Posted: 3/29/2007

By PAM HORNE
For the Williamson Herald

Bill and Stacy Zepeda have three small children, a playful dog, and a brand new pre-wired home in Tollgate Village.

When they moved in three weeks ago life got easier almost immediately.

Thompson's Station's newest residential community is a traditional neighborhood design development unique to the area for more reasons than its long list of natural amenities, according to Bill Zepeda.

Parks, an amphitheater, lakes, a clubhouse and fitness center, and plenty of retail shopping within walking distance are just a few of the perks planned for this community.

But it is the priority Tollgate Village has placed on technology enhancements that is already shortening this busy father's to-do list.

"The technology piece that really piqued my interest is having the community totally wireless. We can be at the lake with a laptop," Zepeda says, adding that having an onsite technology department readily available to homeowners is a great relief.

"(Tollgate's information technology professional) said 'Call me as soon as you get moved in and I'll come out and set things up.'"

So much for late nights trying to decipher tedious instruction manuals.

A Fiber-to the-Home network, one of the first in the area, is just one element in a package of high tech resources developer James Carbine envisioned when he roughed out plans for Williamson County's newest home destination.

Carbine Development joined with Crystal Clear Technologies to provide Tollgate business and residential owners services that enable them to interface with the world they live and work in.

That translates to a kind of convenience that gives homeowners a single passageway to all sorts of media resources — including high speed Internet, cable, high-definition television and clear phone services to name a few.

"Tollgate is the first community in Thompson's Station thus there is a blank slate there," says James Carbine of his vision for the project. "So we're trying very hard to make sure that we get the development right. The architecture is very important. Our mix on the commercial is important and having housing types for all price points is important. We're the first out of the box and we want to make sure we get it right and set the standard that other communities will be judged by there."

Like most families juggling work and kids, the Zepeda's are interested in anything that simplifies their daily living experience.

Tollgate Village seems to fit the bill on many levels.

The master plan for this 360-acre mixed-use development includes custom homes, which represent a variety of classic architectural styles.

The Zepedas selected a lot sold by River Birch Homes, which constructed a brick Federal-style two-story plan that boasts a three-car garage, a downstairs master suite, and plenty of upstairs living space.

In addition to River Birch Homes, Tollgate buyers can choose from Tennessee Valley Homes, Hyde Park Homes, Stone Ridge Custom Homes, Sun Custom Homes, Davenport Properties, Inc. and Westview Homes.

Stacy and Bill compared the experience of choosing a multitude of interior finishes to planning a wedding. From hardware to hardwoods it's a selection process only the homeowners can do.

They found that while it's a tedious process when you finally move in it's well worth the time.

And the user friendly GE Smart Connection Center located in the hobby room of the Zepeda's home holds the key to making sure their internet and Ethernet switches are where they need them.

"If people want to work at home this is ideal," Zepeda adds. Bill, whose hobby is carpentry, is already planning to build all three kids a workstation upstairs where computers can easily be installed.

Zepeda's trade beach for hills

These Orange County natives took a leap of faith when they pulled up their California roots and moved east several years ago.

They say they have never regretted the decision. And now, they are taking another step toward establishing new roots for their children.

"We came here for the music business. Stacy had just signed with a label in California and they told us we didn't have to move, but that it would make it easier," explains Bill of his wife's Christian music vocal group.

The Darins, named for the vocalists' family, was formed years ago by Stacy and her three sisters while the foursome still called California home.

"At one time we traveled on the road in a motor home — all of us together," recalls Stacy of her music years. "Bill was our sound man. My parents even went."

Since that time, Stacy has taken a break from music to raise 10-year-old Mario, Maiya, 2, and 5-month-old baby Samantha. Music is definitely in her future, but for now getting the family settled into a new home keeps her busy.

The boxes are still being unloaded, but the first decorating priority was the girl's bedroom – a reminder of home.

"We're big beach fans. We're thinking about throwing some sand on the hardwood," Stacy quips.

Light pink walls provide a restful backdrop the festive Aloha-themed bed linens that outfit the antique white bed and crib. Though their heart will always be on the west coast, this family has made the transition to the South.

Bill and Stacy's move to Tennessee sparked a trend within the couple's extended families. Today, the kids have two sets of grandparents and even aunts and uncles living in Williamson County and surrounding communities.

No long cross country road trips or stressful air travel experiences for these transplants. Their enthusiasm for the slower, Southern lifestyle seems to be contagious.

"My brother actually met a girl from here and has bought a home with 50 acres in Mount Pleasant. We go down there and have a blast. He has bonfires and hayrides for the kids. It's great," Bill says of how quickly his family has embraced the region.

Moving to Tollgate Village has been a natural next step for the family.

After living in Franklin Green for a few years, Bill and Stacy began to explore their options for a larger home.

While passing through Thompson's Station on their way to visit family, the couple was struck by the addition of a new community just a stone's throw from State Route 840.

Bill teaches high school mathematics at Franklin Road Academy. His daily commute was reasonable from Franklin's west side, but the thought of quick access to Interstate 65 via State Route 840 was more than he expected.

"When we first moved here we drove all over. When we got to Cool Springs it really reminded us of Orange County. We knew we wanted to be near the retail," Bill recalls.

But this couple also fell in love with the small town charm of Franklin.

"The reason we chose Franklin was because of the small town feel," he adds "We had thought about Westhaven, but we didn't do anything about it. We waited to find something similar. We were on our way to visit family one day and passed through Thompson's Station and we saw Tollgate.

"We just decided to stop in the information center and we were hooked."

Tollgate Village is a vision of James and Denzel Carbine of Carbine Development, and commercial developer, Larry Alexander. For more information, visit www.tollgatevillagetn.com.