I recently took a drive through Harvest Green, a master planned community located in Richmond, Texas. Currently being developed by the Johnson Development Corporation it features agriculture and gardening as a central theme. Amenities include a working farm; optional backyard raised bed gardens; a trail system; herb gardens in some common areas; lakes; and a fitness center with pool, splash pad, and playground. I toured the community to review its drainage system, and amenities, and to see how the two were integrated.

The master planned community will eventually occupy 1,300 acres; however, only the first few sections have been completed thus far. This is an illustration of the complete master plan.

In some locations the four lane main roads drain to depressed areas planted with native grasses and shrubs that provide some detention and retention of stormwater (see below). I was unable to tell if these areas subsequently drain directly to underground storm sewers and then to a detention basin or if the drainage flows through a bioretention system first. I was also unable to tell if including these areas allowed the development to proceed with a lower volume of centralized detention. [If anyone involved in the design of this project knows, please leave a comment.]

Each of these low areas has educational signage identifying it as a “Native Meadow” (see below). This helps residents and visitors, who may be used to a more formal and manicured type of landscaping, know that the tall prairie grass and wildflowers are intentional and are part of the “natural” and “wild” Harvest Green experience and brand.

Many of the homes have backyards adjacent to trail or creek corridors. The photograph below shows a trail along Oyster Creek. Homes along this corridor have an open fence design along back lot lines. I did not notice if gates were provided for easy home owner access to the trail system. Landscaping includes a mix of both mowed turf grass and unmowed “wild” areas with native grasses and flowers.

Some creek corridors don’t currently include trails and are not served by backyard gates. The photograph below shows an example of this. This is a bit of a missed opportunity to integrate both natural amenities and natural drainage into these corridors.

While some of the main roads appear to drain to natural systems, local residential streets do not. All of the local streets appear to be served by traditional curb and gutter drainage systems with underground pipes flowing to centralized detention basins. The basins were built deeper than required for detention purposes and were clay lined so that they hold some permanent water and serve as amenity lakes.  The photograph below shows the traditional raised curb and a pair of side-by-side curb inlets. As noted previously, the more extensive use of natural drainage systems can reduce the need for end-of-pipe detention systems. I was not able to tell if Harvest Green was able to take advantage of that benefit.

A recycled water system has been added to the community’s wastewater treatment system and recycled water lines have been installed throughout the development to be used for landscape and farm irrigation. State rules require the recycled water piping system be purple and signage be installed to reduce the risk of people drinking the recycled water. The quality of the water is perfectly safe for watering food crops, but it is not intended for direct human consumption. See photograph below.

Like most suburban communities in the region, the entry points are marked with large, illuminated, entry monuments and signage.  The photograph below shows one of the entry monuments to Harvest Green.

But this monument is a bit unusual. It is solar powered! The photograph below shows the photovoltaic cells and what I assume is a battery system of some kind.

The Johnson Development Corporation and their design team used natural drainage approaches to manage the runoff from some areas of the master planned community. They integrated amenities and drainage system in some areas. They deployed non-potable water reuse systems and solar systems to improve the sustainability of the development.

Their marketing of the community has focused on the natural amenities, agricultural features, and gardening elements to differentiate their offering to home buyers, some of whom are looking for a more active and engaged lifestyle and to live in a more sustainable and environmental friendly community.

The Johnson Development Corporation (and their planning and design professionals) should be commended for what they have accomplished in Harvest Green.