By Dyan Backe, AICP - Hillsborough County Planning and Growth Management

Green development is an up-and-coming national trend involving a large amount of commercial investment.  Recently, the Bank of America announced a $20 billion green initiative which includes a $1.4 billion commitment to certify new construction facilities and banking centers nationwide under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Design) certification process.  This trend is starting to build momentum in the Tampa Bay region.  Green development’s focus on the conservation of key resources (energy, water, building materials) and the employee retention/health benefits (use of low VOC paint, natural light) of green development are causing many local developers to consider building green.  The CEO of JMC Communities, J. Michael Cheezem, is seeking LEED certification for his latest development, the Sandpearl Resort, currently under construction in Clearwater Beach.  The development has many green features including, preferred parking spaces for hybrid electric cars, geothermal heating for the pool, and a responsive air-conditioning system (turns off when a guest leaves a room or opens a sliding-glass door). 

In order to foster green development in the region, local governments are looking for ways to provide incentives to developers.  On March 5^th at the Tampa Bay Builder’s Associations’ (TBBA) Meeting, Mike Allgire (Manager-Hillsborough County, Building Dept) offered an incentive to encourage Hillsborough County developers to build green subdivisions.  Allgire has proposed fast-track residential permitting for homes that would be classified as “green” based on meeting a checklist of increased efficiency, sustainable development criteria.  Presently, a residential building permit can be obtained in 14-25 business days depending on volume.  Under Allgire’s initiative, a building permit would be issued within 5 business days.

Allgire also noted in his presentation that discussions are under way in Hillsborough County for consideration of refunds/rebates to further encourage green development.  In addition, Hillsborough County’s Development Review Procedures Manual is in the process of revision to permit an expedited review of site development plans (for both residential and commercial projects).  It is also likely that commercial fast-track building permitting will be coming to Hillsborough County in the future.

These initiatives are the result of recognition by the development community, represented by the TBBA, that green building is coming to Hillsborough County and that the Association and County regulators should partner up as advocates of the long-term sustainable building pattern.  In Florida, a project may be certified as “green” through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) criteria, by meeting the Florida Green Building Coalition’s Green Building Standards, or through Audubon International’s development program.  In several jurisdictions throughout the U.S., (Washington D.C., Pasadena, CA, and Montgomery County, MD., to name a few,) legislation has been passed to require LEED compliance for either all new development or for certain types of development.  In Southern Hillsborough County, Newland Communities is presently developing a project, Waterset, which is proposed to have a green welcome center/clubhouse and residences.  The Waterset project could very well be the first to take advantage of Hillsborough County’s green residential fast-track permit process.

Nohl Crest Homes, an Oldsmar-based builder has opened a model in FishHawk Ranch's Garden District that has been certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition.  Realizing that “green building” is no longer just a niche market, this year most of the homes the company builds will be green.   By making structures energy efficient, paying attention to how the site and land are maintained, water efficiency, indoor air quality, material selection, how the construction process is handled and the use of passive design Nohl Crest became the first builder certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition in the northern Tampa Bay region. 

Other notable green projects in Hillsborough County include the $15.9 million Hillsborough Community College SouthShore Center and Walker Brand Communications new 8,400 square-foot headquarters. HCC’s new campus includes a LEED-compliant 57,000-square-foot building in Ruskin.  HCC predicts it will spend about 24 percent less on energy costs for the green building than it would cost for a traditional building when the building open next year.   Energy-saving features will include a rooftop basin to collect water, heating systems built into the floor, and a design that brings as much natural light as possible into the building.

Sarasota County has been at the forefront in providing incentives for green development by reducing review time and permitting fees for green projects and by mandating that all future public construction projects be LEED certified.  Additionally, the County has proposed a public recognition and green building awards program for private developers.  

For more information regarding the green residential fast-track permit process in Hillsborough County, contact Mike Allgire (Manager-Permits, Intake, Processing/Building Department) at (813) 307-4500.  For more information regarding the expedited review of green site development review projects, contact Dyan Backe (Senior Planner, Planning and Growth Management) at (813)307-4507.