If part or all of the project site contains greenfield areas, this credit requires that projects preserve and protect a minimum of 40% of such areas from all development and construction activity.

On the one hand, limiting the construction footprint could reduce construction and maintenance costs; on the other hand, it could complicate construction (due to limited access and staging areas) and could adversely affect overall financial outcomes of a project if development scope is limited. Either way, those cost impacts will be very project-specific and difficult to quantify.

Additional restoration work must take place, with projects having two compliance options.

OPTION 1. ON-SITE RESTORATION

For previously developed sections of a site, 30% must be restored with consideration to soils, hydrology, and native plants. 

OPTION 2. FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Projects can elect to purchase “site offsets” by donating $0.40/sf of the entire site area to recognized land trust or conservation organization accredited by the Land Trust Alliance.

Sample Calculation:

Site Area = 100,000 sf x $0.40 = $40,000 Total Land Trust Premium Cost

Cost Synergies

LTc1: LEED for Neighborhood Development Location LTc2: Sensitive Land Protection
LTc3: High Priority Site
LTc4: Surrounding Density & Diverse Uses

LTc7: Reduced Parking Footprint

SSc1: Site Assessment
SSc3: Open Space
SSc4: Rainwater Management
SSc5: Heat Island Reduction
WEp1/c1: Outdoor Water Use Reduction EAc2/p2: Minimum Energy Performance