Agenda - 05-26-2015 - C-2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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21 By far, the greatest ecological impact of our homes over their very long lifetime is energy use for heating and cooling. No matter how green the fuel used, there is an environmental impact. Therefore, a "prime directive" for our homes must be the most efficient building envelopes (walls, roof, doors & windows) that are affordable and practical for our climate. A second, and no less important, directive is that our homes must be designed and oriented to respond to the sun and wind. All homes should be at least "sun tempered," receiving part of their heating from the sun in cool weather and being shaded from glare and overheating in the warm months. We will utilize green building materials including certified renewable, recycled, recyclable, reusable, and locally /regionally sourced products. Construction waste will be minimized. Building products, design and construction techniques will be selected to provide comfort, well- being, and productivity of occupants, especially for indoor air, thermal and lighting quality; reduce volatile organic compounds and other air impurities, and control moisture accumulation /water intrusion that could lead to mold growth and other microbiological concerns. Ultra -low flow plumbing fixtures will be specified to reduce water demand and wastewater volumes. Landscaping, Buffers and Tree Protection The principles and practices of permaculture will guide not only agriculture and silviculture operations, but also landscaping and gardens throughout the community. The design principles which are the conceptual foundation of permaculture were derived from the science of systems ecology and study of pre - industrial examples of sustainable land use. Permaculture draws from several disciplines including organic farming, agroforestry, integrated farming, sustainable development, and applied ecology. Permaculture design emphasizes patterns of landscape, function, and species assemblies. The focus of permaculture, therefore, is not on each separate element, but rather on the relationships created among elements by the way they are placed together; the whole becoming greater than the sum of its parts. Permaculture design seeks to minimize waste, human labor, and energy input by building systems with maximal benefits between design elements to achieve a high level of synergy. The majority of the development will be located in areas that are now open field, which will greatly minimize clearing. A section of small trees will be removed on the southern side of the village and the edges of the adjacent wooded area will be thinned to create a transition zone of mixed pasture and trees. A large specimen oak at the high point of the site will be preserved as a central feature of the village green. Unfortunately, several adjacent large trees have been severely damaged by weather, age and disease, and cannot be saved. With regard to buffering Hart's Mill from neighboring parcels, there are few homes immediately adjacent to the site, and the majority of those are on the western end. Existing trees on the western and southern property lines will remain undisturbed, continuing to provide a substantial visual barrier for homes in that area. The greatest disturbance will be along the northern boundary on the western end of the property where the entrance road will be built. There is currently an approximately 15 ft. wide buffer of small to medium trees between the northern boundary and an existing unpaved driveway. We 111 II-°Ilart's MHhI MPD CZ ReqUest