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Dangling A Green Carrot Before Builders

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BY CARL ORTH SUNCOAST NEWS ASSISTANT EDITOR

THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: July 16, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Time is money for area builders and developers.

So a Pasco County proposal to expedite dramatically the handling of building permits for "green," environmentally friendly construction projects appealed to the Pasco Building Association's Green Building Council.

Three days for processing is suggested in the draft of a county ordinance the building council is helping to refine. Builders say the typical wait now can take up to two months. The savings in time seemed to appeal to the group as much, if not more, than monetary incentives.

One incentive in the draft document would discount 75 percent of permit fees for the first 5 years after a home is certified as green.

Another proposal for green-certified homes would refund the entire water and sewer connection fees the county charges.

Some green-certified developments might qualify to get back half of some impact fees.

Another bonus would allow builders 25 percent higher densities for some projects - more units per acre, in other words, if the site is suitable.

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.

Commissioner Jack Mariano pledged during the Green Building Council's meeting last week to introduce the ordinance at a County Commission meeting on Aug. 27 in New Port Richey.

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