City bill benefits LEED certified

Pittsburgh is leading in LEED certifications – driving the city to become even more… Pittsburgh is leading in LEED certifications – driving the city to become even more green.

Led by District 8 Councilman Bill Peduto, City Council passed a bill yesterday that will allow LEED certified non-residential developments to increase their zoning limits by 20 percent in either height or density.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a 10-year-old organization, certifies buildings according to how much they reduce waste, conserve energy and water, operate with safe conditions, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, qualify for tax rebates and operate with low costs.

Peduto has been working on yesterday’s bill for three years, and it’s been pending for one, according to spokesman Dan Gilman.

“We are thrilled that it is finally past City Council,” Gilman said. “Pittsburgh has the third most LEED certified buildings in the United States, yet we’re one of the few cities without any benefits or bonuses from the city to help protect that.”

The funds for the 20 percent increase the bill allots will come from the city as opposed to private sector organizations and non-profits as it has before. This amendment will not cost taxpayers anything and its authors expect it to stimulate sustainable development.

The city containing the most certified green buildings is Seattle followed by Portland. The Pittsburgh Green Alliance, a non-profit organization, which supports this initiative, as does Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s Green Up Pittsburgh campaign, has affected more than five million square feet of green development in the Pittsburgh area.

Pittsburgh has over 36 LEED registered or certified buildings in the U.S. Green Building Council. The David L. Lawrence Convention Center was the world’s first certified green convention center.

“It was time for the Pittsburgh government to take a lead on the issue,” Gilman said. “I think we can continue to be a green leader in the country which we have been.

“We can put Pittsburgh in the forefront of sustainable development,” he said.

Also on the schedule for yesterday’s council meeting was legislation that would create a zero tolerance policy regarding domestic violence in the Bureau of Police.

Sponsored by Peduto and Council President Doug Shields, the legislation was held today by the mayor’s office.

Ravenstahl’s office requested time to come up with their own version of the bill to create more education, prevention and protection against domestic violence in the police bureau.

“Over time the mayor’s office has been pushing to have a policy rather than an ordinance,” Gilman said. “But today for the first time they seemed willing so we’re waiting to see what happens.”

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the Council voted against a computerized decision-making system for road paving. Again, Peduto and Shields were the members behind the bill.

The system would have rated Pittsburgh roads and given roads with the worst scores top priority for improvement based on age, composition and traffic, as well as other factors.

The other council members rejected the legislation saying it was unnecessary.

The mayor also sent a proposed $424 million budget to Council on Tuesday. It includes a parking tax cut, increased demolition spending and departmental collaborations.

Ravenstahl hopes to combine the city’s Planning Department, Bureau of Building Inspection and Urban Redevelopment Authority. He also hopes to cut back the city’s $500 million pension shortfall and replace it with a different retirement plan for non-union workers.

The recently proposed county budget proposed by Allegheny County chief executive Dan Onorato included a poured liquor tax and car rental tax, both of which are still an active source of debate.

Fliers supporting this budget have emerged on PAT buses, urging riders to support the tax by contacting County Councilman Robert Macey because the taxes support mass transit.

Arguments in the past month have surfaced regarding the fact that the tax money will not go to PAT until they make cuts themselves.