Summary of New Sustainable Development Standards

The overall sustainable development program is contained within Article 13 of the Lakewood Zoning Ordinance, which was previously only the Enhanced Development Menu. The amendments expanded Article 13 to include a Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program, supplemental standards for Construction & Demolition waste recycling, and reserved space for a future benchmarking and performance standard for existing buildings.

The Enhanced Development Menu is a point-based menu designed to be flexible and context-specific, allowing for a wide variety of items to be implemented within a development site that holistically promote city goals. Examples of these items range from energy efficiency and renewable energy sources to local food access and public art.

The Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program has been designed to specifically capture the impact that all developments have on air quality and emissions. These types of impacts cannot be seen and do not stay within the confines of a single property. Mitigation of these impacts is essential for the community to reach its climate goals and commitments.

The Construction & Demolition Waste Recycling Supplemental Standards have been developed to help contractors figure out logistics and knowledge of C&D recycling to further compliance with the existing waste diversion requirements adopted in the building code.

Down the road, a future Benchmarking Program would provide a way to compare buildings within the city, increase efficiency, and ensure long-term compliance with the city’s climate commitments. This part of the Sustainable Development framework is envisioned within 3-5 years, following implementation of the statewide benchmarking legislation which passed last year.