Appian Engineering led the development team consisting of surveyors, environmental scientists, geotechnical firms, transportation engineers, attorneys, and landscape architects through the entitlement process. The existing cattle farm had an uncommon topographical change of over 200 vertical feet, a rarity in Central Florida. Prior to our involvement, another engineering firm was unsuccessful in presenting a feasible design due to lack of experience with such elevation changes.

A key advantage of Appian Engineering is our ability to leverage the latest technology to produce sound engineering solutions at a lower cost. Modern computer processors, graphics cards, and software capable of modeling complex 3D surfaces enable our staff to solve complex design issues. This technology allowed Appian to grade the challenging site quickly, evaluate the cut/fill, then fine-tune the design, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in site work.

The surrounding roadway network consisted of old clay orange grove roads that had been overlaid with asphalt. Appian worked with the geotechnical engineers to evaluate which sections of road could be upgraded and which portions required full replacement, reducing site development costs. In addition to the existing roadway improvements, the project included a new arterial roadway connection providing access from US 27 to the Turnpike. Engineering the connection required extensive coordination with the City of Minneola, St. Johns River Water Management District, the Florida Department of Transportation, and Lake County.

Since the issuance of all permits by each authority having jurisdiction, Appian has since overseen the successful completion of the six phases of developmental construction and obtained full certificate of completion and final site clearances.