Engineering an Innovative Active Adult Community in Howard County, MD

When approvals stalled and significant site constraints threatened to derail a residential project in Howard County, the development team needed a new path forward. Bohler helped reimagine the property as a 55+ Active Adult community, using strategic site planning, close collaboration with local agencies, and inventive engineering solutions to unlock the site’s potential.  

The result is an award‑winning neighborhood that not only revitalized the project but also established a new precedent for shared infrastructure in Maryland. 

Reimagining Site Layout While Preserving the Original Framework

When school capacity restrictions paused approvals for the original single-family development, Bohler helped the team reposition the project as a 55+ active adult community — an approach that better aligned with market demand and allowed the project to move forward without school allocation delays. 

To support this shift, the homebuilder adapted its original concept by modifying an existing single-family detached home design into semi-detached villa-style homes tailored to age-restricted buyers. This strategy preserved much of the established road network and lot configuration while allowing two homes under one roof, each with its own driveway. 

With the new residential program in place, Bohler revisited the site layout, consolidating septic areas, relocating individual wells into fewer, community well locations, and reconfiguring utility lines to match these respective revisions. 

Navigating Site Challenges to Enable Constructible Design

The 70+ acre Maple Highlands site presented significant development challenges, including steep slopes, stream corridors, and limited access to public utilities. 

Bohler optimized the roadway network, grading plan, and lot layout to maximize buildable space. Private-road approvals offered flexibility for setbacks and building placement, while a new stream-crossing bridge linked key portions of the property. Upgraded stormwater facilities, designed to manage a 25-year storm, addressed existing downstream flooding concerns. 

Working closely with the development team, Bohler coordinated grading, foundation design, and environmental buffers across varied slopes, ensuring that 29 buildings and 58 units could be constructed in a cohesive, functional, and neighborly layout. 

Creating a First‑of‑Its‑Kind Utility Solution

Another major hurdle for the project was the lack of public water and sewer. Bohler worked closely with the developer, other project consultants, the Howard County Health Department, and the Maryland Department of the Environment to design a shared well and septic system capable of serving multiple semi-detached buildings. 

This innovative approach required extensive percolation testing, thoughtful positioning, and coordination across multiple agencies to ensure long-term reliability. The system ultimately became one of the first shared wet-utility models approved in Maryland for a condominium regime, creating a replicable framework for similar communities across the state. 

Integrating Open Space and Community Identity

Bohler’s landscape architecture team introduced a planting plan and open‑space network that emphasizes the site’s natural features. Along with a buffering and forest conservation strategy, the team designed a walking trail that winds through preserved areas and connects residents to the community building, supporting recreation, connection, and access to nature. This thoughtful design reinforces the active adult lifestyle and strengthens the community’s sense of place.  

A Model for Active Adult Development

A new phase of Maple Highlands is currently advancing through approvals, continuing the momentum of the community’s successful transformation.  

Maple Highlands was honored as the Maryland Building Industry Association’s Land Development Project of the Year, celebrating its innovative approach to the site’s water and sewer solutions. 

Through strategic guidance and thoughtful engineering, Bohler helped transform a constrained property into a vibrant, successful neighborhood — one that meets market needs and sets a new standard for active adult development in Maryland.