Designing a Lakeside Estate Community at Windsor Springs

Nestled in the rolling hills of Oak Point, Texas, Windsor Springs is a 114-acre, 65-lot residential community overlooking Lake Lewisville. Designed to preserve trees and natural topography, the community features large homesites with private water access, creating a distinctive estate-style setting. 

Developer King Fisher Realty envisioned a secluded, one-of-a-kind community, and Toll Brothers embraced that vision—purchasing 85% of the lots and introducing a new product line designed specifically for Windsor Springs’ unique character and layout. 

A Design Strategy Rooted in Balance

Originally zoned for 2-acre minimum lots, the site’s development potential was limited. Bohler developed a creative approach that aligned with city density requirements, met market demand, and respected the site’s natural character. The approved plan allows for 1-acre lots in the interior, buffered by 3-acre lots along the perimeter — maintaining an average of 2 acres per lot while enhancing both privacy and visual appeal.

That balance carried through to the community’s lifestyle features. Defined by its four private ponds, Windsor Springs offers residents a lakeside living experience. To ensure access for all, Bohler updated the entitlements to permit a fishing dock, giving every homeowner—whether or not their property fronts the water — the ability to enjoy the community’s defining amenity.

Complex Engineering for a Complex Watershed

Designing a community around natural features required equally thoughtful infrastructure solutions. The biggest challenge? Managing stormwater for a site that receives runoff from nearly 350 acres — over 70% of the surrounding city. 

Bohler performed extensive hydrology and hydraulic (H&H) analysis to understand both the volume of water falling within the site and the speed and depth at which it flows through it. In response, Bohler designed a robust stormwater system that includes multiple headwalls, culverts, and underground piping to safely direct water away from homes while preserving the site’s natural topography. 

“This wasn’t just about meeting code — it was about protecting the residents within this development and the surrounding community,” said Principal Dean Cardwell. “We had to find the right balance between functionality and sensitivity to the land.” That meant designing channels that weren’t too deep or too fast-moving, yet had the capacity to handle heavy clows without impacting the residential lots. 

Waterfront Living with a Custom Touch

Windsor Springs is defined by its natural water features, including four private ponds. To enhance access, Bohler updated the site entitlements to permit a fishing dock for use of the residents to ensure that even homesites without frontage to private ponds would have access to a waterbody and could enjoy the community’s lakeside lifestyle. 

Rural Infrastructure, Elevated

Unlike most suburban projects, Windsor Springs was not connected to a municipal sewer system. Instead, Bohler helped to identify reservation areas for individual septic systems. Since natural gas was not available either, the developer—with Bohler’s design support—implemented a community-wide propane system, as well as a new water line system. Bohler also provided design and coordination services to streamline implementation.  

Land Surveying Support

Bohler’s survey team utilized drone surveys combined with on ground topographic validation to accelerate site analysis, delivering accurate data quickly and efficiently. They also managed individual lot platting, construction staking, and zoning updates — providing comprehensive support from concept through approvals and site development. 

“Our survey team was key to keeping things moving,” said Dean. “Their collaboration and precision in the field helped us work more efficiently and stay aligned throughout every phase.”  

A Natural Success Story

With approvals in place and most of the lots already sold, Windsor Springs is well on its way to becoming one of Oak Point’s most desirable new neighborhoods. Toll Brothers’ enthusiasm for the site — paired with the project’s scenic layout, waterfront access, and rural privacy — reflects the success of a design rooted in creativity, collaboration, and respect for the land.