By By Adam Prestridge
You can't miss it when traveling south on Hwy. 31 towards Bay Minette.
Stokley Plantation, an 88-acre development located in Nokomis, is hard for motorists to ignore as it is nestled in a field set back from the highway.
Chester Lamb, owner of Lamb Development in Atmore, began work on infrastructure for the multi-phase subdivision project in early January. With the first of four phases completed, homes are now beginning to take shape.
Lamb believes the new subdivision will be an asset to Escambia County.
"I think it will help draw people in to Atmore from other communities, help the city to grow and help Escambia County tremendously," Lamb said. "The county commission is excited about the development."
Lamb Development has completed work on Phase 1 infrastructure including paving streets, curbing and designing lots. The company also had a brick entryway constructed that displays the name of the subdivision.
Last week, commissioners unanimously approved adding Stokley Court, the sub-division's main thoroughfare, into the county road maintenance system.
"Mr. Lamb has done an excellent job getting the area paves," county engineer Bill Bridges said. "He did some work that would have fallen into our laps, and did an excellent job there. He took some of the load from us and he didn't have to do that. I'm happy that we are taking in that area in such good condition."
Lamb, who has been a developer for 22 years and has constructed several subdivisions in the Nokomis area, believes Stokley Plantation will be one of Escambia County's premiere housing developments.
"It will be the nicest one I've built so far in Nokomis," Lamb said. "I'm used to building subdivisions like this in Baldwin County and wanted to see how it would go over in Escambia County. I went out on a limb building it because there is a lot money invested in it."
Phase 1 of the development will include 26 homes built on half acre to 3/4-acre lots. Lamb will follow Phase 1 with three additional phases consisting of 33 homes each for a total of 125 homes once the subdivision is built out.
Lamb said the first few weeks of lot sales has gone better than he originally anticipated.
"There's a demand for houses," he said. "I'm selling lots as fast as I get them ready."
Covenants such as paved driveways, prohibiting property owners from storing junk vehicles or having livestock or poultry animals, having limitations on garbage disposal and requiring boats, RVs and other recreational vehicles stored in garages or outbuilding is what Lamb believes is attracting buyers to the area.
"Restrictions make a better community and a better place to live," Lamb said. "They make communities more attractive to prospective buyers."
There are also several building restrictions that property owners have to abide by when having their homes constructed. Homes must be at least 1,800 square feet and outbuildings cannot exceed 1,600 square feet. Roofs also have to be a minimum of 6/12 pitch and must be a shingle roof, not metal or aluminum.
"I love developing sub-divisions," Lamb said. "I enjoy doing it for my work."
For more information on Stokley Plantation contact Lamb Development at 368-1129.