When the land for Tii Gavo was originally obtained in 2005 by husband and wife
developers Mark Sandercott and Nancy Jacobs, they recognized the uniqueness of
this natural treasure. The entire site encompasses 156 acres and has the rare
blend of over a mile of waterfront along Big Marine Lake and Rasmussen Pond,
further enhanced by old growth forest, open meadow areas, and an extraordinary
rolling terrain. Big Marine Lake Development Company’s motto is "Developing with
a Conscience".
Allegiance to this concept has been followed by the Development Company from
the top down, leaving no aspect of Tii Gavo unturned or compromised. In their
efforts to be leaders to create a low impact development, the Development Company
considered the size and location of each road, placement of each homesite, use
and placement of rain gardens, location of the trail system, and the implementation
of the protective covenants. These extra value added steps resulted in a community
that we take great pride in and one that will forever reward each of the homeowners
within it. « return
How big is Big Marine Lake?
Big Marine Lake is nearly 1,800 acres which makes it the 4th largest lake in
the Twin Cities. It has a maximum depth of 60 feet and has an 8.5 foot water
clarity. « return
What kind of lake access is there?
All homeowners in Tii Gavo will have access to Big Marine Lake via the centralized
marina on the shores of Painted Turtle Bay of Big Marine Lake. The Marina contains
19 large slips that will allow homeowners to have a boat or personal watercraft
up to 24 feet. 16 lots in Tii Gavo will have private slip ownership while 3 slips
will remain open for day docking and casual use by all owners. « return
How much waterfront is there at Tii Gavo?
In total, there are over 7,000 lineal feet of waterfront along the shores of
Big Marine Lake and Rasmussen Pond within Tii Gavo. Recognizing how special the
waterfront is, nearly 98% of the shoreline is preserved and protected. All owners
in Tii Gavo can savor the waterfront with miles of walking trails including trails
along the shores of Big Marine Lake and Rasmussen Pond. « return
What is Rasmussen Pond?
Rasmussen Pond is in the center of Tii Gavo and is approximately 21 acres in
size. It is roughly 12-15 feet deep and has an abundance of large fish in it
including sizable northern pike and panfish. A fishing pier and
swim platform are available for owners to enjoy Rasmussen Pond. Rasmussen
Pond will remain non-motorized to preserve the peacefulness of the setting. « return
How much land is protected and owned by the Association?
There are nearly 100 acres of land that we protected via conservation easement
within Tii Gavo. That land is owned by the Tii Gavo Community Association and
is for the use and enjoyment of Tii Gavo owners. « return
What is Rural Preservation?
Rural Preservation is another concept that was used when laying out the Tii Gavo
community. In essence, we wanted Tii Gavo to have as little impact on the existing
landscape and sight lines as possible. With that in mind, the location of each
homesite, including the location of each building pad, were all placed so that
they are minimally visible from the existing roadways (Lakamaga Trail and Newgate
Avenue). An understated and hidden treasure, Tii Gavo allows its quiet and
natural beauty to be discovered and speak for itself. « return
How many lots are there in Tii Gavo?
There are 28 custom homesites in Tii Gavo. There will be a second phase
of eight additional homesites along Rasmussen Pond and the Central Meadow area.
In addition to the homesites, a completely renovated four bedroom, all brick
home on the shores of Rasmussen Pond. This was the original home on the property
prior to development and is located on Homesite #1. « return
How big a home do I need to build?
There is no minimum size requirement for homes within Tii Gavo. In keeping with
our mission to encourage conservation and smart use of the land, we allowed for
homeowners to have the option to build smaller, more efficient homes if they
choose. However, if a homeowner should desire to build a larger home they are
free to do so. The Architectural Review Committee will review each submitted
home plan on a case by case basis to make sure all architectural covenants are
being met and that each home properly fits the landscape. « return
Can I use my own Builder?
Yes you may. Tii Gavo is open builder so you may use one of our recommended
builders or you may use your own. « return
When do I have to build?
Since Tii Gavo is “open builder”, there is no set timeframe within which you must build your home. If you wish, you may purchase and enjoy your lot now and then build in the future. There are restrictions against placing campers or recreational vehicles on unimproved lots, but lot owners may otherwise enjoy and utilize the amenities of Tii Gavo. « return
Are there restrictions on what I can do?
There are recorded Restrictive Covenants and set Rules and Regulations within
Tii Gavo. Copies of these documents can be sent to you via email or CD by request. « return
Are there architectural controls?
There are Design Guidelines for the construction of your home. You may request
a full set of Tii Gavo documents via the Contact Us page. Much of the design
guideline remains consistent with the theme of conservation to protect the natural
beauty of Tii Gavo. As such, homes must be designed to fit each lot (not vice
versa) so that the natural tree and vegetation cover is minimally impacted. Architectural
features must be consistent on all sides of the home (no stage front homes),
side loading garages are encouraged where available to minimize garage dominant
design, and no artificial materials such as vinyl or steel siding may be used. « return
The
Lifestyle You've Earned... The Location
You've Dreamed of
Pronounced Tee-gah-voh,
this Native American phrase means "gathering
place," and
symbolizes our commitment to creating
a conservation community within this
pristine water setting. Big Marine
Lake, an "A-Rated" Quality
Lake, is only 25 minutes from the
Twin Cities metro area, yet seems
a world away.
