Homebuilder Lennar Homes has officially partnered with premier land consulting firm Michael Baker International to oversee its recently acquired property within the Serrano Summit master plan in Lake Forest. The developer will receive $2.4 million for services, which will include site planning as well as designing preliminary and final maps for six residential villages in accordance with the city’s infrastructure guidelines.

According to Builder, the Serrano Summit property, which spans over 100 acres, was originally owned by the Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD), a water utility company in Irvine. However, the site was divided among three entities, including 13 acres to the City of Lake Forest, 27 acres kept by IRWD, and 60 acres to Lennar for future development.

Rendering map courtesy of Serrano Summit 

Upcoming plans for the site include adding a 9-acre civic center and a 3.2 nature park from the city, as well as two neighborhood parks, a private community recreation complex, and approximately 500 new residences from Lennar and Michael Baker. Meanwhile, IRWD will continue running its Baker Water Treatment Plan on-site. 

The Serrano Summit master plan will lay down a framework for other agencies looking to develop 100-acre sites. Development guidelines emphasize building a sustainable community with pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and an assortment of residences to attract diverse homebuyers.

The project is expected to break ground January 2018 with a completion date sometime in 2022.