Conservation Community
In 2003, when the Town of Haddam decided to adopt conservation guidelines for development, Tom Smith, Owner of Cornerstone Construction, rolled up his sleeves and worked with the Planning and Zoning Commission to help craft a set of guidelines that would be good for everyone. Haddam Ridge and Stonegate Village (Cornerstone’s first Haddam development) followed these guidelines.
Conservation design ideals inherent in our subdivisions include:
- Maximize preservation of open space. Over 100 acres has been deeded in perpetuity to a local land trust. This parcel is adjacent to the 55 acres of open space that were preserved with the development of Stonegate Village, creating a contiguous parcel of over 150 acres that will remain in its natural state.
- Minimize paved surfaces. The conservation guidelines allow for narrower roads and cul-de-sacs. By reducing the amount of impervious surfaces there can be larger areas of natural vegetation which act as a buffer for storm drainage and help create a more natural setting.
- Superior water management design. The storm management infrastructure allows for returning run-off water to filter back in to the aquifer, instead of into the wetlands.
- Environmentally friendly curbs. Traditional curb design creates a huge negative impact on amphibians, especially during spring migration. Cornerstone uses the Cape Cod curb design, which has a gently sloping surface that allows safer passage for amphibians.
- Thoughtful, site-sensitive design. Cornerstone’s philosophy is to preserve as much of the natural landscape as possible, while designing home sites to allow for the best views, sun exposure, and privacy.
- Shared driveways. The use of shared driveways allows for fewer impermeable surfaces and reduced road lengths.
