Our project is in a previously developed urban site and we do not have an opportunity on the project site to provide the percentage of open space required.
Our project is for a department office building within the local city government.
Would it be possible to attempt an alternative compliance path of having the City designate dedicated open vegetated open space, off-site, that is equal to the requirement, as they have done on previous certifications through the Existing Buildings (EBOM) rating system?
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11474 thumbs up
October 29, 2010 - 4:50 pm
I would say this is worth trying; however, I don't know for sure if it would work. Anyone have success in a similar situation?
Devon Bertram
Sustainability ManagerYR&G
214 thumbs up
November 3, 2010 - 12:09 am
Laurie,
This should be a reasonable alternative compliance path for your project. It would be a good idea to provide reasoning to why you could not provide the open space required on site, and details on how the off-site area will be acquired and maintained as open space.
Devon Bertram
Sustainability ManagerYR&G
214 thumbs up
November 4, 2010 - 4:30 pm
Laurie,
At further thought I would submit a CIR for this so you can obtain further guidance and confirmation on whether this approach would comply. As the EB:OM compliance path focuses on SSc5.1 (protect and restore habitat) and not on SSc5.2 (open space), it may not be a sure thing.
Good luck,
Devon
Renee Shirey
Stantec421 thumbs up
December 5, 2011 - 10:58 am
Laurie,
I would love to know on your decided approach, if you submitted a CIR, and what the result was. I have a similar situation: an institution automatically sets aside and develops an area as open space with every new construction project on it's campus. It may not, however, be adjacent to the site and is not part of the LEED boundary.