The Howard County Council will reconsider the green neighborhoods checklist, which was tabled in July for more work.
The checklist outlines the criteria builders must meet to qualify for a green neighborhood allocation, which is a portion of housing set aside as an incentive to achieving environmentally friendly development techniques.
A residential development must score 90 out of 167 points, or 55 percent, on the green neighborhood site portion of the green neighborhood checklist. For example, points are granted for pedestrian-oriented and transit-oriented development, protection of wetlands with buffers, and use of recycled materials.
To get a building permit, a project must score 46 out of 84 points, 55 percent, on the green neighborhood home part of the checklist. Points here are granted for use of photovoltaic panels, onsite energy generation and recycled materials.
In the new checklist, the land and building are considered separately. Previously, the score combined the land and building components.
