The 3.5 acre project site is wooded with mature trees. It was developed years ago, but all structures were demolished 40-50 years ago.
Should this site to be considered developed or undeveloped?
Thank you.
Forum discussion
Schools-2009 SSc1: Site Selection
The 3.5 acre project site is wooded with mature trees. It was developed years ago, but all structures were demolished 40-50 years ago.
Should this site to be considered developed or undeveloped?
Thank you.
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Susann Geithner
PrincipalEmerald Built Environments
1297 thumbs up
July 14, 2011 - 2:49 pm
There is no time frame in regards to the previous development and your site has previously been altered by direct human activity. So I would define it as previously developed.
The intent of the credit is to avoid inappropriate site development. So as long as you meet the other criteria, I think you are following the intent.
I actually had a project on a urban site, which also had new tree development since the previous buildings were destroyed during the 2. World War. The local regulations required as to protect some trees but other than that the site was consider as previously developed.
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
November 8, 2011 - 3:34 pm
USGBC has more specifically defined "previously developed" in its Nov. 2011 addenda. This is very helpful in terms of clarifying that some land alteration and human hands, like agriculture, is NOT considered development. Here is the definition:
Previously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past). Previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting
from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry
use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land. The date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development."