Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 18.44 Green Development

18.44.010 Development standards for sustainable neighborhoods.¶

All new planning applications that fall under any of the thresholds below submitted between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011 shall participate in a pilot program utilizing the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ("LEED") for Neighborhood Development rating system.

Table 1 - LEED-ND Pilot Program Requirement Thresholds

Threshold	Fixed Rail (University, California Ave., and San Antonio)	Traffic Corridor El Camino Real	Neighborhood Center	All Other Sites
Type	All new construction.	All new construction.	All new construction.	All projects including an application for one of the following:
Type	All new construction.	All new construction.	All new construction.	• rezoning
Type	All new construction.	All new construction.	All new construction.	• planned community
Type	All new construction.	All new construction.	All new construction.	• site and design review for a mixed use project
Type	All new construction.	All new construction.	All new construction.	• conditional use permit for change of use from commercial to residential
Location	within ½ mile	within ¼ mile	n/a	n/a
Parcel Size	¼ acre or three or more dwelling units	¼ acre or three or more dwelling units	¼ acre or three or more dwelling units	¼ acre or three or more dwelling units
Compliance Level for Evaluation	All pre-requisites, and achieve 30 points in the Smart Location and Linkage (SLL) and Neighborhood Pattern and Design (NPD) sections of LEED-ND. Projects retaining and rehabilitating an existing historic building(s) shall receive a 5 point credit towards the minimum 30 points required.	All pre-requisites, and achieve 30 points in the Smart Location and Linkage (SLL) and Neighborhood Pattern and Design (NPD) sections of LEED-ND. Projects retaining and rehabilitating an existing historic building(s) shall receive a 5 point credit towards the minimum 30 points required.	All pre-requisites, and achieve 30 points in the Smart Location and Linkage (SLL) and Neighborhood Pattern and Design (NPD) sections of LEED-ND. Projects retaining and rehabilitating an existing historic building(s) shall receive a 5 point credit towards the minimum 30 points required.	All pre-requisites, and achieve 30 points in the Smart Location and Linkage (SLL) and Neighborhood Pattern and Design (NPD) sections of LEED-ND. Projects retaining and rehabilitating an existing historic building(s) shall receive a 5 point credit towards the minimum 30 points required.

Special Considerations:
If a project includes more than one parcel that are adjacent to one another, and have the same owner or developer, they will be considered together under LEED-ND review.
The requirements apply to cumulative or phased projects under review within a five year period.
Single family residences that fall within the thresholds above, including historic homes, and are not included in a planned community zone project, are exempt.

During the pilot year applicants will be required to submit LEED-ND documentation for informational purposes only. A complete planning application shall include materials showing how the project could meet the referenced compliance levels. At the end of the pilot year staff will return to PT&C and council to review if the thresholds of compliance were appropriate, to make any necessary adjustments, and to consider for mandatory adoption.

(Ord. 5108 § 5 (part), 2010)

Exceptions & meaning →

18.44.020 Compliance with California Green Building Standards Code required¶

All development projects may be subject to additional requirements under the green development regulations outlined in Chapter 16.14 (California Green Building Code) of Title 16 (Building Regulations) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code. A complete application as described under Section 18.77.020 (Applications) and Section 18.77.030 (Determination of Completeness) shall include appropriate documentation showing compliance with Chapter 16.14, and this chapter, as applicable.

(Ord. 5108 § 5 (part), 2010)

Exceptions & meaning →