A RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING AN ADDITIONAL CRITERION FOR RECOMMENDING EXPEDITED PROCESSING IN THE REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS (2006-06-26/R-27)

WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill has received a petition for recommending expedited processing to developments that meet the criteria for at least a LEED Silver certification; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill wishes to encourage development that promotes energy efficiency and may exceed energy efficiency standards achievable as part of LEED Silver certification; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill is a member of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives and a participant in the organization’s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill is engaged in the development of an Orange County Greenhouse Gas Emissions Strategy; and

WHEREAS, the Town has partnered with the Carolina Environmental Institute at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in the Chapel Hill Community Carbon Reduction (CRed) Program, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions within the Town of Chapel Hill by 60 percent by the year 2050; and

WHEREAS, the Town Council finds that there is a significant public purpose associated with LEED Silver certification and energy efficiency;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Town Manager is directed to recommend expedited processing of development applications that provide documentation that the applicant is actively pursuing LEED Silver certification and an energy efficiency standard which exceeds by 20 percent the standards set in American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 90.1-2004.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following shall be added to the Council endorsed criteria for recommending the granting of expedited processing:

Recommend expedited processing in cases where an applicant has submitted evidence, as endorsed by the Town Council and provided in Attachment 1, that the applicant is actively pursuing the development of a project that will:

a) meet or exceed the LEED Silver certification, and

b) exceed the energy standards by 20 percent of ASHRAE 90.1-2004.

This the 26^th day of June, 2006.