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Green Building Measures All new residential projects have been encouraged to include green building measures in the de- sign of new homes. Currently, the City utilizes Alameda County Waste Management Author- ity's (ACWMA) Green Points rating as a guide for determining the specific green building measures to be designed imo the home and the resultant "greenness" of the home. The Green Points rating system establishes a minimum of 50 points for a home to be determined to be a "green home" with a minimum of 10 points in each category (Resources, Energy, and IAQ/Health). As conditioned, the applicant would submit a proposed checklist showing which measures are incorporated in the design of the proposed home addition/remodeling in order to meet this pro- posed 10 points in each category to total a 50 point goal. There is staff from both the City and ACWMA available to provide technical assistance to the applicant and future lot purchasers concerning questions they may have about these green building measures and Green Point rating system. In addition to the Green Building measures, the Specific Plan also requires additional energy- efficient requirements for construction within the Specific Plan area. An energy-efficient heat- ing system, cooling system, and lighting are to be used in new construction. Landscaping Specific guidelines for new landscaping in the Plan Area requires the site to be planted in accor- dance with the street tree program; the site landscape concept should be informal, with randomly spaced clusters to establish a visually pleasing transition to the natural surroundings. The pro- posed landscaping plan includes a berm and a mix of both native and non-native plant species in the front yard along Vineyard Avenue. Specifically, the planting plan shows groupings of medium- and large-sized deciduous and ever- green trees planted in a manner that would appear as asymmetrical from Vineyard Avenue. These trees would be mixed with a variety of informal shrubs to form an attractive streetscape along Vineyard Avenue. Additionally, at maturity the trees and shrubs along with the berm would effectively screen the house from Vineyard Avenue. Staff finds that the proposed land- scaping plan is attractive, meets the intent of the Specific Plan, and complements the setting of the lot. The existing eucalyptus trees along the north portion of the lot are protected from removal as conditioned with this approval. The tree have been assessed as valuable screening for the lot and proposed residence from the Shadow Cliff Regional Recreation Area (East Bay Regional Park District) to the north. Staff is also requiring a tree report to be prepared. The report identifies any existing trees ac- cording to diameter, condition, and value and would identify the measures needed to protect Item 6. b., PUD-43 Page 6 of 25 At~ril 7, 2005