City Beat: City policy sets green-building example

Springfield City Council on Feb. 25 approved a green-building policy for all new city-owned buildings.

The policy requires that any new building built by the city must be certified at the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver level for new construction. Additional requirements also are in place for energy efficiency, water use and construction waste management.

The policy also states that any city-owned remodeling project must use Energy Star equipment whenever possible.

“The reason we’re doing this is the tremendous payoff over the life of the building,” Councilman Dan Chiles said, noting that the policy also requires that green-building techniques must pay for themselves in 10 years.

The LEED certification requirement is a change from the original suggested policy, which required new construction to achieve enough points to be certified but not go through the actual certification process. The U.S. Green Building Council estimates that LEED Silver certification adds about 2 percent to construction costs.

Councilwoman Mary Collette, who chairs the Community Involvement Committee that helped develop the policy, said the city can act as an example for others.

“There’s no mandate for anyone in the private sector in this resolution, but we feel like when people see the benefits and the gains of green and sustainable projects, it sends the right message to the community,” she said.

BKD agreement

Council heard first reading on a development agreement between the city and 910 Springfield LLC, a corporation set up by Kansas City developer Opus Northwest LLC.

Opus plans to build a headquarters for BKD LLP on land that is currently part of the parking lot for John Q. Hammons’ University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center.

Under the terms of the agreement, Hammons would sell the property to Opus, which would then begin construction no later than Sept. 20. The firm would have 16 months to complete the project. Spaces in the Jordan Valley Car Park would be made available at no cost to BKD once the building is complete.

The agreement also spells out possible tax abatement for the developer; 100 percent of the property tax would be abated for the first 10 years and 50 percent would be abated for the next 15 years. If Opus designs the building to meet LEED Silver standards, the abatement during the last 15 years would increase to 75 percent.

Opus also would make payments in lieu of taxes for the first 10 years to the city based on the assessed value of the office building land prior to development.

Springfield Economic Development Director Mary Lilly Smith said the project should have a positive financial impact on the city, even with the tax abatements.

“The investment that they are making downtown will provide even more incentive for more office users to locate downtown – maybe some who have moved out will be moving back,” she said.

Council is expected to vote on the agreement March 10.

Also on the agenda

Council approved an internal auditor position for the city. The auditor, cited as a need in State Auditor Susan Montee’s December audit of the city, would be paid up to $80,000 a year, would report directly to the council’s Finance and Administration Committee and would be in charge of handling the city’s response to Montee’s other recommendations, as well as auditing city departments’ cash transactions and monthly bank statements. The position should be filled by April.

Council also approved rezoning for a three-acre tract on the northeast corner of Chestnut Expressway and National Avenue. The property is owned by Springfield developer Mark Gardner of G2 LLC, who plans to build a retail center on the site.[[In-content Ad]]