Posted by: Patty Salkin | September 7, 2007

Illinois Becomes First State to Initiate Green Neighborhood Development Program

On August 21, 2007, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the “The Green Neighborhood Grant Act,” the first piece of state legislation to incentivize the use of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED - ND (Neighborhood Design) pilot certification (Public Act 95-0325).  The LEED-ND certification was released in a pilot phase by USGBC in February 2007.  The project checklist for the rating system consists of four parts: smart location and linkage; neighborhood pattern and design; green construction and technology; and innovation and design process.  See, http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=148 

The new law authorizes the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to issue RFPs from model private developments that have achieved the LEED-ND certification, and to award up to three grants for the reimbursement of  up to 1.5% of total development costs of selected projects. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0325&GA=095

Categories:

« Construction of a Wireless Communication Tower is an “Undertaking” Subject to NHPA
Ohio Appeals Court Remands Takings Case for Evaluation Pursuant to tests set forth in Lingle »

Responses

I believe Massachusetts just became the first state to make GHG impact assessment a mandatory component of a State level mini-NEPA review. 16 states have some form of impact assessment for public projects and in California private developments required by statute. Hopefully these requirements will spread given the importance of the built environment on total GHG emissions from both bldgs and travel patterns

By: Robert Paterson on September 10, 2007
at 3:27 pm

I understand that today, the Governor’s Community Development Council in New Mexico passed revisions to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) regulations.

Among these changes, for local governments who receive CDBG funding for comprehensive plans, the plans now must be adopted by ordinance. They must also follow specific guidelines for required elements. And, a first for any state, greenhouse gas emissions must be measured and guidelines adopted to reduce these emissions in the areas of housing, land use, economic development, and transportation.

Thanks to Lora Lucero, Esq., AICP and Ken Hughes from New Mexico for forwarding this information.

By: Patty Salkin on September 10, 2007
at 11:59 pm

Leave a response






Your response:

Categories