Serenbe Mixed-Use Development
SEI is providing planning coordination, civil engineering and surveying services in support of this nearly 1000 acre, mixed use, sustainable development. Serenbe is the result of a national effort of specialists. Serenbe is a somewhat unique development model in that it is composed of densely concentrated “hamlets” which allows for the conservation of key natural resources, allowing for an overall density of 1 unit/acre. Each hamlet is composed of progressively less dense applications radiating away from a central mixed-use commerical area. Hamlets consist of retail shops, restaurant/bake shops, live-work townhome units, clustered cottage homes and estate lots, all with an eclectic mix of architectural styles from craftsman traditional to contemporary. Although alternative modes of transportion are encouraged at Serenbe, shared parking for all aspects of the development are spread throughout the project areas to meet commercial and residential codes. There are walking/biking/horseback trails throughout, connecting all aspects of the development.
SEI continues to work closely with Serenbe Development, various architects and builders as new phases are develop and engineering needs arise.
Service Details
Civil Engineering
SEI has provided civil engineering services for the community since 2004. Serenbe truly is a mixed-use community, with various densities of residential, restaurant, commercial, office, hospitality, institutional, agricultural, and community gathering areas. SEI’s role at Serenbe has not been limited to only roadway and community design. SEI has also supported Serenbe by providing base surveying, zoning entitlement services, due diligence property investigation, environmental studies, transportation services, landscape architecture, and marketing services. The intent of Serenbe is not to produce a cookie-cutter community, but rather one that is sustainable and customized to preserve the surrounding environment. As such, SEI has worked closely with the Serenbe development team of owners, architects, contractors, and utility providers to create an award-winning community that continues to grow despite regional economic difficulties. Specifically, SEI’s engineers have provided detailed designs for roadways, trail systems, custom residential lots, commercial properties, infill areas, master stormwater management, environmental preservation, utilities, and agricultural facilities while maintaining the overall intent of Serenbe to be an innovative and sustainable community.
Environmental Services
SEI has provided environmental design and permitting services for Serenbe since 2004. Serenbe is a conservation community that is intended to preserve significant amounts of openspace (+/- 70%.) To create a sustainable community, the development plan has been customized to fit the land and preserve environmentally sensitive features. To accomplish this, environmentally sensitive areas had to be identified. Using municipal and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ guidelines, environmental delineations were performed to identify significant streams, vegetation, and wetland areas for protection. It was then the responsibilities of SEI’s engineers to avoid conflicts to the environmentally sensitive areas. In addition, to support rezonings and use changes, SEI performed Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments and Noise Studies per municipal requirements. Said assessments determined if any endangered flora or fauna, historically protected properties, or potential environmental hazards existed near proposed development areas.
Transportation Engineering
SEI has provided transportation engineering for the various phases of Serenbe since 2004. Due to the projected size of this conservation community, Serenbe met the thresholds to be considered a “Development of Regional Impact” (DRI) by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). To secure ARC approval, SEI provided long-term transportation modeling, traffic counts, and impact studies. Alternative modes of transportation such as, bicycling, walking, and golf carts were incorporated into transportation/traffic impacts, since these methods are strongly encouraged at Serenbe. Furthermore, as subsequent developments or rezonings have occurred at Serenbe, SEI has provided the required transportation analyses to support municipal approvals. Internal traffic circulation has also been analyzed throughout the course of the community development.
