04-07-2025 JDA Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Director Mitchell provided a summary of the waivers to the Sustainability Design Guidelines that Ryan Companies has requested for the Phase 1 development of Outlot A. For each requirement from the Sustainability Design Guidelines, the “Request” is taken from Ryan Companies’ Outlot A Sustainability Summary. Response and Recommendations are from staff and LHB, the JDA consultant. Staff reviewed the four Sustainability Design Guideline requests in further detail noting the applicant would like to delay the decision to pursue LEED certification, would like to substitute the full electrification goal to an operational carbon reduction goal for the project with a target of 65% or greater reduction, the applicant would like to provide a PV- ready roof in lieu of providing onsite renewable energy, and the applicant was requesting to lower the 30% electric vehicle stall requirement for the project to 2%. Director Mitchell explained understanding that this is the first project at RCC and will set a precedent, and that it is especially important to the JDA that development progresses and the vision for Rice Creek Commons is advanced, staff and the consultant recommend that the JDA grants the above-described waivers. A summary of the resulting sustainability recommendation for Phase 1 of Outlot A is: 1. If funds are available after other required sustainable features are implemented, the developer should register the project with LEED v4 and seek Silver certification. 2. The project as proposed will be at least 65% electric (reduced carbon emissions) compared to the typical cost base. The developer should evaluate strategies for Interior Equipment and Process Loads, and the possibility of financial incentives from the IRA to reach further carbon emissions and energy use reduction. This is based on a system that includes ground-source heat exchange and air source heat pumps for the majority of the building with gas for back-up systems. 3. The project will make the rooftop solar/PV-ready. The developer should also evaluate a maximized rooftop PV system based on a solar developer proposal and implement it if it is cost neutral to the developer. 4. The project will provide 4 EV level 2 charges and 4 EV capable spaces. 5. As indicated in their submittal, the project will to meet the Design Guideline for Embodied Carbon Reduction and Reporting of Energy and Water data over time. 6. As originally proposed, this project would have a negative impact on the credits the JDA is seeking to reach LEED for Communities Platinum level, and the overall greenhouse gas (GHG) balance (all-electric/carbon neutral). With the recommendations above, those impacts would be minimized. Director Mitchell explained this extent of waivers is recommended for approval largely because the proposal for this building came in around the same time that the Sustainability Design Guidelines were approved. Future projects will be required to meet the Sustainability Design Guidelines, with waivers granted for justifiable exceptions. Rick Carter, LHB, reviewed the waiver requests in further detail with the JDA. He stated he supported the proposed recommendations and noted he was available for questions or comments.