HomeMy WebLinkAbout512 ORDINANCE NO. 512
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
ADDING CHAPTER 1.3 TO TITLE 8 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE (BUILDING
REGULATIONS) ESTABLISHING GREEN BUILDING REGULATIONS
WHEREAS, the Town of Los Altos Hills' ("Town") General Plan sets
forth goals, policies and programs to ensure that all development occurs in a manner that
maximizes the preservation of natural resources; and
WHEREAS, policy 2.8 of the Town's General Plan Land Use Element
promotes the use of green building methods and practices in the planning, design,
construction,renovation, operations, and demolition of buildings; and
WHEREAS, California Assembly Bill 32 (Global Warming Solutions Act
of 2006)require actions on the part of State and local governments to significantly reduce
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such that statewide GHG emissions in 2020 are
lowered to 1990 levels; and
WHEREAS, reducing energy and water use and mitigating climate
change are fundamental parts of a sustainable long-term strategy to preserve natural
resources and protect the environment; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that buildings
account for 38% of CO2 emissions in the United States; and
WHEREAS, utilizing green building measures in construction saves
energy,reduces CO2 emissions, and reduces operating costs.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills does
hereby ORDAIN as follows:
1. AMENDMENTS. Chapter 1.3, "Green Building Regulations", is hereby added to
Title VIII of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code to read as follows:
Chapter 1.3
Green Building Regulations
Sections:
8-1.30 Purpose
8-1.31 Applicability
8-1.32 Definitions
8-1.33 Standards for Compliance
8-1.34 Incentives for Applicable Projects
8-1.35 Incentives for Additions and Remodels
8-1.36 Administration and Enforcement
8-1.37 Exceptions
8-1.38 Appeal
8-1.30 Purpose
The intent of the Los Altos Hills green building program is to enhance public health and
welfare by establishing green building standards for the design, construction, and
maintenance of buildings. The green building practices referenced in this Chapter are
intended to achieve the following goals:
a. To encourage the conservation of natural resources;
b. To reduce waste in landfills generated by construction projects;
c. To increase energy efficiency and lower energy usage in buildings;
d. To promote a healthier indoor environment;
e. To provide durable buildings .that are efficient and economical to operate, and
maintain.
8-1.31 Applicability
The provisions of this Article shall apply to new Town-owned public facilities and new
residential Primary Dwellings and Secondary Dwellings, where proposed as part of a
Primary Dwelling.
8-1.32 Definitions
For purposes of Chapter 1.3, the following definitions shall apply:
A. "Green Building" means a whole systems approach to the design, construction,
location and operation of buildings and structures that helps to mitigate the
environmental, economic, and social impacts of construction, demolition, and renovation.
Green building practices recognize the relationship between the natural and built
environments and seek to minimize the use of energy, water, and other natural resources
and promote a healthy,productive indoor environment.
B. "GreenPoint Rated (GPR)" means the residential green building rating system
developed by Build It Green.
C. "GreenPoints" means credits assigned under the GreenPoint Rated Checklist for
applicable projects.
D. "GreenPoint Rated Verification" means verification of a project by a certified
GreenPoint Rater to meet the standards of the GreenPoint Rated program and resulting in
certification by Build It Green.
E. "LEED " means the "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" green
building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council(USGBC).
F. "LEED USGBC Verification" means verification of a project by a LEED
accredited professional to meet the standards of the U.S. Green Building council
(USGBC) and resulting in LEED certification by USGBC.
G. `Primary Dwelling" means a building designated and/or customarily used as a
residence by not more than one (1) family and situated on a parcel or lot on which no
other primary dwelling is located.
H. "Public Facilities"means Town-owned facilities and buildings.
I. "Secondary Dwelling" shall mean an attached or detached residential dwelling unit
which provides complete independent living facilities for one (1) or more persons. A
secondary dwelling shall include facilities for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and
sanitation, and be located on the same parcel under the same ownership as a primary
dwelling.
8-1.33 Standards for Compliance
All applicable projects shall demonstrate compliance with the following level of green
li building standards:
A. New Primary Dwellings and Secondary Dwellings, where proposed as part of the
Primary Dwelling.
1. Site Development Review. The applicant shall submit one(1) of the following
checklists:
a. A GreenPoint Rated checklist with the Site Development application to
indicate that the project will achieve a minimum of fifty (50) points; A
completed GreenPoint checklist shall be attached to the front of the site
development plans submitted to the Planning Department for review.
b. A LEED for Homes checklist with the Site Development application to
indicate that the project will achieve a minimum of forty-five (45) points
or LEED Certification. A completed LEED checklist shall be attached to
the front of the site development plans submitted to the Planning
Department for review.
2. Building Plan Review. The applicant shall submit one (1) of the following
checklists:
a. A GreenPoint Rated checklist with the building permit application to
indicate that the project will achieve a minimum of fifty(50) points. The
checklist shall be completed by a qualified green building professional and
shall be attached to the front of the construction plans. The construction
plans shall include general notes or individual detail drawings, where
feasible, showing the green building measure to be used to attain the
required points.
b. A LEED for Homes checklist with the building permit application to
indicate that the project will achieve a minimum of forty-five (45) points
or LEED certification. The checklist shall be completed by a qualified
green building professional and shall be attached to the front of the
construction plans. The construction plans shall include general notes or
individual detail drawings, where feasible, showing the green building
measure to be used to attain the required points.
3. Final Inspection and Occupancy. Prior to final inspection and occupancy for
applicable projects, a qualified green building professional shall provide
documentation verifying that the building was constructed in compliance with
GreenPoint Rated or LEED certification.
B. New Town-owned Public Facilities
1. Construction for all new Town-owned facilities and buildings over 1,000 sq.
ft. in size shall meet or exceed LEEDa certification.
I
2. Prior to issuance of building permits, the Town shall verify that the project has
been designed to meet LEEDa certification.
3. Prior to final project inspection, the Town shall verify that the project was
constructed in compliance with the LEED®certification.
8-1.34 Incentives for Applicable Projects
Applicable projects that exceed the minimum point thresholds required under Section 8-
1.33 shall qualify for the following incentives:
A. Expedited Permit Processing
For projects GreenPoint rated at 75 points or higher or LEED rated at 60 points or
higher(LEED Silver), the project shall qualify for expedited building plan review.
Plan check comments on the first round of building permit applications will be
provided within five days of permit submittal.
B. Guaranteed Building Inspections
For projects GreenPoint rated at 100 points or higher or LEED rated at 75 points
or higher (LEED Gold), the project shall qualify for guaranteed building
inspections within two working days of a request for inspection.
C. Special Recognition by the City Council
For projects GreenPoint rated at 150 points or higher or LEED rated at 90 points
or higher (LEED Platinum), the homeowner shall receive a customized plaque
recognizing the special achievement.
8-1.35 Incentives for Additions and Remodels
Residential addition and remodeling projects voluntarily participating in Build It
Green's GreenPoint Rated Existing Home Rating Program shall qualify for the
following incentives:
A. Expedited Permit Processing
For projects that achieves the GreenPoint Elements rating (25 points minimum),
the project shall qualify for expedited building plan review. Plan check
comments on the first round of building permit applications will be provided
within five days of permit submittal.
B. Guaranteed Building Inspections
For projects that achieves the GreenPoint Whole House rating (50 points
minimum), the project shall qualify for guaranteed building inspections within
two working days of a request for inspection.
8-1.36 Administration and Enforcement.
The Building Official of the Town of Los Altos Hills shall be responsible for the
administration and enforcement of the provisions of Chapter 1.3 Green Building
Regulations.
8-1.37 Exceptions.
The Building Official shall have the discretion to grant exceptions to the strict application
of the ordinance in cases where due to conditions or exceptional characteristics of the
structure or property involved, a literal enforcement of the provisions of this chapter
would result in practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships; provided, however, no
such exceptions shall be granted unless the Building Official shall find that the granting
of such exception will not be contrary to.the intent of the provisions of this chapter.
8-1.38 Appeal
Any decision or determination by the Building Official under this Chapter may be
appealed by the applicant or any interested person to the City Council by filing with the
City Clerk a written notice of such appeal, setting forth the specific grounds thereof, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 1-4.01 (Rights to Appeal) of the Los Altos
Hills Municipal Code.
2. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Ordinance or the application thereof to
any person or circumstance is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this
Ordinance, including the application of such part or provision to other persons or
circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall continue in full force and effect. To
this end,provisions of this Ordinance are severable. The City Council of the Town of Los
Altos Hills hereby declares that it would have passed each section, subsection,
subdivision,paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase hereof irrespective of the fact that any
one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or
phrases be held unconstitutional, invalid, or unenforceable.
3. EFFECTIVE DATE AND PUBLICATION. This ordinance shall take effect
thirty (30) days after adoption. Pursuant to the provisions of Government Code Section
36933, a summary of this ordinance shall be prepared by the City Council's designee. At
least five(5) days prior to the Council meeting at which this ordinance is scheduled to be
adopted, the City Clerk shall (1) publish the summary in a newspaper of general
circulation, and (2) post in the City Clerk's Office a certified copy of this ordinance.
Within fifteen (15) days after the adoption of this ordinance, the City Clerk shall (1)
publish the summary in a newspaper of general circulation, and (2) post in the City
Clerk's Office a certified copy of the full text of this ordinance along with the names of
those City Council members voting for and against this ordinance or otherwise voting.
INTRODUCED: September 11, 2008
PASSED: October 9, 2008
AYES: Mayor Mordo, Mayor Pro Tem Warshawsky,
Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Kerr and
Councilmember O'Malley
NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: None
BY:
Jean Mordo, Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED S.TO FORM:
City Attorney