AFFORDABLE HOUSING DRAFT - Salisbury, CT

Appendix III: Sustainable Design GuidelinesAny new or retrofitted housing that the Town is either constructing or endorsing ought to meethigh standards for sustainability. Formal adherence to one of the rating systems, such as that of theU.S. Green Building Council (LEED), seems unnecessary; nevertheless, the Town should insist that allnew buildings for which it bears any responsibility (not just affordable housing) be environmentallysound. Here are some basic guidelines:GENERAL PRINCIPLES• Carefully evaluate potential sites, housing types, and proposed building programs forenvironmental impact.• Where feasible, use buildings that already exist.• Where new construction is warranted, build it better but smaller.• Consider lifetime cost assessment not just initial cost.• Substantially reduce energy use and carbon footprint.SITE SELECTIONGive preference to sites where construction of planned affordable housing will actually improvethe surroundings not degrade them. Generally, sites in the villages and on already “disturbed” landoffer the best possibilities for environmental improvement. In-town sites also promote commerce,sociability, and reduced use of automobiles since residents can often walk to their destinations. Andsignificant cost savings may result from locating close to existing utilities and infrastructure. Wheresites in the countryside are selected, considerable effort should be taken to have the housing designbe subservient to the surrounding landscape and not upstage it.HOUSING TYPESExisting buildings that could offer housing units with little or no renovation are the best choicewhen available. Houses that could accommodate new accessory apartments and other buildings thatcould be converted to affordable housing complexes would be better (and typically less expensive)choices than starting fresh with new construction. New residential additions to existing commercialbuildings also may make sense.Where new construction is called for, preference should usually be given to attached housing(row houses, courtyard houses, apartment buildings, etc.) over detached single-family houses.Attached housing tends to cost less, uses land more frugally, and generally has less environmental73