We are currently doing a project registered under LEED for Schools 2009 and are using CASE 3 of SS5.2. Our site is composed of the following:

Natural Ground Cover 143,905sf
Infield Mix for play fields 45,043sf
Decomposed Granite 63,015sf
Natural Ground Cover for discus and shot put 26,147sf
Asphalt Parking area 73,832sf
Concrete paved drives 99,024sf
Track surface 63,292sf
Playground unitary surface 2,895sf
Concrete sidewalks 121,220sf
Basketball/Tennis courts 73,985sf
Slopes grater then 1:4 of Ponds 23,381sf
*Vegetated ponding area 26,563sf
*Grass fields 270,967sf
*Native Vegetated areas 312,270sf
Building Footprint 179,061sf

Site total 1,524,600sf

I submitted for the design review with the items with * as open space a total of 609,800sf this equates to 40% of the site being open space. The LEED reviewers comment came back with the following:

"Provide a revised site plan which highlights the dedicated open space, excluding all wetlands/naturally designed ponds with side slope gradients greater than 1:4. Revise the form as necessary. ---------- The LEED Credit Form indicates that the project is pursuing the Exemplary Performance option for this credit and that the project reserves one point within the Innovation and Design Credit category for this strategy. However, as submitted, the project is not pursuing an exemplary performance point for SSc5.2 (Site Development: Maximize Open Space)."

So I have the following questions:
1. What is the definition of a naturally designed pond?
2. Which of the above areas can contribute to this point?
3. How do we submit for the exemplary performance point?
4. For the area counted as landscaped area how far past tree/shrubs can contribute?