Our site was part of Fairmont Park in downtown Philadelphia. The site previsouly had a gravel parking lot surrounded by a grassy/open treed area, pavilion with an adjacent field also of grass, and wood post fence line installed along a tree lined ridge which is also part of the 9 acre site. Our building is being sited on the former gravel lot/pavilion area and the tree lined ridge is being cleaned up and restored. The Park has agreed to lease the site to the School District. It would appear that although the area was a park, it was previously disturbed to create the recreational and parking areas noted above. Is this site considered previously disturbed? If so, is replanting the grassy/treed area adjacent to the building count toward the 50% restoration of the site since that was its former park setting use and will remain open to the public as part of the school grounds and extension of the park?
As described above, the project site would be considered previously developed (in this case as a park) per CIR ruling dated 6/26/2003. To achieve SS Credit 5.1, a minimum of 50% of the site area (excluding the building footprint) should be restored with native or adapted vegetation that provide habitat and promote biodiversity. Replanting the disturbed portion of the site to the previously developed park landscape (trees and grass) does not comply with the credit requirements. Typical grass in park settings require watering and mowing and does not provide habitat or promote biodiversity. Please refer to CIRs ruling dated 4/19/2004 and 12/11/2001 for additional guidance.