Environmental Sustainability Council

Falls Church Environmental Sustainability Council Meeting June 15, 2017, 7:30-9:30 PM, Dogwood Room, City Hall Minutes 1. Call to Order Members: Cory Firestone Weiss (Chair), Thomas Cash, Andy Young, Peter Oppenheimer, Katie Deal (student member), Philip Skotte, Jon Ward, Dan Sze (City Council Liaison), Kate Walker (Staff Liaison & Environmental Programs Coordinator) Invited speakers: Chris McGough (CFC Solid Waste Programs Coordinator) , Jason Widstrom (CFC Principal Engineer), Carly Aubrey (CFC Senior Planner), John Tesner (CFC Tree Commission), Joan Kelsch (Arlington Green Building Program Manager) Public: Stephanie Dorsey, Aidan Graffam, Julie Harrison, James Trout, Theresa Twiford, Bob Young 2. Public Comment Stephanie Dorsey expressed concern with certain aspects of the proposed Railroad Cottage development and indicated her interest in hearing ESC views. 3. Approval of the Minutes (May 18th) Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed to without objection. 4. Development Review a. Railroad Cottages. A 5-person invited panel of speakers compared the potential environmental impact of development by right (i.e., 4 houses) with the proposed development under the City’s Cottage Housing Ordinance (10 cottage units plus one house). i. Carly Aubrey – provided a brief summary of the project, noting that a special exception is required for the Cottage proposal and highlighting environmentally beneficial aspects of the proposal, such as pervious paving, geothermal energy, and building to an “Earthcraft Gold” standard. ii. Jason Widstrom – discussed stormwater impacts, including limitations on site run-off and on-site water detention requirements.  iii. John Tesner – noted that regardless of development option selected, City code requires 20% canopy coverage over 10 years. Size and type of plantings may differ between the two options. iv. Jon Ward – briefed on energy consumption and GHG emissions of the two alternatives. All other things being equal, amount of energy consumed to heat/cool the cottages would be an estimated 16% less than for four houses. Cottages built to an “Earthcraft Gold” standard would likely result in an energy reduction of up to 30% over four houses. v. Chris McGough – addressed the potential solid waste generation impacts of the two alternatives. More people generate more waste, so the Railroad Cottage development would likely generate more waste. Unclear what the difference would be in terms of construction-related waste generation. ESC members posed a number of questions to the panel relating to stormwater impacts, standing water issues, native plants, and maintenance of pervious pavers and solar panels, among others. The ESC concluded that it supported the project. Based on input from City staff and Council members, the ESC determined that, while in several respects the environmental impact of the proposed cottage development would be similar to that of four by-right houses, the greenhouse gas emissions of the cottage development would be significantly lower. b. How should the ESC engage in development reviews going forward? There was general support for the panel approach utilized at this meeting and a recognition of the benefit conferred by the presence of both members of the public and the developer. 5. Information Items a. Staff updates: on fee-based food composting program, commercial solid waste recycling, Paris Climate Agreement withdrawal response, Operation Earthwatch, Chesapeake Bay Awareness Month b. ESC member updates: 6 student members this year 6. Arlington Green Building Policy Joan Kelsch, Arlington’s Green Building Program Manager, presented on the County’s groundbreaking program, its genesis, growth, amendment, and current status. In short, the program allows developers to build at a higher density in exchange for incorporating “green” aspects that go above applicable requirements. 7. Next Meeting Thursday, July 20, 2017, Dogwood Room, City Hall Minutes: Andy Young Minutes prepared by Peter Oppenheimer