Custom building firm Horizon Builders of Crofton, Md., was recently honored with a 2007 Land Conservation Award by the County of Fairfax, Va., for its work on the Rooney Residence, an infill project in the Belle Haven neighborhood of Alexandria, Va. The awards recognize the efforts of developers, engineers, and contractors who protect properties and natural resources from erosion, pollution run-off, and stream sedimentation during the land development process.
Overlooking a country club and golf course with views to the Potomac River and Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, the residence is perched among other homes on a steep hillside composed partially of marine clay. While demolishing and rebuilding the original house, regrading and stabilizing the hillside, rebuilding the rear retaining wall, and adding 20 geothermal wells, Horizon was challenged to control run-off and dust and minimize the disturbance to neighbors.
Horizon’s team went above and beyond the measures required by the county for controlling drainage and soil erosion on and around the property during the project. “It started with the owners …. they knew it was a sensitive site and that it could cause problems for neighbors, and we put together a plan and followed it,” notes Horizon’s chief operating officer and co-owner George Fritz.
The firm used water sprinklers to damp down dust; covered the site with tarps during rainy periods; cleaned up mud and dirt that migrated to nearby roads; contacted the county soils conservation inspector for advice when issues cropped up; supplied free car wash tickets to neighbors whose cars became dust-coated during the work; and inspected a neighbor’s basement before construction began to ensure the sitework had not created any issues for that home.
According to Fritz, the firm has not received any negative feedback about this project because of the proactive steps taken to smooth out wrinkles and maintain good relations with neighbors. “It didn’t cost us that much more to do these extra steps,” he says.
