Sommerset Place gated community to feature only 10 lots

Located on Farm Road 181 on tree-studded, rolling terrain, Sommerset Place is the last gated subdivision to be approved by Greene County, according to Larry O'Reilly, co-chairman of O'Reilly Auto Parts and owner of the development.

O'Reilly obtained the permit for Sommerset Place about a year ago.

Since that time, Greene County officials have decided that no more un-manned gated-entry subdivisions will be allowed in the county.

O'Reilly, who lives on an acreage next to the new development, has spent a lot of time and money acquiring the property.

The land was owned by Hargrave Ferguson, founder of the popular local restaurant chain Mexican Villa, O'Reilly said.

Tom Rook and his wife, who is Fer-guson's daughter, built on the land and planned to develop the area into a 40-lot subdivision. O'Reilly couldn't bear to see the site next to his peaceful rural homestead chopped up into such small parcels, so he and his wife, Nancy, purchased the property.

O'Reilly then enlisted the aid of local custom home builder Ron Middleton to develop the land.

Middleton agreed with O'Reilly's concept of larger lots in a natural wooded setting and divided the parcel into a total of 10 one- to one-and-a half- acre lots.

"The layout was mostly Ron's idea, but I had some input," O'Reilly said.

Their ideas about the natural Ozarks setting were very much in tune.

"A lot of people are getting tired of building a million dollar house on a postage-stamp size lot," Middleton said.

The lots cost between $160,000 and $170,000, Middleton added.

Besides the lot already occupied by the Rook family, one lot has been sold to a local doctor, leaving only eight lots available in the tract. Houses in the subdivision will be at least a $1 million package, Middleton estimated.

The front of the property will be fenced, with a 150-foot setback, according to O'Reilly. The area in front of the fence is a common area that will be landscaped and later maintained by the homeowner's association.

Another three-acre portion at the back of the property will be left as a natural wooded area for walking.

"There might be a pavilion added if the homeowner's association chooses," Mid-dleton said.

Middleton added that O'Reilly owns a 65-acre adjacent tract that he treats like a wildlife refuge, and where he feeds wild animals.

Buyers in the new subdivision can be assured that no future development will be permitted on this land.

O'Reilly said he is considering having this undeveloped land designated as a wildlife refuge with the state.

All lots in Sommerset Place will be on City Utilities, are in the Springfield public school system and have Spring-field phone lines.

With the completion of the gatehouse, the project is "beginning to shine," Mid-dleton said.

Landscaping will be irrigated and minimum lighting and roads will be installed so that the natural setting will be disrupted as little as possible, Middleton added.

"We don't want any more high-powered lights or paved surfaces than necessary," Middleton said.

The idea is to provide a peaceful rural atmosphere with the amenities of the city.

Middleton had no reservations about starting the project in a sluggish economy.

"Springfield is unique," he said. "Things could be stopped all around and we continue to grow."

Middleton builds custom homes in the $500,000 to $2 million range. He plans to contract his share of house in the new subdivision, though the project is open to other builders as well.

O'Reilly is well-satisfied with the pro-ject.

"If I were looking, that's where I'd go," he said.

Construction on the second house to be built in Sommerset Place is scheduled to start in the early spring, Middleton said.

Janet Parsons is the listing agent for Sommerset Place.