Chapter 17.706 — GREEN BUILDING BONUSES FOR NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

This chapter is adopted to implement the goals, objectives, and policies of the city's general plan relating to green building, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

As used in this chapter,

"CALGreen" means the California Green Building Standards Code, Title 24, Part 11, of the California Code of Regulations.

"Green roof" means a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier, drainage, and irrigation systems. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

This chapter applies to nonresidential development. Bonuses for residential development are addressed in chapter 17.704. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

A. Application. A developer seeking approval of a green building bonus shall file a request in conjunction with the project application for site plan and design review.

• B. Review.

1. An application that includes a request for a green building bonus shall be noticed and heard at the director level.

2. Notice. In addition to all other information required by this title, the public notice of hearing on the project shall identify the height bonus requested for the project. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

A. A development project may qualify for a green building height bonus under either or both paragraph 1 or 2 of this subsection below.

1. The development is designed and built to meet or exceed CALGreen Tier I or Tier II green building standards. a. A height bonus of 10% of the otherwise allowable height may be granted for a development that meets CALGreen Tier I.

• b. A height bonus of 20% of the otherwise allowable height may be granted for a development that meets CALGreen Tier II.

c. A building permit for a project requesting a green building height bonus under this paragraph 1 shall not be issued until the building official certifies that the plans are consistent with CALGreen Tier I or Tier II standards.

2. The development incorporates a green roof or rooftop farm. A height bonus of 10% of the otherwise allowable height may be granted for a green roof or rooftop farm, subject to the following standards.

a. The green roof or rooftop farm must cover more than 50% of the net roof area (i.e., the total gross area of the roof minus any roof area covered by mechanical equipment) or 2,000 square feet of contiguous roof area, whichever is greater.

b. Documentation must be submitted demonstrating that the roof can support the additional load of plants, soil, and retained water, and that an adequate soil depth will be provided for plants to thrive.

c. The roof area must contain sufficient space for future installations (e.g., mechanical equipment) that will prevent adverse impacts (e.g., removal of or damage to plants or reduction in area) on the green roof or rooftop farm. d. The green roof shall comply with the City's water efficient landscape requirements in chapter 15.92. The rooftop farm is exempt from the requirements of chapter 15.92, but must be irrigated with low volume drip irrigation and must use weather-based irrigation controllers.

e. The green roof or rooftop farm must be maintained for the life of the building.

B. The combined CALGreen and green roof height bonuses shall not exceed 30% of the maximum allowable height.

C. The height bonus shall not cause the project's floor area ratio to exceed the maximum allowable floor area ratio in the city's general plan. (Ord. 2015-0005 § 42; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)