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LEED v2.2
New Construction
Sustainable Sites

Development Density & Community Connectivity

LEED CREDIT

NC-v2.2 SSc2: Development Density and Community Connectivity 1 point

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Credit achievement rate

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Credit language

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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Option 1 — development density
Construct or renovate building on a previously developed site AND in a community with a minimum density of 60,000 square feet per acre net (Note: density calculation must include the area of the project being built and is based on a typical two-story downtown development).

OR

Option 2 — community connectivity
Construct or renovate building on a previously developed site AND within 1/2 mile of a residential zone or neighborhood with an average density of 10 units per acre net AND within 1/2 mile of at least 10 basic sServices AND with pedestrian access between the building and the services. Basic services include, but are not limited to:
  1. Bank;
  2. Place of worship;
  3. Convenience grocery;
  4. Day care;
  5. Cleaners;
  6. Fire station;
  7. Beauty;
  8. Hardware;
  9. Laundry;
  10. Library;
  11. Medical/Dental;
  12. Senior care facility;
  13. Park;
  14. Pharmacy;
  15. Post office;
  16. Restaurant;
  17. School;
  18. Supermarket;
  19. Theater;
  20. Community center;
  21. Fitness center;
  22. Museum.
Proximity is determined by drawing a 1/2 mile radius around the main building entrance on a site map and counting the services within that radius. See all forum discussions about this credit »

What does it cost?

Cost estimates for this credit

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Frequently asked questions

Is my site previously developed?

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What exactly does LEED mean by residential neighborhood or area?

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Only a portion of my complying residential development lies within the ½-mile radius. Will this suffice for credit compliance?

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Where do I draw the radius from?

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Is one building or residential area enough to satisfy the residential density requirement?

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My project has access to services that seem to be basic, but are not listed in the LEED Reference Guide—like insurance company, nail salon, auto repair shop. Will these count?

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My project is on a base or campus where some services are available to the population of the project, but not the general public. Do these count?

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For Option 2, does the residential neighborhood with average density of 10 units per net acre have to be existing, or can planned neighborhoods count towards earning this option?

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What site area should be used for an interiors project when figuring out the density radius? The building site area, or building footprint?

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See all forum discussions about this credit »

Checklists

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Documentation toolkit

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LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.

Credit achievement rate

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Get the inside scoop

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USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Option 1 — development density
Construct or renovate building on a previously developed site AND in a community with a minimum density of 60,000 square feet per acre net (Note: density calculation must include the area of the project being built and is based on a typical two-story downtown development).

OR

Option 2 — community connectivity
Construct or renovate building on a previously developed site AND within 1/2 mile of a residential zone or neighborhood with an average density of 10 units per acre net AND within 1/2 mile of at least 10 basic sServices AND with pedestrian access between the building and the services. Basic services include, but are not limited to:
  1. Bank;
  2. Place of worship;
  3. Convenience grocery;
  4. Day care;
  5. Cleaners;
  6. Fire station;
  7. Beauty;
  8. Hardware;
  9. Laundry;
  10. Library;
  11. Medical/Dental;
  12. Senior care facility;
  13. Park;
  14. Pharmacy;
  15. Post office;
  16. Restaurant;
  17. School;
  18. Supermarket;
  19. Theater;
  20. Community center;
  21. Fitness center;
  22. Museum.
Proximity is determined by drawing a 1/2 mile radius around the main building entrance on a site map and counting the services within that radius.

XX%

Upgrade to LEEDuser Premium to see how many projects achieved this credit. Try it free »

Got the gist of SSc2 but not sure how to actually achieve it? LEEDuser gives step-by-step help. Premium members get:

  • Checklists covering all the key action steps you'll need to earn the credit.
  • Hot tips to give you shortcuts and avoid pitfalls.
  • Cost tips to assess what a credit will actually cost, and how to make it affordable.
  • Ideas for going beyond LEED with best practices.
  • All checklists organized by project phase.
  • On-the-fly suggestions of useful items from the Documentation Toolkit and Credit Language.

In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:

  • Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
  • Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
  • Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
  • Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
  • Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
  • Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.

Is my site previously developed?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

What exactly does LEED mean by residential neighborhood or area?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Only a portion of my complying residential development lies within the ½-mile radius. Will this suffice for credit compliance?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Where do I draw the radius from?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Is one building or residential area enough to satisfy the residential density requirement?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

My project has access to services that seem to be basic, but are not listed in the LEED Reference Guide—like insurance company, nail salon, auto repair shop. Will these count?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

My project is on a base or campus where some services are available to the population of the project, but not the general public. Do these count?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

For Option 2, does the residential neighborhood with average density of 10 units per net acre have to be existing, or can planned neighborhoods count towards earning this option?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

What site area should be used for an interiors project when figuring out the density radius? The building site area, or building footprint?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Subscribe to new discussions about NC-v2.2 SSc2