Body
Department of Community Development
Reference: Elements @ Prairie Center Apartments Sustainability Agreement
To: Mayor Richard N. McLean and Members of City Council
Through: Manuel Esquibel, City Manager
Prepared By: Cathy Sexton, Associate City Planner
Date Prepared: October 12, 2015
PURPOSE
To review and consider a Resolution to approve a Sustainability Agreement for the development to be known as the Elements @ Prairie Center Apartment Project (“the Development”).
SUMMARY
The applicant, David Pretzler with Prairie Center Apartments, L.L.C, is proposing to develop an apartment project, known as the Elements @ Prairie Center Apartment Project (the “Development”), to be located on Lot 2 of Prairie Center Village V Subdivision, Filing No. 1, which is approximately 15.02 acres and is currently owned by THF Prairie Center Development, L.L.C. The Development will consist of twelve, 3-story buildings of multi-family housing, and each building will contain 24 units for a total of 288 units, ranging from 716-1214 square feet.
There are certain sustainable elements that will be integrated into the Development with the goal of reducing energy demands and water consumption. The applicant is proposing to reduce the water demands up to 45% and sewer demands up to 34% through the use of low flow plumbing fixtures, energy star efficient appliances, and xeric landscaping. Additionally, the development will include a geothermal system for heating and cooling; advanced framing and insulation techniques with tight building envelopes to further reduce the demand for heating and cooling of the building; and installation of conduit and junction box for the future installation of solar panels.
The Sustainability Agreement addresses the City of Brighton’s support for incorporating the above sustainable measures by committing to certain fee and water dedication reductions, and provides a specific formula for evaluating the purported water/sewer savings over the life of the project, including the imposition of a surcharge and repayment of the water dedication credit if usages exceed the design baseline established by the Developer. The Agreement also outlines the following fee reductions based on the justification provided for the sustainable measures:
A. Building permit fees with a 50% reduction.
B. Plan check fee charged at actual cost of consultant and in-house plan review, including administrative costs.
C. Use Tax charged at full at time of permit issuance, with a 50% reimbursement when the geothermal loop is installed.
D. Water Plant Investment fee with a 45% reduction, based on the overall water savings percentage.
E. Water Plant Investment fee with a $153,703.00 credit for excess water dedication.
F. Sewer Plant Investment fee (for City of Brighton fee portion only and excludes Metro Wastewater Reclamation District fees) with a 34% reduction, based on projected water savings for wastewater usage.
G. Community Park Impact Fee with a $101,500 fee reduction for excess open space dedication.
In addition to the explanation and justification of sustainable measures and fee reductions for the Development, the Sustainability Agreement also summarizes the improvements required to be completed by the Developer, such as the design of landscaping along the right-of-way, design of Phase 1 of the trail along the eastern side of the Development, and the design and construction of Phase 1 of the Neighborhood Park, as required in the Prairie Center Village V Subdivision, Filing No. 1 Development Agreement.
The applicant was also involved in the Solaire apartment project that was completed in 2014. The Solaire project was the pilot project for fee incentives for sustainable development and incorporated the same sustainable measures as this Development.
STAFF ANALYSIS
The Sustainability Agreement describes the sustainable measures included in the development of the Elements @ Prairie Center Apartment Project with applicable justification to provide certain fee reductions for the reduced energy and water consumption. The Agreement also provides for surcharges and the reimbursement of certain credits if the Development is not meeting the purported reduction in water usage. The recently constructed Solarie apartment project is fully or close to being fully occupied and there remains a demand for multi-family housing. Staff finds the Sustainability Agreement to be consistent with the City’s goal to encourage sustainability as a priority in development.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff has reviewed the draft agreement and finds that it will work towards mutual goals of the property owner and the City to encourage the development of projects that incorporate sustainability measures. Therefore, a draft Resolution of approval has been attached for the City Council’s consideration.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL’S CONSIDERATION
• Approve the Resolution with attachments as drafted
• Approve the Resolution with attachments (draft agreement) with specific changes or conditions
• Deny the Resolution as drafted
ATTACHMENTS
• Vicinity map
• Draft Resolution with Attachments (including the draft Sustainability Agreement)