Hi, I'm looking at a potential LEED ND project in Almaty Kazakhstan of 39 acres, mainly residential. The project probably qualifies as an infill site. I've just realized that its planned as a gated community. The owner is willing to add a second gate to the south which would give 1/4 mile access to the majority of residents to 2 bus stops, thereby satisfying SLL Pr1 either by Option 1 or Option 3. However I'm stumped by NPDp3. Clearly internal gated areas cannot contribute to this pre-requisite, but it does not disallow the entire neighbourhood being gated. Or does it by implication (that no internal streets can be counted because they are inside a gated community). Can anyone give me a definitive answer on this? It would be a pity if it failed on this technicality, since the majority of bordering area is the backs of single-family houses, whereas the gates can be located proximate to services and transport.
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Eliot Allen
LEED AP-ND, PrincipalCriterion Planners
LEEDuser Expert
303 thumbs up
May 5, 2013 - 8:40 pm
Melissa, yes, the entire neighborhood would be disallowed in the connectivity calculation if it's entirely behind gates. Also, a July 19, 2010 addenda stipulates that land area behind gates must be included in the calculation of total area within 1/4 mile of the project boundary under Option 2. Unfortunately, there really isn't a workaround for gates areas.
Eliot
Melissa Merryweather
DirectorGreen Consult-Asia
245 thumbs up
May 5, 2013 - 9:30 pm
Eliot, thanks so much for your speedy reply. I thought so. I will try to find and download the addenda. The way that the website is ordered now its incredibly difficult to find all the documentation required for any given system. It would be a great service if the addenda could be linked here on LEEDUser. Sadly the gated aspect really didn't limit the project's connectivity in any meaningful way so its frustrating to have to bow out on a technicality.
Bernard Sagaiyaraj
DirectorBlue Snow Consulting and Engineering Sdn. Bhd.
1 thumbs up
May 5, 2013 - 9:49 pm
Hello Melissa ! Your Almaty project greatly interested me not only because I'm also a LEED AP ND but that Kazakhstan is actually looking at LEED. We are actually mulling the idea of getting in Kazakhstan because my contacts have on-going business there. Any help is deeply appreciated. Cheers ! Bernard Sagaiyaraj
Eliot Allen
LEED AP-ND, PrincipalCriterion Planners
LEEDuser Expert
303 thumbs up
May 6, 2013 - 10:43 am
Melissa, you're right about the challenge of tracking various addenda, policies, etc. The online database is definitely an improvement, at http://www.usgbc.org/resources/leed-interpretations-and-addenda-database. Besides the I&A database and Reference Guide, other useful ND references available through USGBC/GBCI include general FAQs, international FAQs, the ND appendix of the LEED cert policy manual, general ND cert guidance and online tips, and specific guidance for large-scale projects, ND on campuses, and GIBp1 and c1. Regarding the gated aspect of your project, if you believe the project can achieve the intent of NPDp3 despite gating, you might consider a CIR. There are already exceptions for campus-type security situations, and gating comes up frequently as an issue for non-U.S. projects.
Eliot
Melissa Merryweather
DirectorGreen Consult-Asia
245 thumbs up
May 8, 2013 - 10:47 pm
Eliot, again thanks so much, this is extremely helpful information. I think the owner has decided to try a CIR, so we'll see how that goes.