Palo Alto Officials Debate Green Regulations

PALO ALTO , Calif. — The city council here is split over how to encourage the adoption of environmentally sustainable building practices for private projects.

The city currently only requires public projects of more than 10,000 square feet to meet LEED-certification standards. Several council members are pressing for a city ordinance that would require private construction projects to meet LEED standards.

Developers and builders failing to incorporate the standards would be subject to an environment-impact fee similar to the one levied on developments that fail to meet minimum affordable-housing guidelines, officials say.

However, other decision makers question both the basis and need for municipal regulation, favoring an incentive-based approach to motivate environmentally sustainable design and construction.

Such a plan could see developers that use green design practices and materials rewarded with a fast-track permit process, planning exemptions, design enhancement expansions or utility rebates.