Homes with a view

Garrett’s Landing subdivision respects its surroundings

By Jennifer Pfaff

Tom Doyle Lake in Oneida County's town of Newbold offers a natural setting for the new Garrett's Landing subdivision. Photo courtesy of Jack Mitchell

Working real estate had always been a sideline for Jack Mitchell.

His endeavors in the field stayed small but successful.

But when the opportunity arose to purchase 162 acres on Oneida County’s Tom Doyle Lake, Mitchell said he realized the time had come to dive feetfirst into a full-scale career in property development.

The property in the town of Newbold offers the opportunity to live in a natural setting with easy access to urban conveniences. Situated on Highway 47, the land is between the communities of Rhinelander and Woodruff.

Mitchell said he decided the site, which he has named Garrett’s Landing, was an ideal location for a nature-based subdivision. His company, JEM Reality Group II, bought the land, which is being developed by JEM Reality Group LLC.

Garrett’s Landing offers 10 lakeside lots, ranging from 1.43 acres to 2 acres, and 25 wooded parcels, ranging from 5 acres to 6.4 acres.

Its layout has changed dramatically since its previous owners laid out the lot lines, which packed along the shoreline bowling alley-like lots that emptied onto one town road. The creation of new property lines and large parcels are part of a conscious effort to offer private, natural living options, Mitchell said.

“Every lot is irregularly shaped,” he said. “It doesn’t come across as a subdivision. It comes across as a rural area.”

The construction of two new roads around Garrett's Landing subdivision in Newbold offers residents multiple points of access to the site. Photo courtesy of Jack Mitchell

Surveyor Stu Foltz worked closely with Mitchell to find the best way to divvy up the land.

“Stu and I spent a lot of time walking the individual parcels selecting probable building sites and proximity to neighboring sites,” Mitchell said. “Our goal was to try not to rape the land by putting in all 1- and 2-acre lots. We wanted to respect and maintain the aura of the land. We make less money, but we respect the land.”

Each lot is fully wooded, and the rolling hills add interest to the landscape. They also created a challenge for Rhinelander-based Pitlick and Wick Co. as it built the subdivision’s two roads, Garrett’s Trail and Patrick Drive.

Construction of the 8,000 feet of road was finished in late July, and JEM Realty donated the roadway to town control.

The subdivision now has multiple means of ingress and egress.

As home-building preparations are made, Mitchell said he intends to keep a close eye on the plans to make sure each home is in keeping with the atmosphere of Garrett’s Landing.

He said he will approve the building plans for the first 17 to 18 homes, ensuring that they are made of natural-element materials, have functional and aesthetic rooflines and respect the individual property.

As the second half of the lots develop, a committee of subdivision residents will work with Mitchell to approve new building plans.