LEED please

Back on Sept 30, 2010, a member of the Salem Planning Board made a preference to have a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified project.  This seems impossible because the location of the project does not meet the checklist of LEED's Site Selection regarding loss of undeveloped land and wetland, including loss of open space, wildlife habitat, issues of storm water discharge, and so forth.

The planning board member, by this statement, highly expresses a lack of knowledge of the site and project details, to which a judgement was placed upon.


Below is a copy from the meeting minutes w/links to LEED info.

Salem Planning Board
Minutes of Meeting
September 30, 2010
http://salem.com/Pages/SalemMA_PlanMin/2010Minutes/S02CEF103

Copy from meeting minutes (if link breaks above):
"Helen Sides wanted to hear more about sustainability and asked if Lowe’s would receive LEED certification.  Rob Jess said no, but it would meet many LEED requirements nonetheless without undergoing certification; Ms. Sides expressed her preference that it be LEED certified, or at least the best possible green design that a Lowe’s can be."  

LEED reference: (copy)
Sustainable Sites
"Site selection and development are important components of a building’s sustainability. The Sustainable Sites category discourages development on previously undeveloped land; seeks to minimize a building's impact on ecosystems and waterways; encourages regionally appropriate landscaping; rewards smart transportation choices; controls stormwater runoff; and promotes reduction of erosion, light pollution, heat island effect and construction-related pollution." http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1989

LEED checklist:
http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=1095