Agenda 06-04-2019 6-a - Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat Application

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84 9. Can the developer be required to develop as Low Impact Design (LID) and/or LEED Certified? Staff Response: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), is a private building certification program for "green" or environmentally sensitive buildings. There are numerous levels and ratings within this certification program that recognize best-in-class building strategies for homes and various types of non-residential construction. While it is possible for the applicant and/or subsequent builders to pursue LEED certifications, it is not a required element of the subdivision process. Low-impact development (LID) is a term used in Canada and the United States to describe a land planning and engineering design approach to manage stormwater runoff as part of "green" infrastructure. LID emphasizes conservation and use of on-site natural features to protect water quality. In Orange County, LID is also a classification or category for stormwater permitting. It determines the permit cost and many of the water quality requirements for stormwater treatment. With this request the amount of land disturbance for the roads and initial clearing would prohibit this stormwater classification. However, the applicant can utilize basic LID principles as part of the subdivision's lot and overall subdivision design. Applicant Response: Regarding the LEED program and its applicability to site development, there are basic items that fall within the recommended guidelines that this project will provide. These include preservation of open space areas and buffers, rainwater/stormwater management and minimizing the amount of impervious surface areas. For the construction of the houses themselves, application of any LEED design or construction methods will be up to the contractor and the individual home buyers. Regarding the LID principles related to stormwater design, while the project does not meet the Stormwater LID classification within the parameters of the LIDO, the design of the proposed stormwater management system utilizes these principles. The proposed stormwater management control measures are derived from the LID principles and are also required to be used in some form or another as set forth in the NCDEQ Stormwater BMP Manual. The project will use a combination of grass swales, level spreaders, bioretention basins and/or constructed wetlands. 10. Can the developer be required to provide affordable housing? Staff Response: This request is for a major subdivision, which does not allow or require price controls to ensure affordable housing. Applicant Response: The current Orange County UDO does not include provisions to address an affordable housing component for a major subdivision. As such the pricing of the houses to be built within this development will be controlled by the current real estate market within this geographical area. Also, since there are only 20 lots proposed within this subdivision, it does not lend itself to provide for a mix of price ranges for affordable 5