Palencia has been recognized by the Northeast Florida Regional Council’s 2004 Awards Committee with awards of merit in two categories: The Regional Quality of Life Award and The Regional Award for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship.
“The fact that our ultimate objectives coincide with these awards is just a happy coincidence,” said Naomi Lumley, sales and marketing manager for Hines at Palencia. “Our real sense of achievement comes from the recognition of residents, prospective buyers and the local community that we have something really unique here, a community that perfectly blends superior residential construction with the breathtaking beauty of Northeast Florida’s natural environment.”
Hines’ focus on the long-term protection, conservation, and enhancement of the region’s natural resources, matched criteria established by The Northeast Florida Regional Council for The Regional Award for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship and leading to the award of merit.
Palencia’s nature-conscious innovations include the installation of subterranean tunnels to allow animals safe passage under roadways, the use of native Florida plants in community landscaping, the requirement that builders use stem-wall construction to preserve trees and help minimize the number of trees lost during home construction, the rerouting of neighborhood roadways and golf paths around century-oaks and tree clusters, and the installation of a storm water system that properly treats stormwater to protect the surrounding water bodies.
Palencia also has established multiple neighborhood education programs that enhance the overall welfare of the region, which earned them an award of merit in The Regional Quality of Life Award category.
Hines’ involvement with St. Johns County’s cooperative extension agents to develop neighborhood educational programs provides community residents with helpful concepts, tools and techniques for creating their environmentally friendly yards. Residents, and lawn maintenance services operating in the community, are taught the basics of designing a landscape featuring carefully selected plants suited to Northeast Florida’s climate, natural conditions and wildlife.
Tips on cost-saving, environmentally friendly landscape maintenance are also addressed to help residents reduce water, fertilizer and pesticide use.
Palencia management urges its residents to emphasize conserving water and energy inside and outside the home as well as landscaping with native Florida trees and environmentally beneficial shrubs and ground covers.
Homeowners are encouraged to choose plants that blend aesthetic beauty with intrinsic environmental benefits.
The Northeast Florida Regional Council is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of Northeast Florida’s natural, man-made, economic, and social environment. Formed in 1977, the Northeast Regional Council serves Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties.