'Green Building Code' Could Be Coming to Neighboring Village

Input on Hastings-on-Hudson's latest iteration of the Green Building Code was positive, albeit limited, on Tuesday as the Board of Trustees called to order a public hearing on the proposed local law.

"We have gotten input in trickles, but no major floods, and certainly no objections," Mayor Peter Swiderski commented.

The 20-page proposal would hold residential and commercial tenants alike to a greener standard when building and improving in the village.

The document's Intent states, "The intent of this Green Building Code is to minimize short-term and long-term negative impacts on the environment; reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate human impact on the climate; and provide owners and occupants with economic benefits from energy and water savings, use of renewable energy sources and sustainable building products and practices."

The law, if enacted, would apply to any project that requires a building permit.

View the latest draft of the proposal here.

Among the areas touched upon in the document—stormwater management, plants (native vs. invasive, with the former being encouraged), the inclusion of bicycle racks, high efficiency equipment that uses less energy and the use of paints that do not exceed a volatile organic compound percentage standard.

At Tuesday's public hearing, resident John Gonder asked how the village will be able to enforce the law's recommendations, including the types of paint used.

Sharon Kivowitz, who was involved in creating the proposal, explained that the Building Department will "maintain a list of applicable codings" that contractors can reference. She added the process might require anyone seeking a building permit to show receipts verifying approved types of paint, for example, were purchased.

Overall, Gonder said of the law, "I'm for it."

Michael Lewis also told the board, "I think it's a great code," acknowledging the amount of work that went into preparing the document.

He suggested the Building Department could also keep on-hand lists of approved and non-approved items, including plants.

This way, homeowners and contractors wouldn't have to research native plants for themselves, which "would be "a terrific advantage," he suggested.

In a summer update, Swiderski called the proposal "a first-of-its kind in the country," adding, "This is a major initiative that has taken years to get to this point and will give the town a real reason to be proud of the leadership it shows on this issue."

Because Tuesday's hearing conflicted with the library's Climate Shift in Your Backyard event, the Board agreed to adjourn the public hearing to its next meeting, October 1.