by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
The Sanibel Planning Commission again considered a revised draft of a proposed Sustainable Development Program. The program as drafted would include incentives for voluntary implementation of sustainable development practices that are above and beyond Land Development Code requirements. Some of those incentives gave Planning Commissioners pause.
The incentives include:
• Fast-track development review.
◦ To qualify for fast-track development review, the project must submit for green building certification, either as new construction or as a remodeling certification.
◦ Applicants who pursue a green building certification shall provide proof of registration with a green building certification entity and a rating checklist from the third-party rater, identifying anticipated credits to be obtained.
◦ Upon completion, the applicant must submit a final green building certification report, including any official documentation from the certifying entity, confirming that the project has achieved the specified green building certification.
• Refund of certification expenses. Applicants voluntarily obtaining a green building certification shall receive a refund of the actual cost of the green building certification fee.
• Reduction of development permit fees. A reduction of development permit fees will be available to those applicants who voluntarily:
◦ obtain a green building certification; or
◦ incorporate sustainable development practices into their projects according to the Sustainable Development Checklist as developed by staff and adopted by resolution; or
◦ construct a solar installation or EV charging station.
• Designation. The Department shall issue a Certificate of Compliance identifying the property as a sustainable development project with benefits to the community and the environment for those projects that voluntarily:
◦ obtain a green building certification; or
◦ incorporate sustainable development practices into their projects according to the Sustainable Development Checklist as developed by staff and adopted by resolution; or
◦ construct a solar installation or EV charging station.
This is a voluntary program.
Among the issues raised by the Commissioners were concern about fast-tracking not being fair to other applicants, as well as budget concerns due to reduced permit fees.
Commissioner Erika Steiner pointed out that “resilient building” is not the same as “green building.” “Concrete is not green,” she said. “Resilient does not mean green. They’re two different categories.” She pointed out that resilient building is most cared about now.
Commission Vice Chair, acting as Chair in Roger Grogman’s absence, Eric Pfeifer, said, “It’s not worth our time. Someone who can do these things [it’s a 42-item checklist to be done at the design stage] has the money and won’t care about a few hundred dollars’ savings.” He wanted to remove the fast-tracking element of the plan.
While Commissioner Ken Colter would encourage the program, he said the process and paperwork would be daunting. “We need to bring somebody in,” he said. “We’re bogged down and don’t have anyone in City Hall who is qualified to handle this. We need a consultant. We might be writing a check our mouth can’t cash. If we’re going to bring people in here, it could get out of hand real quick.”
Planning Director Paula McMichael said resiliency is what people are caring about now. “Green’s important, but I think resiliency is the thing people care about. Maybe enough’s enough.”
“I think this is aspirational, not directional,” Steiner said. “We have to aspire to be resilient. I think we need a different outlook.”
Lyman Welch said he was troubled by what he was hearing from the other commissioners. “Even if it was just the designation [as an incentive], this would be a good program to put forward. I think this is an important initiative. It’s in line with our vision. We don’t have standards in our Code that relate to sustainable building. Having it in the code as a voluntary program and providing incentives helps show we encourage it and want to support it.”
Planning Department staff will take the comments of the Commissioners into account as they continue to work on a proposed Sustainable Development plan.