Local governments already have the authority to establish administrative policies to fast track green or other development applications.
Fast tracking green development is about removing barriers and encouraging sustainable development that contributes to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and creates healthier communities.
Fast tracking includes streamlining approval processes, removing red tape and moving green development applications to the front of the approval line. Green development is a proposal that includes sustainable elements such as: sites that take advantage of existing infrastructure and transit lines; and structures that conserve energy, water and building materials.
Green developments are proposals which are often based on certain predetermined green standards. Green standards reward developments that consist of: sustainable site locations; consume less energy, water; produce less waste; use sustainable materials and resources; and create healthier communities and building environments.
Local governments can fast track rezoning, development permit and subdivision applications for developments that meet their criteria. Existing local government policies include: fast tracking re-zoning based on predetermined green criteria; prep-application developer/staff approval meetings; and reduced fees for buildings that meet a green standard. The City of Port Coquitlam uses a Sustainability Checklist[1] as part of its development application process and applications that score well on this checklist are fast-tracked through the rezoning and development permit approval process.
Local governments can also fast track building permit applications for green buildings that meet their criteria.
