typically large development like this are built on former farm land or range/brushland. while both could be considered losses in their own ways, its unlikely something as pleasant as a forest was bulldozed to put these in. if you look close you can see the new trees in front of the houses, and some old windbreak trees behind them. give it a couple decades and there will be lots of shade.  pic related for example, was almost all sagebrush when it as settled. all that green on the valley floor is planted trees.
United States