the Natural Grass Restriction area to compliment your home site and to be fully utilized.

Think value and financial stewardship. You can help pay for all this with an unbelievable 1.74 tax mill levy. Yes, this is a non S.I.D. private subdivision and as a result you can save upwards to $50-75,000 on your tax bill over 15 years. Now your resources go into products in your home.

Determine the buildable area of your lot. Take the surveyor certificate of your lot and mark off "Natural Grass Restriction Area" (25' side yards and 50' rear yard.) Please refer to Section 16. of the covenants. These areas can't be disturbed without written approval of developer.

Develop a "Nested" Home Site Landscape Plan. Place your home on the most buildable portion of lot and note on site plan the landscaped area to be maintained around your "nested" home site. (As a reminder, all areas that are landscaped and mowed must be irrigated. The maximum amount of area to be landscaped and maintained can not exceed 2/3 of entire lot size - see Landscape Concepts.)

Highlight Landscape Transitional Area. Please note how you will soften the transition from the "Natural Grass Restriction Area" to landscaped areas on front, sides, and rear of your home site. The following are a few of the recommended methods:

• Creative shape to landscaped area - see Landscape Concept.
• Use of berms.
• Use of trees and planting beds.
• Use of fences (front, rear and sides).
• Use if hedge rows.
• Use of stone walls.
• Use of natural grass buffer between street and landscaped front yard

Please note approximate driveway locations with culverts requires under all driveways. Sidewalks along the street are not allowed.

Yearly maintenance of "Natural Grass Restriction Area" will be under direction of the developer. We are requiring this so that the entire community has a seamless continuity of look. We encourage wildflowers to be overseeded to match your style of home. Any natural grasses that are damaged during construction must be reseeded using grass sees purchased from the developer. Silt fences must be installed during construction. This includes all perimeter areas of grass disturbed on building site and along natural drainage areas where silt and erosion may occur.

Click here to enlarge Landscape Guide

Your landscape plan must be approved. Prior to commencement of construction, please make use of the guidelines mentioned above to inspire that process.

• Have you read the Architecture Guidelines?
• Have you read the "Think Sheet"?
• Have you read the Landscape Guidelines?
• Have you looked at the Landscape Concept?
• Have you read the Covenants?
• Have you met personally with the developer? This is required before any Purchase Agreement will be considered on any lot.
• Have you submitted preliminary house plans to developer for initial approval?
• Have you submitted preliminary landscape plans to developer for initial approval?
• Have you submitted final house plans and landscape plans to developer for final approval?
• Have you installed silt fence around landscape transition area?