HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Environmental Advisory Committee_Tab 05_3/10/2021Agenda Item #5.
Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)
STAFF MEMO '
S
4
Meeting: Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) -Mar 10 2021
Staff Contact: Thomas Bradford, EAC Chair Department: Environmental Advisory
Committee
[EDIT
Review of Draft Recommendations to the EAC on the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan
for Consideration of the Village Council and Staff.
Backup Memo Housing Element Recs 031021
Gainesville, FL Code of Ordinances
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Agenda Item #5.
Memo
To: Environmental Advisory Committee Members
From: Thomas G. Bradford, Chair, EACrR
cc: NA
Date: March 3, 2021
Re: Review of Draft Recommendations to the EAC on the Housing Element of the
Comprehensive Plan for Consideration of the Village Council and Staff
VOT Resolution No. 24-19, which created the EAC, requires the EAC "...to within the bounds of
the Village's Comprehensive Development Plan, develop recommendations for goals, objectives
and policies relative to sustaining and improving the environment of the Village of Tequesta." To
this end, the EAC is now reviewing the Housing Element of the VOT Comprehensive Plan. Items
highlighted in yellow are noted places where an environmental matter is stated in the Element.
Pertinent sections pertaining to environmental issues within the Housing Element of the VOT
Comprehensive Plan and my comments are as follows:
HOUSING ELEMENT
Goal: 1.0.0- To assure the availability of sustainable, decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable
housing to meet the needs of existing and future residents.
TGB Comment: A sustainable home should be energy efficient and less expensive to run. It should
be durable and made from materials that aren't going to harm you or the environment. Waste during
construction should be considered, for both cost and environmental impact. Sustainable homes
have three key elements:
1) Environmental sustain ability - The house is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
save water and energy and reduce waste during construction and the house's lifetime.
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Agenda Item #5.
2) Social sustainability / universal design The house is designed to prevent injuries through
built-in safety features. It has security elements to reduce crime and improve the occupants'
sense of security. Features are also used to provide flexibility and comfort for people of
varying abilities and at different life stages, including children and people with limited
mobility.
3) Economic sustainability - The house is designed to save money during construction
and over the lifetime of the house. Careful planning avoids the need for major future
renovations and reduces costs associated with energy use, water use and maintenance.
For purposes of the EAC, we should only be focusing on environmental sustainability.
Objective: 1.3.0 - To require residential design that implements the objectives and policies of other
Comprehensive Development Plan elements and supports green design.
TGB Comment: "Green Design" is the term used for designs that take into account life cycle,
potential to recycle, impact on the environment and how to reduce them and how to make their
design fully sustainable. This can be a very complex subject. Perhaps we should limit our focus to
only energy consumption, water consumption and stormwater runoff`? Suggestions for each of
these items are provided in my comments or recommendations on the policies below.
Policy: 1.3.2 - Continue to institute policies which minimize adverse environmental effects of
residential develobment. Utilize those management bractices which will alleviate
residential water pollution problems. Special attention should be given to the
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environmentally sensitive areas abutting the Loxahatchee River, Intracoastal
Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.
TGB Comments: Options to consider for recommendation to the Village Council and staff are:
• By local law, cut down on fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides? (Fertilizer has been
addressed by EAC)
• By law, consider allowing only the use of organic fertilizers?
• Require composting or mulch lawn clippings. Mulching already in the fertilizer ordinance?
• Preserve existing trees and/or planting new ones to hold rainfall and help manage
stormwater.
• Reduce allowed lawn size directly adjacent to the Loxahatchee River, Intracoastal
Waterway and Atlantic Ocean.
• Reduce impervious surfaces at properties and increase the vegetated land cover of
property.
• Reduce rooftop runoff by requiring downspouts to be directed to vegetated areas.
• Driveway and patio surfaces shall use permeable paving or patterns of cement and brick
that allow water to filter through it.
• All newly constructed properties and those renovating with costs in excess of 50% of the
taxable value of the properties adjacent to the Loxahatchee River, Intracoastal Waterway
RIA
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Agenda Item #5.
and Atlantic Ocean shall provide a berm or swale to capture stormwater runoff from
entering these water bodies.
Policy: 1.3.6 - Encourage new residential development and redevelopment to incorporate energy
saving design and construction features, such as adequate insulation, solar power,
less heat -absorbent roofing materials, and increased tree canopies, into design., -
construction and site development plans.
TGB Comments: Options to consider for recommendation to the Village Council and staff are:
• Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) model is an innovative mechanism for financing
energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements on private property adopted by both
Tequesta and Palm Beach County. Find ways to make the program well known via VOT
website, newsletter, attachment to permits issued by the Building Department and pamphlet
stand at the Building Department intake window.
• Consider making administrative amendments to the Tequesta Code to require energy
saving design and construction features, increased levels of insulation, solar power and less
heat -absorbent roofing materials above and beyond the requirements of the Florida
Building Code.
• Modify the landscape code to require tree canopies for shade to reduce heat onto habitable
structures for all newly constructed properties and those proposing renovation costs in
excess of 50% of the taxable value of the property.
• TGB Find examples of incentivization for energy saving in new home construction
• TGB Find examples of energy saving design and construction features, increased levels of
insulation, heat -absorbent roofing materials
Policy: 1.3.7 -.Encourage the use of renewable building materials in the construction of new or
redevelopment of existing housing.
TGB Comments: Options to consider for recommendation to the Village Council and staff are:
Examples of renewable (sustainable) building materials?
• Bamboo
• Reclaimed wood
• Cork
• Mycelium
• Sheep's Wool (for insulation)
• Recycled Steel
• Low-E (thermal emissivity)
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Agenda Item #5.
Ways to "encourage" use of such materials? Most municipal incentives focus on a total green
building, not just use of specific materials. Green project -based incentives for Village Council and
staff consideration include:
1) Priority in building permit processing and plan review, sometimes with a requirement for
posting a bond to guarantee the result.
2) Reduction in permit fees for green project ratings of the high caliber like LEED Silver or
better.
3) Tax incentives, particularly property tax abatements, for projects achieving LEED Silver
or better certification.
4) Increased Floor -to -Area (FAR) ratios, which allow a developer to construct more building
area than allowed by applicable zoning.
Policy: 1.3.8 - The Village shall consider the development of a Green Building Ordinance and a
related Green Certification Program for development and redevelopment, including
the development of a Neighborhood Development Rating System that integrates
the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into a national system
.v .v .v
for neighborhood design.
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TGB Comments: Options to consider for recommendation to the Village Council and staff are:
• Example of Green Building Ordinance —see attached Gainesville, FL Green Building Code
that can be used as a model.
• Example of a related Green Certification Program for development/redevelopment -The
Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBQ. See this link:
https://www.floridagreenbuilding.org/home
ome
• Example of Neighborhood Development Rating System — LEED(ND)
LEED stands for Leadership in energy and Environmental Design. Unlike other LEED products
that focus primarily on green building practices, with relatively few credits regarding site selection
and design, LEED for Neighborhood Development places emphasis on the site selection, design,
and construction elements that bring buildings together into a neighborhood, and relate the
neighborhood to its landscape as well as to its local and larger regional context. The work of the
(LEED) committee is guided by sources such as the Smart Growth Network's ten principles of
smart growth, the charter of the Congress for the New Urbanism, and other LEED rating systems.
LEED for Neighborhood Development creates a label, as well as guidelines for design and
decision -making, to serve as an incentive for better location, design, and construction of new
residential, commercial, and mixed -use developments. A rating system focuses on such things as:
a) Identifiable Center and Edge to the Neighborhood
b) Walkable Size
c) Mix of Land Uses and Housing Types with Opportunities for Shopping and Workplaces
Close to Home
d) Integrated Network of Walkable Street
El
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Agenda Item #5.
e) Special Sites Are Reserved for Civic Purposes
In my opinion, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. I suggest we recommend the use of the
LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) by the United States Green Building Council
(USGBC). See this link for on the program of certification. https://www.us b� c.org/leed/rating-
systems/neighborhood-development
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2/22/2021 Gainesville, FL Code of Ordinances
A enda Item #5.
A TICLE II. - GAINESVILLE GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM
Sec. 6-8. - Definitions.
When used in this article, the following words, terms, and phrases have the meanings ascribed to them in
this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
City means the City of Gainesville, Florida.
City commission means the City Commission of the City of Gainesville, Florida.
City -owned civic or office construction project means city -owned buildings providing a public gathering
place or office facilities.
Construction means any project associated with the creation, development, or erection of any building
eligible for the program.
FGBCmeans the Florida Green Building Coalition.
GHDS means the Green Home Designation Standard of the Florida Green Building Coalition.
Green building means generally the resource efficient design, construction, and operation of buildings by
employing environmentally sensible construction practices, systems, and materials.
Independent or independent of the city means not employed by, or acting as agents of, the city.
L.E.E.D. means the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Rating System of the U.S. Green
Building Council.
Municipal means owned by the city.
Private means property not owned by the city.
Program means the city green building program.
Program certification means the final designation awarded to a program participant for satisfying all
requirements associated with the program for a particular project.
Program participant means any person or entity seeking program certification for a particular project.
Project means any construction associated with the creation, development, or erection of any building
eligible for the program.
Project application form means the form submitted to the Building Inspection Department indicating that
a program participant is interested in participating in the program for a particular project.
Sub -program means any area of construction covered by the program.
USGBCmeans the U.S. Green Building Council.
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2/22/2021 Gainesville, FL Code of Ordinances
Agenda Item #5.
(Ord. No. 171056, § 1, 12-6-18)
Sec. 6-9. - Purpose.
The Gainesville Green Building Program is a voluntary program that seeks to incentivize and promote
sustainable and environmentally -friendly practices of construction and design. City -owned construction
projects must follow the program guidelines when feasible, upon review by the city commission.
(Ord. No. 171056, § 1, 12-6-18)
Sec. 6-10. - Administration.
The program will be jointly administered by the building inspection department and Gainesville Regional
Utilities, which together are responsible for:
(a) Funding the program through annual funds budgeted and appropriated by the city
commission;
(b) Marketing the program to the community by any reasonably effective means, including but
not limited to print advertising, press releases, television advertising, or advertising in
monthly mailers;
(c) Developing any appropriate or necessary application procedures, including but not limited to
the program application form;
(d) Providing an incentive award to any program participant who has successfully satisfied the
requirements associated with that incentive; and
(e) Resolving disputes that may arise from implementing the program.
(Ord. No. 171056 , § 11 12-6-18)
Sec. 6-11. - Scope.
(a) The program is voluntary for all non -city projects.
(b) For any city -owned construction project, the city must participate in the program unless the city
commission determines that the cost (e.g., time, function, or funding) associated with
participating in the program significantly outweighs the benefits.
(c) The program shall be administered on a per -unit basis. For the purpose of this section of the
program, "per -unit" means each unit built, except that any multi -family dwelling or similarly
clustered structure may count as one unit, as determined by the city manager or general manager
for utilities or their designees.
(Ord. No. 171056 , § 11 12-6-18)
Sec. 6-12. - Standards.
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2/22/2021 Gainesville, FL Code of Ordinances
Agenda Item #5.
The program will be administered using current standards developed by the U.S. Green Building Council,
the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC), the Florida Home Builders Association, or any other standard
approved by the city. For the purpose of this section, "current" means at the time a program participant
submits a project application form with the building inspection department. These standards apply as
follows:
(a) Residential construction. For new residential construction, the project must satisfy all of the
requirements of the current Green Home Designation Standard (GHDS) of the FGBC, including
but not limited to any monetary or certification requirements. For residential retrofitting or
remodeling, the project must satisfy all of the requirements of the current and applicable
LEED rating program, including but not limited to any monetary or certification requirements.
In addition, all projects must satisfy all of the requirements of the current and applicable
Florida Water Star Standards established by the Florida Home Builders Association certified
ratings program.
(b) Nonresidential construction. For nonresidential construction, the project must satisfy all of
the requirements associated with the current and applicable LEED rating program, including
but not limited to any monetary or certification requirements. In addition, the project must
satisfy all of the requirements of the current and applicable Florida Water Star Standards
established by the Florida Home Builders Association certified ratings program.
(Ord. No. 171056 , § 1, 12-6-18)
Sec. 6-13. - Incentives.
The city shall provide the following incentives to encourage the use of this program:
(a) Expedited process for building permits.
(b) Reduced permitting fee, subject to availability of funds. The discounted fee shall equal 50
percent of the otherwise required permitting fee; if the project is located in a designated
enterprise zone, then the reduced permitting fee shall equal 50 percent of the applicable
enterprise zone permit fee.
(c) For all projects other than one and two-family residential projects, there shall be a reduced
development plan review fee, which shall equal 50 percent of the otherwise required
development plan review fee.
(d) For multi -family residential retrofitting or remodeling, projects shall be eligible for the
following incentives provided by GRU:
(1) A cash renovation incentive, subject to availability of funds; and
(2) A solar water heater incentive, subject to availability of funds and meeting other solar
rebate program requirements.
(e) Marketing incentives, including but not limited to:
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2/22/2021 Gainesville, FL Code of Ordinances
Agenda Item #5-
(1) The erection of building site signs designating a project under the program;
(2) Educational information for building owners and the general public demonstrating the
benefits of green building;
(3) The inclusion of program participants on a city webpage dedicated to the program;
(4) The creation of promotional packages such as a program logo for a program participant's
advertisements or brochures;
(5) Press releases; and
(6) City endorsement of program participants to a certified green builder list developed by
the city.
(fl Green building award. The city shall annually award one project that demonstrates an
outstanding commitment to green building with the "Green Building Award."
(g) Other incentives. Other incentives as may be approved by the city commission.
(Ord. No. 171056 , § 1, 12-6-18)
Sec. 6-14. - Certification.
The program is subject to certification by qualified third party who has been trained and certified as a
green building rater. For the purpose of this section, "third party" means any person or entity authorized by
the FGBC or the USGBC to verify that a program participant has satisfied any or all of the requirements
associated with the standard designated for a particular project.
(Ord. No. 171056 , § 11 12-6-18)
Sec. 6-15. - Tra i n i ng.
The building inspection department in conjunction with FGBC shall conduct at least one training
workshop per year for the purpose of educating potential or current program participants about the
program.
(Ord. No. 171056 , § 11 12-6-18)
Sec. 6-16. - Program review.
The building inspection department and GRU shall jointly review the program as necessary in order to
make the program more effective, including but not limited to potentially updating program incentives,
recommending program or marketing changes to the city commission, reviewing suggestions made by
program participants, and annually awarding the Green Building Award in accordance with the program.
(Ord. No. 171 056, § 11 12-6-18)
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