Howard County Council passes eco-friendly bills

The Baltimore Sun

After weeks of debate, the Howard County Council unanimously approved yesterday an amended package of Ulman administration legislation intended to give environmentally friendly development a strong push.

"I believe this county moved forward dramatically," County Executive Ken Ulman said after the vote. Greg Fox, the five-member council's lone Republican, disagreed, saying, "It was gutted to the point where it was responsible." Fox earlier tried to have the package tabled, saying the council needed more time to consider the complex legislation.

In addition, the council voted, 4-1, to approve a living-wage bill requiring contractors with more than five workers and doing at least $100,000 in county government business to pay a minimum wage of $12.41 an hour.

The rate set for Central Maryland in a similar state law enacted this year is $11.30 an hour.

Council Chairman Calvin Ball, an east Columbia Democrat and the bill's main sponsor, said it likely would benefit contract janitorial workers and cost the county about $100,000 a year. Fox voted against it.

Democrat Ulman has adopted an aggressive environmental agenda, pushing initiatives in recycling, government use of hybrid vehicles, experimentation with solar power, and "green" building design.

He praised the council's votes, despite amendments to which he agreed removing requirements that commercial buildings of 50,000 square feet or larger be certified by at least minimal Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards, and that builders be bonded to guarantee it - both items business leaders opposed.

Ulman agreed to eliminate the bond and certification requirements to get a unanimous vote, arguing that because the measure requires developers to apply for certification and go through a long evaluation process, virtually every building will qualify for certification anyway.

"It's a reasonable starting place. I don't feel it was gutted," Courtney Watson, an Ellicott City Democrat, said of the environmental package.

The bills approved yesterday take effect in 11 months. They are to create incentives for commercial and residential green development. One measure would allow commercial developers to qualify for property tax credits up to 75 percent for up to five years if they seek certification at various levels of LEED standards. Another bill would require developers to seek minimal LEED certification for buildings of 50,000 square feet or more. Any county government building of more than 10,000 square feet must be LEED certified. Ulman has said that although some LEED-certified buildings have been constructed in the county, he wants to make Howard a leader in the field.

Another bill would use Howard's growth management system to create the enticement of quicker approvals for residential builders with green projects. County officials said they want several model residential projects built as soon as possible.

larry.carson@baltsun.com

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