off-site parking

Hi! Just checking back on this issue. Has any official guidance or addenda been published yet to address this topic of consistency in documented parking capacity/hardscape?  Or should we be consulting our assigned LEED coach to ensure approach in unusual Project site circumstances will be acceptable? From my humble perspective, LEED site evaluations are concerned with varying issues inherently warranting deviations:

1) LT - Transportation issues - focuses on accountability regarding personal vehicle parking capacity/fueling/alternative transportation accommodations allocated to Bldg users, regardless of whether new/ existing within legal site (within LEED project's 'sphere of influence') or an arranged/leased accommodation elsewhere (common in campus and urban settings). Aka- transparency is key, should not 'ignore' known parking capacity for LT / Green Vehicle calcs.

2) SS - Site design - hardscape, landspace, open space, rainwater mgmt, light fixtures - Generally concerned with  site area within Project 'sphere of influence' - the area authorized for improvement by the Project as I understand it? LEED site often consists of plat or 'limits of work' (LOW) site area authorized for new/renovated conditions. Deviations in calculations are common, generally occurring if a LEED project wishes to demonstrate compliance in unusual case by case situations - often related to tie-in to a larger system of some kind that serves other sites/buildings - landscape irrigation, central energy plant, overall campus property legal 'site light pollution boundary' etc.  

In this respect, it seems reasonable that parking CAPACITY reported by a LEED project could be larger than the associated 'parking' hardscape within the LEED project's 'sphere of influence' / official LEED site boundary. Otherwise, are we to assume a LEED building's occupant use of an existing campus parking lot requires all those existing design features to be subject to LEED requirements?

Having to include 'outside sphere of influence' site elements would make it infeasible to either ensure or document existing-to-remain shared/off-site parking provision (surface lot/parking garage) compliance with LEEDv4 performance criteria (e.g., light pollution, rainwater mgmt, etc) ....meaning the LEED project becomes automatically ineligible to successfully pursue/achieve those credits. (LEED project team cannot reliably acquire existing conditions data and cannot 'fix' deficiencies)

To ensure transparency when justifying such conditions, perhaps it is a matter of documenting that the 'off-site' parking is existing to remain / outside LEED Project owner's sphere of influence to compel any LEEDv4 compliance related upgrades? Just a thought.

Hi Joanna,

Confirming that the parking-related credits--those involving space counts, allocating spaces, EV charging--must include any/all parking that is used by occupants/visitors. One of my examples: A casino has on-site customer parking only; all employee parking was offsite, miles away. We included all on- and off-site parking in those related credits. Other example: Our project did not provide any parking, being in an extremely dense urban location, the vast majority of people use alternative transportation; there are public garages nearby for those who choose (or must) drive and park for their commute. Our project did not provide any, though, on- or off-street/site. This enabled us to meet 100% reduction (still had to show calcs, which seemed ridiculous to me), but we were not eligible for the Green Vehicles credit.

For hardscape, landspace, open space, rainwater mgmt, light fixtures credits, it should only be what is within your LEED boundary, however it is defined. On my projects, it does usually coincide with a limit-of-work, or sometimes a property line. Occasionally, there may be an approved alternative way to approach, such as with the adjustments allowed within the light pollution reduction credit to adjust the LEED boundary only for the purposes of that credit as specifically outlined in the Reference Guide; you may also find some alternative compliance paths in the Pilot Credits, too.

If dealing with project-specific oddities, it is always best to communicate with LEED Coach for clarity. I do this regularly, and am certain they must be getting tired of me at this point.