Coplon Associates provided site selection, master planning, site design and permitting services to the Island Housing Trust for a new 19-home affordable neighborhood in Mount Desert. The project is designed for “workforce housing” to enable home purchases by individuals or families employed locally that are currently unable to afford a house on Mount Desert Island. The site plan will have two residential areas—one of nine homes, with individual or shared driveways, the other of ten, in which the houses are clustered around a pedestrian/service drive with parking at each end. This concept is based on successful clustered co-housing projects and is intended to promote a safe, walkable neighborhood. The service drives will meet all applicable safety standards and town access ordinances. The homes are to be located on small lots with the balance of the property dedicated as common open space. Construction is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2008.