Our project is a new classroom building on an existing campus. The campus has a large existing parking lot which is adjacent to our project and which will serve the occupants of our building and other buildings on campus. It is not within our LEED project boundary. Our project will be adding 61 new parking spaces, which are within our LEED boundary. Our team plans to designate 4 preferred spaces for LEV/FEV parking as part of the additional parking that we are adding. We plan to ignore the existing parking lot.
My question - are we meeting the intent since we are designating 5% of the new parking for LEV/FEV vehicles? Have others with a similar situation been asked to designate 5% of all potential parking for the project, or has the credit been satisfied with just designating 5% of the new parking? (Note, I have successfully done what we are proposing on other projects, but it was over 5 years ago.)
Michelle Rosenberger
PartnerArchEcology
522 thumbs up
October 17, 2013 - 10:42 pm
Hi Helen,
I have done this twice before in cases where we could clearly demonstrate that our project was adequately served by the new parking alone, i,e, code requirement or by SF. And that the other parking was existing and already required by the other uses. With of course a suitable LEED boundary that is consistent across the credits. If the existing parking is needed to serve your building occupants however that may present a challenge.
Helen Kessler
PresidentHJKessler Associates
51 thumbs up
October 17, 2013 - 10:45 pm
Thanks Michelle. That is, of course, my concern. I'd be interested to see what experience others have had.
Ellen Mitchell
331 thumbs up
October 18, 2013 - 9:54 am
I tend to agree with Michelle - if you can substantiate in some way that the 61 spaces are adequate to serve your classroom building (maybe look at the local parking code even if your campus is exempt), then you should be okay.