DPD is proposing to create a Living Building Pilot Program to assist projects in attempting to meet the requirements of the Living Building Challenge. The Living Building Challenge is a green building rating system created by the International Living Building Institute to recognize buildings meeting the highest level of sustainability.  The Living Building Challenge requires buildings to meet a series of prerequisites relating to site, energy, materials, water, indoor quality, and beauty and inspiration.  The purpose of the Pilot Program would be to allow additional flexibility in the application of development standards in the Land Use Code (Title 23) through the design review process in order to accommodate innovative technologies or design approaches that might otherwise be discouraged or prohibited.

The Pilot Program would accept up to 12 projects over a 3-year period.  All projects accepted into the program would undergo full design review through the existing design review process pursuant to Chapter 23.41.  The scope and criteria for design review departures would be modified to allow, to the extent that Code departures may be necessary, the Board to recommend an expanded range of departures from Code requirements including: limited departures from permitted accessory uses, height, and floor area ratio (FAR).  In recommending departures, the board must find that the project meets design guidelines and the goals of the Living Building Challenge.

DPD anticipates that the Living Building Pilot Program will available starting early 2010.

Materials, including the proposed ordinance and director's report, will be posted on this website once they become available.