The intent of this credit is to channel development to urban areas with existing infrastructure, protect greenfields, and preserve habitat and natural resources. The proposed Hillsboro, Oregon City Hall will achieve these goals by locating the building within the Portland Metropolitan Urban Growth Boundary at the intersection of First and Main streets in the heart of the urban community. The five-story building will greatly increase the density of the immediate surrounding area and set the tone for all future development in the downtown area. Included with the city hall development will be a 25,500 sf community events plaza, 7,500 sf of retail space, and 135,275 sf of affordable and market rate apartments; all of which utilize existing infrastructure. However, the surrounding area does not meet he USGBC\'s density criteria for an urban area as defined by a measure of 60,000 sf of built environment per acre of land. In the City\'s Zoning terms the USGBC criteria is equal to a Floor Area Ratio, "FAR," of 1.37. Because the CBD was the center of the original 1842 city (older than nearby Portland) commercial buildings are primarily single story with adjacent parking; resulting in a FAR within a half mile of the project site of only 0.63. However, the Hillsboro CBD has now been designated as one of six "Regional Centers" within the Portland SMSA where future density is expected (in fact, required) to be second only to that of downtown Portland. The City Hall building will have a FAR of 2.3, well in excess of USGBC\'s expectations. Because the City is taking a leadership position by building the first truly "urban" scale development in this old town, we are convinced this project captures the spirit of sustainable development and the intent of the credit. Consequently, we respectfully request award of this point.
The USGBC recognizes that the 60,000 sf/acre density goal is not necessarily appropriate for existing mid-sized communities working to channel development into existing urban development cores. This project seems to be complying with a regional planning effort to renovate an area with existing infrastructure into an urban village or a "Regional Center" with an ultimate intended density that reflects local development conditions. As such, this strategy may address the intent of this credit.To document that the project has achieved credit equivalence, provide the following information with your application:1) Documentation showing that the project is being located in a central business district with existing development and infrastructure. (New development in a greenfield would not be considered appropriate in this case.) Provide information about existing development density.2) Documentation verifying that the project location is within a designated dense urban growth area.3) Documentation that the project is resulting in increased development density that meets the goals of the urban development plan.