When Robert Engstrom built Fields of St. Croix, he set aside more than half of his total 241 acres as open space. To conserve land and instill a sense of community, he clustered the homes, doing so with the help of an environmentally friendly wetlands wastewater system—the first constructed in Minnesota—which eliminates the need for separate septic fields. Narrow streets create a warmer, more interactive neighborhood feel and also reduce storm-water runoff. Robert, who dubs his creation a conservation community, says, "I see Fields of St. Croix as an alternative to the large-lot subdivisions that consume so much land."

That conservation ethic extends to the homes themselves. "I deliberately wanted to maintain a more delicate scale than some of the McMansions you see," he says, referring to the stylized Craftsman, Prairie School, and rural cottages that make up Fields of St. Croix. In a locality known for its open land, it was important to design houses that "look good from all four sides." So Prairie-style roof pitches are to scale, and native plantings surround the homes.

Says Bob Peck, who moved to Fields of St. Croix with wife Linda three years ago: “It's like living in a park.”

Lessons from St. Croix
Robert put his money where his mouth was by donating a conservation easement on 60 percent of the Fields of St. Croix's 241 acres. Though it can still be farmed, this protected land will never be developed. That was a big incentive for buyers.