Although he wants the County Council to approve his "green" building legislation next week, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman might have to wait until fall.
The County Council is to meet again today for an unusual second work-session discussion on the five-piece package of bills and resolutions. But despite an Ulman administration fact sheet debunking nine "myths" about the green legislation, council members seemed divided and uncertain after a long discussion Monday evening on the complex legislation. The green-buildings term is a shorthand way of describing buildings that are environmentally friendly.
All five council members say they favor the green-building concept, but with a deadline of 2 p.m. tomorrow for filing amendments, it is unclear if the issue will be voted on Monday or delayed. The council does not meet in August, so if the bills are tabled, members could vote on the measures in September or delay them again until October, said council administrator Sheila Tolliver.
The package would offer commercial builders property tax breaks up to 75 percent for five years for buildings that meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver, gold or platinum standards. It requires a minimum LEED certification -- one level below silver -- for commercial buildings of 20,000 square feet or more. Builders objected, saying they don't like mandates, and that costs are proportionately higher for small buildings. Ulman quickly said he would change the minimum size to 50,000 square feet or more.
"Most business people have ingrained in their DNA [opposition to] government mandates. It's just the way we are," Cole Schnorf, a partner in Manekin, one of the county's most active office builders and management firms, told the council. Other issues involve a required bond to guarantee compliance and how to properly incorporate LEED standards into county law. The Ulman administration is working on amendments on both issues.
A second bill would require any building constructed with at least 30 percent county money to at least meet silver LEED standards.
The other measures would set residential environmental standards and alter the allocation system the county uses to restrict how many homes can be built annually in each area.
Ulman would take 100 of the 250 allocations from the rural western county and allow builders countywide to compete for them as green residential developments. Landowners, builders and council members have objected that the idea would change the development rules. They advocate allowing 50 or 100 more homes next year for Ulman's purpose.
