Sustainability Plan

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Consultation has concluded

WHY A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN?

The City developed its first Sustainability Plan. The Sustainability Plan serves as a guide for City of Lafayette leadership, residents and businesses on sustainability practices, to improve the quality of life, promote good stewardship of the environment, and promote sound long-term financial management.

The Sustainability Plan contains goals, strategies, specific actions, and measurable targets on energy efficiency and renewable energy, waste reduction, and green and healthy buildings. Common themes across these topics are outreach and education and equity and inclusion.

While sustainability encompasses a broad range of topics, the city has chosen to focus its efforts and investment on a select few rather than dilute its resources on many. Further, this plan is aligned with other city planning efforts, including the Comprehensive Plan, Parks, Recreation, Open Space (PROS) Master Plan, and the Preservation Master Plan without duplicating efforts and topic areas.

WHY A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN?

The City developed its first Sustainability Plan. The Sustainability Plan serves as a guide for City of Lafayette leadership, residents and businesses on sustainability practices, to improve the quality of life, promote good stewardship of the environment, and promote sound long-term financial management.

The Sustainability Plan contains goals, strategies, specific actions, and measurable targets on energy efficiency and renewable energy, waste reduction, and green and healthy buildings. Common themes across these topics are outreach and education and equity and inclusion.

While sustainability encompasses a broad range of topics, the city has chosen to focus its efforts and investment on a select few rather than dilute its resources on many. Further, this plan is aligned with other city planning efforts, including the Comprehensive Plan, Parks, Recreation, Open Space (PROS) Master Plan, and the Preservation Master Plan without duplicating efforts and topic areas.

Consultation has concluded

The City of Lafayette is developing its first Sustainability Plan. Do you have questions about the community's sustainability efforts or the Sustainability Plan? Let us know.

  • Share The new mixed use developments that are in and are going up in old town Lafayette all have a shared trash system. Rather than each individual home having to be responsible for their own waste, it is now part of the HOA. This involves a large trash container rather than small individual containers. I would love it if this worked, however these large bins do not promote the sustainable practices that the city is trying to implement. In fact, it promotes illegal dumping, and dumping of things that are against the city rules. Additionally, these new mixed use developments are not solar up-gradable. It is very expensive to upgrade a townhome or condo to use solar after it has been built. The city should be requiring builders to add a little bit of infrastructure to these buildings to allow them to be upgraded to solar later. Things like roof conduit and pathways to the building electrical systems would not be a huge additional expense and it would promote the city's sustainability push by making it easier for new homeowners to upgrade to solar. Why is the city continuing to approve building designs that do not promote the city's drive to be more sustainable? on Facebook Share The new mixed use developments that are in and are going up in old town Lafayette all have a shared trash system. Rather than each individual home having to be responsible for their own waste, it is now part of the HOA. This involves a large trash container rather than small individual containers. I would love it if this worked, however these large bins do not promote the sustainable practices that the city is trying to implement. In fact, it promotes illegal dumping, and dumping of things that are against the city rules. Additionally, these new mixed use developments are not solar up-gradable. It is very expensive to upgrade a townhome or condo to use solar after it has been built. The city should be requiring builders to add a little bit of infrastructure to these buildings to allow them to be upgraded to solar later. Things like roof conduit and pathways to the building electrical systems would not be a huge additional expense and it would promote the city's sustainability push by making it easier for new homeowners to upgrade to solar. Why is the city continuing to approve building designs that do not promote the city's drive to be more sustainable? on Twitter Share The new mixed use developments that are in and are going up in old town Lafayette all have a shared trash system. Rather than each individual home having to be responsible for their own waste, it is now part of the HOA. This involves a large trash container rather than small individual containers. I would love it if this worked, however these large bins do not promote the sustainable practices that the city is trying to implement. In fact, it promotes illegal dumping, and dumping of things that are against the city rules. Additionally, these new mixed use developments are not solar up-gradable. It is very expensive to upgrade a townhome or condo to use solar after it has been built. The city should be requiring builders to add a little bit of infrastructure to these buildings to allow them to be upgraded to solar later. Things like roof conduit and pathways to the building electrical systems would not be a huge additional expense and it would promote the city's sustainability push by making it easier for new homeowners to upgrade to solar. Why is the city continuing to approve building designs that do not promote the city's drive to be more sustainable? on Linkedin Email The new mixed use developments that are in and are going up in old town Lafayette all have a shared trash system. Rather than each individual home having to be responsible for their own waste, it is now part of the HOA. This involves a large trash container rather than small individual containers. I would love it if this worked, however these large bins do not promote the sustainable practices that the city is trying to implement. In fact, it promotes illegal dumping, and dumping of things that are against the city rules. Additionally, these new mixed use developments are not solar up-gradable. It is very expensive to upgrade a townhome or condo to use solar after it has been built. The city should be requiring builders to add a little bit of infrastructure to these buildings to allow them to be upgraded to solar later. Things like roof conduit and pathways to the building electrical systems would not be a huge additional expense and it would promote the city's sustainability push by making it easier for new homeowners to upgrade to solar. Why is the city continuing to approve building designs that do not promote the city's drive to be more sustainable? link

    The new mixed use developments that are in and are going up in old town Lafayette all have a shared trash system. Rather than each individual home having to be responsible for their own waste, it is now part of the HOA. This involves a large trash container rather than small individual containers. I would love it if this worked, however these large bins do not promote the sustainable practices that the city is trying to implement. In fact, it promotes illegal dumping, and dumping of things that are against the city rules. Additionally, these new mixed use developments are not solar up-gradable. It is very expensive to upgrade a townhome or condo to use solar after it has been built. The city should be requiring builders to add a little bit of infrastructure to these buildings to allow them to be upgraded to solar later. Things like roof conduit and pathways to the building electrical systems would not be a huge additional expense and it would promote the city's sustainability push by making it easier for new homeowners to upgrade to solar. Why is the city continuing to approve building designs that do not promote the city's drive to be more sustainable?

    JJ asked over 4 years ago

    Hi JJ,

    The City will be updating our building code and development code next year. We are hoping to add more provisions related to sustainability, including related to trash service. Multifamily buildings present unique challenges that often make individual-bin systems difficult or infeasible. That said, we still hope to find code options that would ensure the availability of recycling and compost service in all new residential construction.

    In regards to solar-ready construction, staff will be presenting a photovoltaic-ready (PV-ready) and electric vehicle-ready (EV-ready) ordinance to City Council within the next couple of months. The ordinance as proposed would ensure that all new residential and commercial structures (some multifamily buildings are considered commercial structures) are PV and EV-ready. Please keep an eye on the Council agenda if you wish to comment during the Council meeting. 

    Thank you for your commitment to a more sustainable Lafayette,

    Tony

  • Share Can you please share what pesticides and other toxic chemicals are being used and how often. Thank You. A report of usage for 2019 would be most helpful. Thank you! on Facebook Share Can you please share what pesticides and other toxic chemicals are being used and how often. Thank You. A report of usage for 2019 would be most helpful. Thank you! on Twitter Share Can you please share what pesticides and other toxic chemicals are being used and how often. Thank You. A report of usage for 2019 would be most helpful. Thank you! on Linkedin Email Can you please share what pesticides and other toxic chemicals are being used and how often. Thank You. A report of usage for 2019 would be most helpful. Thank you! link

    Can you please share what pesticides and other toxic chemicals are being used and how often. Thank You. A report of usage for 2019 would be most helpful. Thank you!

    Suzannah Long asked over 4 years ago

    Hi Suzannah,

    Since this is a project page solely focused on the Sustainability Plan, I'm going to request that you reach out to Ben Mazal (benmazal.lafayette@gmail.com) of our Parks, Recreation, and Open Space department for assistance. He should be able to provide you with more information.

    Thanks,
    Tony

  • Share I am curious if banning the use of toxic pesticides is part of your sustainable plan like the City of Louisville has adopted. on Facebook Share I am curious if banning the use of toxic pesticides is part of your sustainable plan like the City of Louisville has adopted. on Twitter Share I am curious if banning the use of toxic pesticides is part of your sustainable plan like the City of Louisville has adopted. on Linkedin Email I am curious if banning the use of toxic pesticides is part of your sustainable plan like the City of Louisville has adopted. link

    I am curious if banning the use of toxic pesticides is part of your sustainable plan like the City of Louisville has adopted.

    Suzannah Long asked over 4 years ago

    Hello,

    The Sustainability Plan currently has three chapters: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Green Building and Healthy Building, and Waste Reduction and Diversion, so pesticides are outside the scope of the plan. However, the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Department follows integrated management best practices to minimize pesticide use.

    Thank you,
    Tony

  • Share I think trees are an easy answer to many of our environmental issues! Is there any way to get more trees planted in Lafayette? I live in the Trails at Coal Creek neighborhood and would be particularly interested in planting trees where our neighborhood borders 287 to help create noise reduction and also a visual barrier. I would be very interested in helping with planting trees if this is a good option for sustainability in Lafayette! on Facebook Share I think trees are an easy answer to many of our environmental issues! Is there any way to get more trees planted in Lafayette? I live in the Trails at Coal Creek neighborhood and would be particularly interested in planting trees where our neighborhood borders 287 to help create noise reduction and also a visual barrier. I would be very interested in helping with planting trees if this is a good option for sustainability in Lafayette! on Twitter Share I think trees are an easy answer to many of our environmental issues! Is there any way to get more trees planted in Lafayette? I live in the Trails at Coal Creek neighborhood and would be particularly interested in planting trees where our neighborhood borders 287 to help create noise reduction and also a visual barrier. I would be very interested in helping with planting trees if this is a good option for sustainability in Lafayette! on Linkedin Email I think trees are an easy answer to many of our environmental issues! Is there any way to get more trees planted in Lafayette? I live in the Trails at Coal Creek neighborhood and would be particularly interested in planting trees where our neighborhood borders 287 to help create noise reduction and also a visual barrier. I would be very interested in helping with planting trees if this is a good option for sustainability in Lafayette! link

    I think trees are an easy answer to many of our environmental issues! Is there any way to get more trees planted in Lafayette? I live in the Trails at Coal Creek neighborhood and would be particularly interested in planting trees where our neighborhood borders 287 to help create noise reduction and also a visual barrier. I would be very interested in helping with planting trees if this is a good option for sustainability in Lafayette!

    Jill Price asked almost 5 years ago

    Hi Jill,

    Apologies for the delay in replying. Trees are definitely part of the solution. In regards to a particular location, it depends on who owns the property, is the land in an easement, who will pay for trees and planting, will the trees be actively managed, etc. If the land in question is owned by your HOA, I would recommend exploring options with them. We do encourage more tree planting, but due to limited staff capacity, the Sustainability Program does not currently have any projects that actively promote tree planting.

    Please let me know if you have any other questions.

    Thanks,

    Tony