§ 85-847. Green landscaping and design standards.

A. 

Building orientation shall reduce energy consumption as follows:

(1) 

All buildings shall be oriented for rooftop solar energy installation to provide the best opportunities for photovoltaic energy production and passive solar.

(a) 

A minimum of 75% of all proposed buildings shall be designed so that the longer dimension of each building is within 15% of geographical south. A minimum of 50% of the roof area of all such buildings shall be facing within 15° of geographical south.

(b) 

Design and orient the project buildings to have 50% of the roof area to be southerly facing within 15° of south facing, oriented for solar applications; or

(c) 

In the event other equivalent alternative design practices are proposed to meet the above energy-efficiency goals, the Planning Board shall determine if said alternative design practices meet the goals and may relieve requirements A(1)(a) and/or A(1)(b) above, subject to conditions as may be imposed by said Board.

(2) 

Minimize shading of south-, west- and east-facing surfaces in the heating season and maximize exterior shading of south-, east-, and west-facing vertical surfaces in the cooling season.

B. 

Soil management shall conserve natural resources by:

(1) 

Implementing an erosion control plan during construction; and

(2) 

Implementing permanent erosion and conservation methods.

(3) 

Implementing construction methods to reduce and mitigate soil compaction prior to landscape installation.

C. 

Irrigation shall conserve natural resources through the use of water conservation methods, including:

(1) 

Drip irrigation on all buffer areas and shrub plantings; and

(2) 

Automatic timers, rain sensors and moisture meters.

D. 

Drainage shall conserve natural resources by: The following supplementary systems shall be designed and constructed in accordance with NYS Stormwater Management Design Manual, Chapter 5.

(1) 

Installation of rain gardens, vegetated swales and bioretention areas. The area of these features shall be calculated as meeting the minimum natural area and/or landscaping requirements; and/or

(2) 

The installation of permeable pavements; and/or

(3) 

The use of rain catchment systems.

E. 

Landscape and plant selection shall reduce water usage and maintenance by:

(1) 

Selecting plants which are drought-tolerant, native and adapted species, as included in Figure 5-2, and 50% of all species shall meet said criteria; and/or

Editor's Note: Figure 5-2 is included as an attachment to this chapter.

(2) 

Preserving plant communities of native plants existing on site; and/or

(3) 

Installing or using vegetation to minimize building cooling requirements; and/or

(4) 

Installing or using vegetation to reduce building heating requirements; and/or

(5) 

The use of small-leafed trees and evergreen trees to reduce maintenance; and/or

(6) 

Reducing urban heat island effects through the planting of parking lot trees to shade paved areas.