Landmark commission embraces green initiatives

The Historic Landmark Commission is embracing the environmentalist zeal gripping City Hall, launching a set of policy recommendations last week aimed at tackling preservation goals from a sustainability angle.

The recommendation, authored by Commissioner JuanRaymon Rubio, outlines a number of strategies to tackle the emissions and waste wrought by building demolitions, including greater incentives for relocation and material salvaging practices. Commissioners endorsed the suggestions in a unanimous vote, with hopes such policies may be included in Council’s forthcoming Environmental Investment Plan.

Moves toward a new Environmental Investment Plan date back to February, when Council passed a resolution calling for a more aggressive approach to reach Austin’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Since then, the city’s Joint Sustainability Committee has led the charge on a number of discussions refining policy ideas, with plans to vote on a final set of recommendations later this month.

“Noticeably absent from these conversations has been anything associated with preservation,” Rubio said. “I thought this was a great opportunity to highlight staff work thus far on our Preservation Plan, because the plan does have a section on sustainability measures. … Hopefully, we can remind Council and the Sustainability Committee of ways that preservation can help us achieve those sustainability goals.”

Among the proposed measures are a number of incentives for preservation and relocation, including raising fees for demolition permits and streamlining the conversion process between demolition and relocation permits. Currently, fees paid in the demolition permitting process do not apply toward remodel and relocation permits if building owners change their mind.

The recommendation also asks Council to explore more sustainable deconstruction and material salvaging practices. Commissioners hope such measures can reduce landfill waste and encourage recycling.

Council is slated to hold a public hearing on the Environmental Investment Plan sometime next month. In the meantime, opinionated readers can share their own thoughts with the city’s Joint Sustainability Committee here.

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