WHEREAS, since 2010, Pittsfield Township’s Master Plan has promoted environmental sustainability through, among other things, establishment of a multimodal transportation network; infill and mixed-use, dense development; agricultural and open-space preservation; installation of green infrastructure; and investment in renewable energy; and 

WHEREAS, with the adoption of the Preservation Plan in 2016 and subsequent adoption of the Sustainability Blueprint in March 2020, the Board of Trustees has committed to moving much more aggressively on initiatives and programs with the goal of further improving the water, air, and soil quality of our community; and

WHEREAS, the Sustainability Blueprint, in particular, outlines specifics steps to implement over the next five years to achieve this goal; and

WHEREAS, one of those steps is to work with the Planning Commission to “…provide for Ordinances that, among other things,: ( a) Require developers to protect existing natural features, especially old growth trees; ( b) Require developers to conduct a carbon emissions study to meet low emission standards; ( c) Reduce parking space requirements with a certain ratio assigned for electric and autonomous vehicles; ( d) Incentivize developers to add/ preserve green space; ( e) Require developers to build to `green' standards including installation of solar panels and provision of solar-ready units”; and

WHEREAS, the Pittsfield Charter Township Board of Trustees is already in the process of approving the Open Space Preservation Development Option that will maximize protection of natural features and open/green spaces along with encourage green building standards for applicable parcels; and 

WHEREAS, our goal of improving the water, air, and soil quality for all in our community would not be achieved if implemented on a case-by-case basis, which implies that similar requirements and considerations be made for all new and re- developments, as feasible and appropriate;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Pittsfield Charter Township Board of Trustees strongly urges and recommends that the Planning Commission take into account the following criteria during the review and approval process for all new and re- developments henceforth: 

1. Green building construction including but not limited to LEED certification or practices, “solar ready” construction standards, “EV Ready” and/or autonomous vehicle parking locations (either for each unit or at the community level)
2. “Community” green features, including but not limited to, community compost facilities, community solar and/or geothermal energy harvesting capabilities, green infrastructure, parking lot green infrastructure, rainwater management for irrigation of greenspaces, and “smart lighting” of sidewalks/community spaces
3. Require soil testing to determine feasibility of installing green infrastructure at and green building materials for parking lots
4. Incentivize gas-free buildings for new construction
5. Rely on carbon-emission studies to make decisions in cases requiring either the elimination or significant reduction of existing natural features, especially old growth trees, and open/green spaces
6. Incentivize investment in Pittsfield Township’s non-motorized infrastructure to connect new and re-developments with adjacent land uses, including but not limited to, residential, recreational, commercial, and retail
7. Require, as applicable, inclusion and integration of greenspaces and greenscapes such as vertical gardens, tree canopies, art installations, and green roofs into building (re)design

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Pittsfield Township Board of Trustees expresses both its gratitude and its full support to the Planning Commission in their continued efforts to promote equitable sustainability in Pittsfield Township.