Cavalier Construction, the development company behind Lyford Place, is gingerly working its way through the government and community approvals process for a $25m luxury property off Hope Town, Abaco. It's a lesson most likely learned from watching the troubles of another Out Island developer.

"We are looking to build a second home club that is appealing to second homeowners while fitting into the lifestyle of Hope Town," Vernon Wells, Cavalier's deputy managing director said. "Hope Town is a beautiful, idyllic location for a small development."

The "Island Club" project, 19 homesteads, is in keeping with an increasing call for small, community-compatible projects in the Family Islands.

Cavalier in fact held a preliminary public meeting in Hope Town last week to introduce the development to locals and canvass any concerns they might have around its environmental impact.

It's the kind of consultation more and more developers are hosting well before they break ground, likely the most obvious fallout from the Guana Cay protests that stalled development of the Baker's Bay project for more than a year.

That conflict has revolutionized the way developers of both small and large resorts interface with neighboring communities.

Those residents near Cavalier's site on Joe's Cay are now raising questions about the mangroves in the area and any dredging that may affect their health.

It's a issue likely to be addressed as part of the environmental impact assessment the developer is preparing to undertake.