Conservation
Built in harmony with nature, Chinquapin has the use of over 700 acres placed into conservation by the Carlton family. The land that has been developed was handled with care, building natural-style bridges over culverts so as not to disturb the natural flow of the land, and tucking trailways into trees. And there's a fully contained water system on the property.
The conservation easement will limit the future impact of any development. The Carlton family strategically sought to limit development in the future by placing more than 700 acres of their family's holding under a conservation easement with the North American Land Trust (NALT). This concept is distinctly different and unusual for the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau.
"Our family has a deep and abiding respect for not only the land, but also for the local community. Hopefully, this is a different way for us to continue our commitment to this community." said family representative Pat Carlton.
"We want to ensure there is a place where our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren can enjoy the natural and preserved elements of nature," said Carlton. "We are following closely in the footsteps of my father, Albert Carlton, who had an adamant belief to preserve not only the land, but our heritage as well."
The land at Chinquapin and the conservation property encompass four major waterfalls and the watershed for Robinson Creek and Pack's Creek, the headwaters for the Tuckaseegee River. A biodiversity study of the property summarized that the property included several fragile and rare ecosystems, as well as tree, plant and animal species that are on the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program's watch list.
"The protection of these ecosystems and species were taken into account first, we then identified the areas that would be protected by the easement and the areas where development activity would be considered," said Carlton. "Other developers told us that we had it all backwards, we believe instead that you have only one chance to get it right. We believe this ecologically sensitive design is a win for the land and the environment... for a change".
The Carlton family has received numerous environmental awards in their home state of Florida. Over the past two generations the family has placed more than 10,000 acres in perpetual state-maintained control or easement in Florida.
