tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182743756361189626.post6511548254830828835..comments2023-09-23T09:32:32.184-04:00Comments on Real Life LEED: LEED-ND Study Examines Entire Metro AreaJoel McKellarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06556519233893181810noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2182743756361189626.post-38878743851549922832010-10-06T11:42:03.617-04:002010-10-06T11:42:03.617-04:00Thanks so much for the thoughtful post. LEED-ND i...Thanks so much for the thoughtful post. LEED-ND is not a good system, nor should it be, for examining entire communities like Key West or Pienza. It is best applied at the neighborhood scale, as its name implies.<br /><br />While there may be a rare leapfrog development that, on balance, is good for the environment, it is nearly impossible to design a national system that allows them to qualify without also allowing others in.<br /><br />Research shows that even the best-designed leapfrog developments have driving rates far above their regional averages. This is the case even if they have substantial internal town centers.<br /><br />LEED-ND allows such developments to qualify if they have transit, or even planned transit committed to come on line at 50% occupancy; or if they are in the general vicinity of existing development amounting to at least 5 indicators (such as schools, churches, convenience stores and so on) within a quarter mile or 7 such indicators within a half mile. A development that is adjacent and connected to other good development may also qualify. That seems like a reasonable compromise to me.Kaid Benfieldhttp://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/noreply@blogger.com