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County Might Dangle 'Green' Carrot For Builders

Carl Orth/SUNCOAST NEWS

Pasco Commissioner Jack Mariano today pledged to introduce a proposed green building ordinance at the Aug. 26 meeting of the County Commission.

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: July 10, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Pasco County might offer hefty discounts on fees and other incentives for builders and developers who use "green," environmentally-friendly, techniques to conserve water and electricity.

The Pasco Building Association's Green Building Council today continued to refine specific incentives in a draft of a county ordinance. Sergio J. Terzado of HomeTeam Pest Defense led discussion among some 30 people about more changes.

Commissioner Jack Mariano pledged to council members to introduce the ordinance that would create the green building rules at the Aug. 27 County Commission meeting, in New Port Richey.

Incentives in the draft document would discount 75 percent of permit fees for a green-certified home, refund the entire water and sewer connection fees and give back up to half of some impact fees. Commercial projects would earn similar discounts.

The bonuses could be for new construction or renovations.

Another provision would expedite processing of building permits applications for green projects – three days instead of up to two months for a typical application now.

The county might dangle another green carrot: granting to developers, when feasible, a 25 percent increase in the density for green residential projects.

Assistant County Attorney Elizabeth Blair offered advice on how to structure the ordinance.
"This is about to reach critical mass," Chris Dewey, Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program coordinator, said about Pasco green standards.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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