The Cooper Point

Wildlife Preserve

Olympia, Washington

• Gary Worthington Home Page

• Wildlife Preserve Aerial Photo

• "Sample Home Design"

The  Cooper Point Wildlife Preserve is at the northeast corner of 36^th Avenue NW and Overhulse Road NW in Thurston County, Washington. 

The Land: 

The 38.7 acre preserve includes a deep ravine system with a tiny year-round stream and a boggy bottom area, two seasonal ponds of around a half acre each, and a tiny seasonal pond by Overhulse Road. 

A pair of bald eagles prominently nests in a tall old growth fir on the adjacent property, mallard ducks frequent the ponds, and an abundance of other birds, deer, and various smaller wildlife inhabit the land. Occasionally a coyote is sighted. 

Although much of the timber was harvested by a previous owner in 1999, the replanted trees grew rapidly, and other vegetation has made a good comeback. With its varied topography, visitors now find the land highly attractive. 

Sandra and Gary Worthington have lived on a neighboring five acres for over thirty years. They bought the additional 38.7 acres in 2003, specifically to ensure against insensitive development. 

The greater part of the area will be protected by covenants and conservation easements as a natural area and wildlife preserve, with a network of trails. 

Home Sites:  

Although the land is intended primarily as a wildlife preserve, a few home sites are also available. The land is zoned for five acre minimum lot sizes. Through their company, The Preserve on Cooper Point LLC, Worthingtons anticipate selling up to five lots over a period of years, each with a custom design for a "green-built" home to meet the specific desires of the prospective homeowners while ensuring minimal obtrusiveness on the landscape. The aerial photo shows the lot layout, designed to best fit the homes into the landscape. The three available lots are outlined in red. 

TO VIEW AN AERIAL PHOTO WITH THE LOT LAYOUT AND HOUSE SITES, CLICK HERE:  Wildlife Preserve Aerial Photo

Worthingtons will retain the center lot on the west boundary for themselves, although a portion will be available for recreational access by the other owners. 

The Stewardship Association: 

Homeowners will be members of a Stewardship Association which will supervise use of the land to ensure adherence to the covenants and to the philosophy of preservation of the natural areas. 

Recreation Rights, Covenants, and Regulations

In exchange for some restrictions on tree cutting and development on the majority of each lot, homeowners will have the protection of the sizeable buffer areas, as well as rights of access to the extensive trail system and other recreation places.

Regulations overseen by the Association will govern such matters as noise, exterior lighting, the keeping of pets, and outdoor pesticide use. Motorized recreation activities, horses and other large livestock, and animals kept for commercial purposes will not be permitted.

Currently, the Wildlife Preserve provides a highly desirable passive recreation area for several neighbors who regularly enjoy walking on the land and who help patrol it, and a very limited amount of public access to the trails will hopefully continue. However, the use by persons not living on the preserve will be regulated by the Association and may even be halted if deemed necessary at some time in the future.

The Purchase Process:  

Lots will not be listed with realtors, but rather buyers will enter into a purchase contract after consultation with Worthingtons to ensure future owners completely understand, and are in full agreement with, the philosophy of the Cooper Point Wildlife Preserve and the regulations. 

Each lot sold will include an ownership interest in, and access to, the wildlife habitat areas of the preserve and the trails system, as well as the custom home design. 

The Homes: 

Houses will normally be designed by Gary Worthington, working in cooperation with the prospective owners, to ensure that each home fits its particular site and is built to high standards of quality and of energy conservation, as well as that each design fits the needs and lifestyle of the future occupants. Although not an architect, Gary has long experience in graphic arts and building plans, and in the use of graphics and architectural software. Sample designs are available as examples. We guarantee that buyers will be pleased with the design results.

So that each structure is unobtrusive in the landscape and is compatible with the other homes, regulations will limit choices of major exterior colors to a palette of earth tones, and trim to a wider, but still restricted, palette of colors.

To view a sample home design by Gary Worthington, click here: Sample Home Design (Please note: This particular house is relatively large. We generally encourage smaller homes, as using fewer natural resources and being more energy efficient.) 

Sales Prices and Construction: 

The prices for each lot will be established by negotiation with reference to the fair market value for the combination of the land and its amenities and utilities, and the shared use of the common preserve area. 

After arranging any necessary financing elsewhere, buyers will enter into a purchase contract with Worthingtons’ company, The Preserve on Cooper Point LLC, for the land with driveway access. Unless otherwise agreed, the individual buyers will contract for the well and septic system and the underground electrical, gas, phone, and cable lines. A reputable local building company will construct the home, and the warranty on the structures will then be provided by that builder. 

Email: gsworthington at comcast.net

Return to Top

Copyright © 2001 Gary Worthington.  All rights reserved.
Revised: March 02, 2008