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LEED for Weeds: New Program Will Rate Green Landscapes
A coalition formed by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower… | Posted in New West Blog
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Carly Fiorina for….What Did You Say?
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Missoula Pedestrian Ordinance May Increase Density of Sidewalk Sprawlers
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Property Tax Go-Round: Schweitzer Nixes Request for Special Session
A request by the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors calling for a special session of… | Posted in Missoula
With the next re-authorization of the Farm Bill looming in 2012, it's critical to get this program rolling to not only keep it alive as sausage making begins again but to encourage increased funding in the next cycle.
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A coalition formed by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the United States Botanic Garden has created the nations first rating system for environmentally sensitive landscapes.
As LEED has done for buildings and Energy Star has done for appliances, the Sustainable Sites Initiatives will do for outside spaces. The groups describe the program like this: “Voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices.”
Nancy Somerville, Executive Vice President and CEO of ASLA said in a press release on the project, “While carbon-neutral performance remains the holy grail for green buildings, sustainable landscapes move beyond a do-no-harm approach. Landscapes sequester carbon, clean the air and water, increase energy efficiency, restore habitats and ultimately give back through significant economic, social and environmental benefits never fully measured until now.”
According to a USA Today story, “The rating will measure several criteria. They may include planting trees in a parking lot or paving with permeable materials to minimize heat and storm-water runoff. Or landscaping with native plants to reduce maintenance, irrigation and use of pesticides.”
Click here for that story and here for more information from the program itself.
BLOGVERTORIAL
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COMMUNITY BLOGGERS
The Sandpoint City Council hit a hot button last year when it proposed a temporary restriction on the construction of drive-through fast-food places. Council members wanted some time to consider how this kind of land use fit with the newly minted Comprehensive Plan, and the city had sprouted a drive-through Jack-in-the-Box while the plan was being cogitated over. Shortly thereafter, a corrugated metal farm shed turned up next to Highway 2 that turned out to be a drive-through convenience store.
After the ban was passed, certain members of the community vehemently voiced their disapproval, and one owner of a restaurant that had both drive-through and sit-down options posted a notice on the order counter suggesting that the city planning director go back to where he came from, inspiring some other community members to dine elsewhere.
