Policy 3

Implement green building techniques and green neighborhood design to reduce: 

• Energy use, 
• The heat island effect, 
• Improve air and water quality, and 
• Increase opportunities to reduce, reuse, and recycle construction waste
• Stormwater runoff, 
  
  
• NE3.1 - Evaluate the County’s various regulatory codes and manuals to assess how to comprehensively provide urban green and open areas.
  
  
• NE3.2 - Revise the tax code or other appropriate regulations to provide developer incentives for LEED® Silver, Gold, and Platinum certifications (or equivalent green building rating programs) for residential and commercial buildings and neighborhoods. Incentives should be commensurate with achieved levels.
  
  
• NE3.3 - Remove barriers in the building code and County Code that discourage green building and green neighborhood design.
  
  
• NE3.4 - Revise and update the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations to require green building features consistent with Plan 2035 to help fulfill the requirements of the WIP and CAP, as well as other relevant plans, and should vary by: 
  • Density
  • Intensity
  • Location
  • Scale of development
  • Type of project
  • Land use
    
    
• NE3.5 - Redevelop brownfield and superfund sites in priority growth locations.
  
  
• NE3.6 - Study and implement methods to increase the amount of construction and demolition waste that is diverted as part of solid waste recycling in the County. Possible methods include tax incentives and reduced permitting fees.