ludicrousity

************Nov 29, 2008 @ 8:30am***********

Hello Allen,

I noticed that back in 2007, the Town of Oakville signed up as a pilot community for the LEED Neighbourhood Developments for North East Oakville Development. Congratulations!

I'm really curious about this LEED-ND implementation plan, and which certification level you were planning to achieve. I would also like to encourage you to continue to apply these green building practices to all of your future developments.

While I congratulate the town's current ambitions, I was disappointed to hear that the new soccer stadium is not planned to be LEED certified. Green buildings are a source of community pride. They also consider the well-being of the occupants, entreating people to enter and to stay. Wouldn't that contribute to being the Most Livable Town in Canada? There are incredible cost benefits to green buildings. Costs of building operation can be slashed with a trifling incremental capital cost. As a tax-payer, I implore you to save my money!

'we estimate that the incremental capital costs for LEED buildings range from between 0% to 10% of the non-LEED base building with most LEED buildings averaging an incremental capital cost of approximately 5%.'

'REIT paid a premium of no more than four percent for incorporating sustainable features into its projects (see Table 1), "and that number is drifting down." The development cycle is no longer than usual, he said, and operating costs can be reduced 20 to 30 percent'.

As my ward councillor, would you please let me know what the town has planned for the pilot LEED-ND project? Additionally, if there are any other green building projects the town is (re)constructing, I would love to hear about it!

Best regards,

Mel

************Nov 29, 2008 @ 6:30pm***********

Ms Clohecy

Can you please have appropriate staff respond to Ms Seguin’s questions related to LEED. She has asked excellent questions that require an answer.

Thanks

Allan

************Dec 05, 2008 @ 3:05pm***********

Councillor Elgar asked me to respond to your questions to him regarding LEED. I have tried to coordinate the responses to your questions which have come from various staff members and have noted their contact information should you have any further questions.

LEED - ND
The Town has made a formal application to the LEED Neighbourhood Development program for North Oakville and is continuing to pursue its implementation. Charles McConnell (cmcconnell@oakville.ca) is the key contact for this and can provide you with additional information.

PINE GLEN
Planning Services were only involved in the site plan component in relation to the new soccer facility and were not part of the LEED discussions. We are aware that the RFP required the successful proponent to achieve a LEED score. Chris Mark (cmark@oakville.ca) in the Town's Parks Department is the best person to provide additional information on this project which we understand is now completed.

NORTH OAKVILLE AND LIVABLE OAKVILLE (NEW OFFICIAL PLAN)
In June 2008, Council approved a North Oakville Sustainable Development Checklist. Town Staff will evaluate all development applications against the principles of the checklist which reflect the policy objectives of the Secondary Plan. The level of compliance will only be based on a percentage of applicable points achieved. Individual items (such as LEED certification or Energy Star Certification) have been assigned a point value to assist in measuring how well a project reflects the general sustainability principles of the Secondary Plan. This will assist in allowing Council, Staff and the public to better understand the sustainable features of a given planning application and the degree to which these have been reflected in specific development proposals. This checklist can be found here: http://www.oakville.ca/Media_Files/planning08/SustainabilityChecklist__May_20_FINAL.pdf

The Town is currently preparing a new Town-wide Official Plan called Livable Oakville. Staff is currently writing a number of background research papers which will begin to establish the directions of the new OP. One of the major papers is a Sustainability research paper which is meant to examine best planning practices and discuss potential directions regarding these issues including green buildings. It is important to note that the Official Plan will focus on land use and must operate under the current Provincial legislation including the building code (which will require more energy efficient homes in 2011) and the Provincial Planning Act.

Dave DeGroot (DDeGroot@oakville.ca) is a planner in our section who can assist you with any further questions in regard to North Oakville implementation or sustainability policies in our new Official Plan - Livable Oakville.

I hope these responses are helpful.

Dana


Dana Anderson, MCIP, RPP
Director of Planning Services
Planning Services
danderson@oakville.ca