Big Sandy housing development a big hit
It’s called Big Sandy and it’s a new — and very popular — lake development along the Platte River between Lincoln and Omaha.
North of Ashland in Saunders County, Big Sandy features about a 165-acre lake with 85 lakeside lots, said Tim Gergen, a project engineer with Olsson Associates, the Lincoln firm that designed the central water and sewer systems for the development.
“The water is nice and clear,” Gergen said of the lake, which is about 40 feet deep in places. Groundwater and a creek supply water to the private lake, which nudges a dike along the Platte River.
The lake was created by Western Sand & Gravel Co., which dredged the area for aggregates from 1972 until early 2004. The new owners of the property liked the name and decided to keep it for their development.
“There’s sand as far as the eye can see,” Gergen said.
But it’s too late to buy a lot here: Gergen said they sold out in about six months.
Dean Busing, general manager of Western Sand & Gravel, said lot prices ranged from $100,000 to $165,000. He said even he was surprised by how fast they sold. Busing said those who bought lots are from Lincoln and Omaha and other parts of Nebraska.
“They’re not going to be your cabin-on-the-river type of setting,” Busing said of the new homes that will be built at Big Sandy.
George Borreson, zoning administrator for Saunders County, said the development will mean more property tax revenue for the county.
“They’re taking land that wasn’t good for farming,” he said. “What do you do with land like that?”
Big Sandy joins two other popular lake developments in Saunders County: Thomas Lakes, just north of Ashland, and Woodcliff, just south of Fremont.
Unlike older lake developments built with individual wells and septic systems, Big Sandy will feature central drinking water and wastewater treatment systems, Borreson said.
That’s good news to Rodney Verhoeff, coordinator of the Lower Platte River Corridor Alliance, a group dedicated to managing and protecting the resources along that stretch of the river.
Alliance members want to ensure that future developers use more modern, centralized systems — instead of private wells and septic systems — to protect water and other natural resources along the river.
Big Sandy Development, LLC, a Lincoln-based company, is creating the 420-acre lakeside community. The group of investors bought the land from Jim Abel of Lincoln, Borreson said.
Although all the lots have been sold, only two foundations have been built, Borreson said. However, he’s issued building permits for five more houses. He said the largest permit is for a 5,000-square-foot home.
Gergen said construction was delayed earlier this year because of piping plovers and least terns that like to nest in the sandy area. Both are protected under state and federal laws.
Workers had to hold off on grading some of the development because the birds nest from May to August, which is also the best time for construction, Gergen said. He said the birds will probably find other nesting grounds after the homes are built.
“They love sand because it camouflages their eggs,” Gergen said. “There’s plenty of sandpits out there.”
Sandpits are not considered natural nesting sites for the birds, Gergen said. Wildlife agencies are trying to encourage the birds to nest elsewhere in more natural habitats along the Platte River, he said.
Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.
North of Ashland in Saunders County, Big Sandy features about a 165-acre lake with 85 lakeside lots, said Tim Gergen, a project engineer with Olsson Associates, the Lincoln firm that designed the central water and sewer systems for the development.
“The water is nice and clear,” Gergen said of the lake, which is about 40 feet deep in places. Groundwater and a creek supply water to the private lake, which nudges a dike along the Platte River.
The lake was created by Western Sand & Gravel Co., which dredged the area for aggregates from 1972 until early 2004. The new owners of the property liked the name and decided to keep it for their development.
“There’s sand as far as the eye can see,” Gergen said.
But it’s too late to buy a lot here: Gergen said they sold out in about six months.
Dean Busing, general manager of Western Sand & Gravel, said lot prices ranged from $100,000 to $165,000. He said even he was surprised by how fast they sold. Busing said those who bought lots are from Lincoln and Omaha and other parts of Nebraska.
“They’re not going to be your cabin-on-the-river type of setting,” Busing said of the new homes that will be built at Big Sandy.
George Borreson, zoning administrator for Saunders County, said the development will mean more property tax revenue for the county.
“They’re taking land that wasn’t good for farming,” he said. “What do you do with land like that?”
Big Sandy joins two other popular lake developments in Saunders County: Thomas Lakes, just north of Ashland, and Woodcliff, just south of Fremont.
Unlike older lake developments built with individual wells and septic systems, Big Sandy will feature central drinking water and wastewater treatment systems, Borreson said.
That’s good news to Rodney Verhoeff, coordinator of the Lower Platte River Corridor Alliance, a group dedicated to managing and protecting the resources along that stretch of the river.
Alliance members want to ensure that future developers use more modern, centralized systems — instead of private wells and septic systems — to protect water and other natural resources along the river.
Big Sandy Development, LLC, a Lincoln-based company, is creating the 420-acre lakeside community. The group of investors bought the land from Jim Abel of Lincoln, Borreson said.
Although all the lots have been sold, only two foundations have been built, Borreson said. However, he’s issued building permits for five more houses. He said the largest permit is for a 5,000-square-foot home.
Gergen said construction was delayed earlier this year because of piping plovers and least terns that like to nest in the sandy area. Both are protected under state and federal laws.
Workers had to hold off on grading some of the development because the birds nest from May to August, which is also the best time for construction, Gergen said. He said the birds will probably find other nesting grounds after the homes are built.
“They love sand because it camouflages their eggs,” Gergen said. “There’s plenty of sandpits out there.”
Sandpits are not considered natural nesting sites for the birds, Gergen said. Wildlife agencies are trying to encourage the birds to nest elsewhere in more natural habitats along the Platte River, he said.
Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.
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