Planned development of rural communities : two case studies

This research project was a case study of two planned new community developments in rural areas. The two communities selected for this study were Dripping Springs near Winchester, Tennessee and the Elkmont Rural Village adjacent to Elkmont, Alabama. These two planned new communities were studied because they are rural developments with demonstration value.

The objectives were: (1) to examine the development process of two rural new communities; and (2) to obtain the residential attitudes toward a planned new community, Dripping Springs.

The development process of a new community can be enhanced by the location of the community. A new community developed near a viable city will mature faster than a community built in a more remote area. The development needs to be close enough to a viable town to enhance growth but far enough away from the town to make the land purchased for the development cheap enough to make the project profitable.

Dripping Springs was developed near Winchester, which had a 1980 population of 5,821. Elkmont Rural Village was developed adjacent to Elkmont, which had a 1980 population of 429. Dripping Springs was developed using cul-de-sacs branching off the already existing highway. Elkmont Rural Village was developed using cul-de-sacs branching off an arterial street that was built through the middle of the development.

Residents of Dripping Springs, that responded to a pre-structured questionnaire, are well educated. The respondents all had at least a high school education and 69.6 percent had a college degree or more. Most of the respondents lived within 10 miles of their jobs and drove personal cars to work. Family income level of the Dripping Springs respondents ranged from $17,000 to $45,000 annually and averaged $30,600.

Responding residents of Dripping Springs indicated lake access was a major factor in selecting their respective lots. The expected increasing value of Dripping Springs lots was also a major consideration by the responding residents. Respondents felt public water was important. Other services that received consideration by these residents were medical facilities, churches, and fire protection.

Rural qualities of the development was the most preferred quality by the Dripping Springs residents. Neighbors in the community were also highly important. The residents indicated the quietness of the development associated with no through traffic was a preferred quality of the community.

The respondents named some areas in which they felt improvement could be made. About 47.6 percent of these residents felt the building codes should be stricter. One-third of the respondents desired more recreational facilities in the community. Other major suggestions included: larger lots, "better use of the Property Owners Association, and more variety in TERDA homes.