In reading the requirements of this credit, the intent is to: - Limit private single occupant vehicle travel of employees; - Prevent the loss of prime agricultural land; - Avoid sprawl and loss of green spaces; - Develop in areas where existing water, sewer, road, and other infrastructure exists; - Reuse and rehabilitate existing buildings. There are no areas in the Municipality of Saanich where office development density meets the 60,000 square feet per acre requirement. Thus the VITP is not being developed in an area of this density because it isn\'t possible. We do believe that we more than meet the intent of this credit in the following ways: - The development is on land designated for institutional, research and/or office use under the official community plan. This plan was put in place in order to channel development to urban areas in order to protect green and agricultural spaces, habitat, and natural resources. The VITP is thus meeting the needs of our community. - The existing building, former a long-term health care facility, is being retained and renovated as a high tech building. This building sat vacant for 5 years. The innovative use of this building as a research park has resulted in the reuse and rehabilitation of an existing building. Again, local government has supported this project in the form of approving a rezoning application to allow for this new use. - The site is adjacent to Camosun College and a small commercial center thus increasing the nodal density. - There were two major roads already in place that are being retained. - Existing water/sewer services to the site are adequate to support the new project. - Two new bike/pedestrian trails are being built to access the site in order to support alternative transportation choices. - There are excellent public transportation links to the site. - The integration of this type of development in Saanich reduces the impact of suburban sprawl in the region as the site is central to most residential areas. - Greenfield space was actually increased in this development through a park dedication to the municipality of 24 acres for recreation uses. A further 18.4 acres were dedicated as a nature reserve. Further, a long-term lease was arranged with the Horticulture Center of the Pacific ($1/year) for the preservation of a further 106.8 acres. All of this happened as a direct result of the VITP development team. - No ALR land is being developed. In requiring a 60,000 square feet per acre density you are simplifying the intent of this credit. The VITP is an obvious urban redevelopment project for the above reasons, and we believe that we qualify for this credit. We trust that you will address this issue in terms of this credit, and not in light of other credit options offered by LEED as we are fully aware of these.