Chinquapin

LRM was contracted by the developer of Chinquapin, an exclusive 2,000-acre mountain preserve situated on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau at over 4,500 feet of elevation, to perform soil and site evaluations across the community. With nearly 700 acres placed in a permanent conservation easement through the North American Land Trust, available buildable acreage was limited — making it essential to maximize the use of every suitable homesite. LRM worked closely with the developer, project engineers, and surveyors throughout the development process to evaluate soils on individual homesites, identify optimal septic system locations, and preserve the most desirable building envelopes and long-range mountain views. By conducting thorough preliminary soils evaluations early in the planning process, LRM helped the development team make informed decisions on lot layout, grading, and road placement — ensuring that conventional septic systems could be permitted on the greatest number of lots possible while avoiding unnecessary engineered system costs. This coordination between soil science, civil engineering, and land planning allowed the developer to confidently market homesites with the assurance that each lot could accommodate a permitted wastewater system. Where lots required engineered solutions, LRM utilized the AOWE private option and Engineered Option Permit (EOP) pathways to expedite permitting — delivering approved permits in a fraction of the time required through the standard county review process. This ability to fast-track permits has been a significant advantage for the developer, allowing lot closings to proceed on the buyer’s timeline rather than waiting on regulatory backlogs.