Our Ecologically Sensitive and Sustainable Housing Development

Principals of development

Prevent roadway pollution from vehicle tail pipes, oils & salt etc. from draining into the ocean
Naturally protect the shoreline with sustainable vegetation & stones
Envelop the homes with natural, traditional and local coastal building products.
Provide an Architecture which fosters a connection and celebrate of the natural coastal elements.
Restrict all surface waters from directly entering the ocean
Allow for un-obstructed coastal views between neighbouring homes
Control light pollution
Provide for energy efficiency & water conservation

HISTORY

The land of 6.8 acres was purchased in 1999.
¾ of an acre of the land was re- transformed into a manmade indigenous grass area, 1.5 acres of waterfront land was indigenously vegetated, 1.2 acres of the land was committed to indigenous green space.

bald-eagle-1-copy-copySustainable shoreline protection
Our shoreline plan consists of providing a sloped land water connection in the riparian zone. This required reducing the human footprint by over 2000 lineal feet of water frontage. We have also heavily vegetated this area with indigenous shoreline grass, which calm wave action / currents, retain sands, quickly re-vegetate themselves and provide a natural coastal environment for wild life. Large sand stones, vegetated with coastal shoreline grass have been placed in a small shoreline area exposed to North -Easters. Not a typical stonewall, but rather a sloped rock surface to disperse wave action in all directions along with grass vegetation to retain sand between and beneath the rocks.

2000Surface water control
Traditional roadway and surface waters are directly or indirectly to the oceans.

We grade much of the building site surface waters away from the ocean to shallow retention swales between homes and behind indigenous grass berms. The retention swale typically consists of 4-5″ of top soil or sand over 2′- 3′ of medium drainage sand stone.
Indigenous grassland berms are placed between the building site footprint and the waterfront
Driveway and some lawn area waters are directed to the roadway which is drained by French drains which allow contaminated surface waters to drain into the earth and not the ocean.
The use of pesticides is prohibited by our covenants.

Sewage waste
Sewage from all homes is directed to our 5 stage sewage system.

Stage #1 is a Sludge Tank, #2 is the Rotating Biological Contactor treatment plant, #3  is our Clarifier, then #4 the Ultra-Violet Light treatment and finally #5 the discharged into a manmade indigenously Vegetated ¾ Acre bed. This system is regularly & independently tested and provides high quality test water results at step #4. (Excess sludge is re-used in soil composting system by the city of Moncton)

#4 Home Construction

Copper Arsenic / Pressure Treated Wood has been minimized and for the most part substituted with cedar or spruce wood with capillary breaks. Bitumen is not used on the foundations.
The construction is energy efficient including Low E Argon Thermo glass, and takes advantage of southern solar gains. Foundations are well insulated with R24 Walls and R7 foundation floor perimeters, exterior walls have from R22.5 – R25 and Ceiling are R42 – R50.
The claddings are of local, natural re-producible solid wood products.
Homes are equipped with low flow showerheads, low flush toilets and low energy lighting.
Foundation drainage water is directed into the land and not the ocean.

Architecture
Planned architecture is based on the quality of living spaces. It fosters connection, respect and celebration of the natural environment. Functions include experiencing the evolution of the natural day & night. Interiors are themed in coastal elements from Spanish vessels, Surf rooms, to Sailing yachts . . . Natural ventilation with fresh sea breezes through additional windows, substitutes’ energy intense cooling.

Light Pollution
Natural Habitat is adversely affected by artificial lighting. Such lighting prevents the tenants from experiencing the exceptional nighttime spatial views.  All our street and exterior home lighting is limited by a downward directional position and brilliance.

Coast land Sprawl Prevention;
Strategically placing homes on city size building lots in Coastal areas allows for the conservation of larger natural parcels of land and drastically reduces the impact per home for: land clearing, roadways, pave/ tarred gravel, salts, ditches, vehicle hydrocarbons Electrical/Tele communication infrastructures, mono cultures lawn areas etc.