Returning to the original Hearn Road development ways

There are several key reasons why Hearn residents and landowners are supporting the Farmstead development model.

1. Keep it rural.

We want to protect the rural charm and tranquility that blends the natural beauty of rolling hills, woodlands, and pastures of Hearn Road with a lifestyle rooted in land stewardship and community. The area is renowned for its unspoiled, picturesque landscapes, quiet rural roads, and strong community values around conservation and sustainable living. The Farmsteads will have a minimum requirement of 3 acres with 70% of the land protected and built environment concentrated on the remaining 30%.

2. Freedom to the families.

For generations, the families in the Hearn area enjoyed the freedom to pass along their land to the next generation or loved ones. The ability for families to subdivide and develop their land changed 20 years ago when the comprehensive plan was adopted. While the Chatt Hills comprehensive plan has many virtues, the tradeoff has been that the families and landowners are limited in what they can do with their properties. Farmsteads will allow families and landowners to return to the freedom of subdividing their land (adhering to a 3 acre minimum district rural zoning).

3. A practical alternative to high density development.

The Chatt Hills comp plan was designed to benefit the thoughtful development of a certain size (over 100 acres to develop a hamlet for example). By law, comprehensive plans are required to be reviewed every 5 years to ensure they are still relevant to the community. As big developers expand under the comp plan guidelines, most local families cannot develop their land as they desire. The Farmsteads give freedom to families and landowners to subdivide and develop with a 3 acre minimum. This maintains the rural character while balancing all development patterns.