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Green Rules Get Warm Reception

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 11, 2008

Updated: 01/10/2008 10:34 pm

TAMPA - Councilman John Dingfelder has proposed a plan to entice developers - and require the city - to meet certain environmental standards on new buildings.

He's pushing the council to adopt a new policy by spring.

"We've heard from the community about the importance of sustainability," Dingfelder said.

"It's important we all work hard on this," he said.

To date, Tampa has lagged behind a national and regional trend to offer incentives to developers who build environmentally sensitive buildings. Nearby Sarasota has been at the forefront of the movement. Hillsborough County also has been getting onboard.

Some Tampa officials have been talking about an ordinance for at least a year, but until now there has not been a draft.

At Thursday's city council meeting, interim solid waste director Varghese Jacob told the council he is working with several department heads to come up with ways the city can be more environmentally friendly.

First, though, the task force needs to define the word "green," he said.

"When you say 'green,' people have different ideas," Jacob said.

Green generally refers to building practices that use less energy and emit less greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Light sensors, low-flow toilets and landscaped roofs are examples of green building practices.

Dingfelder presented a draft ordinance that would offer incentives to developers who meet certain green building standards. For example, the city could offer rebates on permit fees, expedite permit reviews and offer density bonuses. Density bonuses allow developers to build more units on the land than the zoning generally allows.

Dingfelder also wants to require that all new city-funded buildings of at least 5,000 square feet be built to certain environmental standards.

The requirements would save taxpayers money, he said.

"All these things are energy-saving issues," Dingfelder said. "If you use less gas, you're going to save energy and you're going to save money."
Peter Crawford of Urban Studio Architects and a member of the U.S. Green Building Council said he embraces the incentive approach. He also likes Dingfelder's proposal to create a city office focusing on sustainability.

"It's fiscally irresponsible to build anything less than an efficient building," Crawford said. "It's high time the city council approve this."

Crawford was supported by architect Chris Kirschner, who said he favors the incentive approach over rules that could mandate builders construct environmentally friendly structures.

Several council members, including longtime environmental advocates Linda Saul-Sena and Mary Mulhern, signaled early support. Saul-Sena said the offices of U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson have contacted the city about federal grant money that could be used for environmental initiatives. The city needs to go after the money, Saul-Sena said.

The council plans to discuss the draft ordinance at noon Wednesday at city hall. A workshop also is scheduled for Jan. 24.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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