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ZCC still debating form and design controls; bonuses for green building stay as is

12/15/2010 | 

ZCC Regular Session

ZCC chair Alan Greenberger explained today why form and design controls are still considered an open issue and recommendations for green building incentives were not accepted by the commission.

Form and design standards have generated a significant amount of feedback. Comments suggest that they may be too difficult to administer, that such design considerations will need to be made too early in the process, and that design guidelines would be more workable. In order to ensure the city has enforceable standards, the work plan committee is continuing to look at the form and design controls and how they can be applied. However, the referral draft of the consolidated code does clarify that the form and design standards shall govern if conflicts arise with recommendations made by the Civic Design Review committee.

Mr. Greenberger acknowledged recommendations made by the Delaware Valley Green Building Council (DVGBC) related to floor area ratio bonuses for green building. The recommendations address concerns about buildings that don’t actually achieve the intended level of LEED certification and the long-term standing of LEED. DVGBC recommended requiring a percentage of construction costs as escrow and reducing the amount of the bonus tied to LEED. The ZCC did not accept either recommendation. Greenberger said the ZCC recognizes that there is a possibility that some developers may get an incentive without achieving gold or platinum certification in the end, but that the recommendations are inconsistent with the goals of the commission. He said n escrow fee would be difficult to administer and come across as an obstacle to what is likely to be a good development and that the current bonuses were analyzed by consultants for their viability and the ZCC does not want to make an arbitrary reduction. However, the ZCC may consider linking failure to reach appropriate green building standards to a certificate of occupancy or even a legal suit on a case by case basis.

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