I have a lot of trouble with that prerequisite. Our project is in Canada and there is water everywhere here!!! First, we have a little water body in border of the road near our project. It is a kind of ditch. How to know if it is a water body to be consider? The metodology is well documented for wetland, but for water bodies, nothing. Secondly, we have wetlands into our
boundary. The local authorities permitted us to do any impacts on wetland but asked us a compensatory mitigation outside of the site. Is it "OK" for LEED ND?
Thank you.
Ted Bardacke
LEED Faculty (ND), AICP, Senior Associate, Green UrbanismGlobal Green USA
62 thumbs up
April 6, 2011 - 8:38 pm
On your first question, the prerequisite specifically addresses things like linear wetland/waterbody caused by exisiting rights-of-way. Also the glossary definitions of both wetland and waterbody have specific language regarding ditches.
On your second question, LEED-ND is more strict that your local authority in the sense that off-site mitigation is not allowed. If you have a good stormwater management strategy and decent density, then you can build on a percentage of the 50/100 ft buffer land. But otherwise, you've got to stay away from them.
Also remember that you can impact the buffer, if that buffer is previously developed.