CS 2009 SSc1: Site Selection

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2 Comments

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Ben Tucker Dir. of Building Peformance & Renewable Energy Services Chapman Construction/Design
Aug 22 2011
Member
3 Thumbs Up

100 ft wetlands setback

Our site is previously developedPreviously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past). Previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land. The date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development." and we will be performing a major renovation on the existing building. We appear to meet all the criteria for this credit with the exception perhaps of the wetlands setback. There are wetlands on one side of the property and a section of the existing ancillary parking lot infringes on the 100' setback. Our renovation work is limited to the building and the area immediately around the building footprintBuilding footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Parking lots, parking garages, landscapes, and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint.. No work is being performed on the ancillary parking lot. Although the parking in question is within the property line, it is outside our LEED project boundary. Is it possible for us to still pursue this credit ?

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Aug 22 2011 Guest Expert 1878 Thumbs Up

First I would check if the wetland, which you are refering to, is actually a wetland as defined by US Federal Regulations CFR 40. If that's the case, check for a CIRCredit Interpretation Ruling. Used by design team members experiencing difficulties in the application of a LEED prerequisite or credit to a project. Typically, difficulties arise when specific issues are not directly addressed by LEED information/guide (LEED Interpretation) in regards to existing buildings and your particular situation. I can't imagine that GBCI will deny you the credit, since the building is existing and you aren't adding anything within the setback distance. So you are following the intent, besides the new version of the LEED rating system 2012 I believe addresses this situation in your favor. That makes me think that the overall point of view on the issue.

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