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Fairfield to update plans for future

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By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer 8:01 PM Sunday, June 21, 2009

FAIRFIELD — Fairfield leaders will add a new chapter in planning the city’s future — sustainability.

The development services staff is looking to update the city’s comprehensive plan, a working document to provide a plan for the city’s future.

Part of that update is a new sustainability chapter.

Fairfield Planning Manager Erin Donovan said sustainability is being able to meet present community needs without compromising the needs of future generations.

“Some people think it’s just the environment, but it also entails issues related to the economy, social equity and the interrelatedness of all three,” Donovan said to council members this month. “Basically, it’s being good stewards so our future residents can have the same opportunities and to experience the same benefits that we do.”

In the update, Donovan said factors to be addressed include air quality and climate change, community health and safety, energy, conservation and efficiency and recycling.

Green construction will also be addressed, she said. Other jurisdictions around the country have incorporated within their codes the rating system for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification.

“What some people do in order to encourage developers, builders to build green houses, other jurisdictions have put in their development code certain incentives,” Donovan said. “We have no intention at this point of putting anything in the code, that’s why we’re presenting it to council.”

She also said the city will compare benefits of fuel-efficient vehicles compared to its fleet. The city recently purchased a hybrid for its development services department.

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