Lodi's planning manager promotes green thinking

The 220-acre mixed-use, residential, commercial and office project has been selected as part of the United States Green Building Council's pilot program, known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development, or LEED-ND.

Previously, the council certified only individual buildings for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient designs.

The new program is now looking to put their stamp on entire developments, Pirnejad said.

Reynolds Ranch was approved by the Lodi City Council in 2006, by a 3 to 2 vote. It includes an annexation of land south of Harney Lane, an area city leaders have eyed as a greenbelt between Lodi and Stockton.

The project will follow the council's energy-efficient building requirements, which go above and beyond typical building standards.

Reynolds Ranch will be a higher density project than most in the city, with an average of seven units per acre, Pirnejad said.

That emphasis on compact design, plus having jobs built-in to the development with the new Blue Shield office complex, walking and bike trails, a bus connection and housing geared for seniors, sets the development apart from any other in the city, he added.

What is LEED?

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a third party certification program and a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. It judges building performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

For more information on LEED, a rating system offered by the United States Green Building Council, visit www.usgbc.org.

Source: United States Green Building Council

Pirnejad said there was "a lot of excitement" at the conference about the LEED-ND pilot program.

Reynolds Ranch was among just a few developments in the Central Valley chosen for the program, he noted.

The Great Valley Center is a Modesto-based nonprofit that promotes "the economic, social and environmental well-being" of the Central Valley.

Pirnejad said Reynolds Ranch will definitely improve the well-being of Lodi with smart growth principles.

The unique development is planned near Harney Lane just west of Highway 99.

The first part of it — the two-story 160,000 square-foot Blue Shield campus — is now under construction.

A fire station, parks, more than a thousand homes and 350,000 square-feet of retail space have yet to be built.

Contact reporter Chris Nichols at chrisn@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

LF wrote on May 19, 2008 7:59 PM:

" Lodi people are not fond or change it seems. Everytime there is an article that touches on the RR project, the comments are all pretty much the same.
Did you know that not all of the grape fields are being torn out? I noticed that the articles never mention this.
This project can be good for the city of Lodi with the extra revenue coming into the city budget.
Give this one a chance and try to see the positive side of this RR project since it is something that will happen no matter what. Another thing to keep in mind, this one company seems to be planning on bringing in 400 to 600 more jobs to Lodi people. That is a good thing! "

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sam wrote on May 16, 2008 11:41 AM:

" Lodicitizen, there is no greenbelt... no community separator. They are just some lines on Lodi's general plan that mean absolutely nothing. Lodi has no control over that land and does not want to buy it. Lodi cannot afford it.

The pretty green lines were drawn to make lodians who fear Stockton "feel better." "

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sam wrote on May 16, 2008 11:38 AM:

" I was told today the Sutter Gould wants to build a medical center on the corner of West Lane and Harney... where the strawberry stand is.

That would be SWEET. "

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Lodicitizen wrote on May 11, 2008 4:25 PM:

" To the reporter and editor: Check your facts! Virtually all of the discussion and exhibits for the proposed greenbelt showed it starting one-half mile South of Harney Lane, which coincidently is the South boundary of Reynolds Ranch. Its no secret the LNS has been 'gunning' for the Reynolds Ranch project and its developers since the project was first proposed and continuing to the present, and I'm sure the into the future. You're lucky you're not getting sued over the lies and slander you've been printing. "

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Robb wrote on May 10, 2008 7:21 PM:

" Lodi is allot of things... Progressive is NOT one of them.... "

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papercut wrote on May 9, 2008 9:52 PM:

" I also find you Lodians to be so naive to think that there's only one person in this drudge of a town that really knows what's going on here, nellie. If it weren't for your mayor speaking some degree of the truth and standing up for her citizens, your wealthy leaders would have you completely bankrupted by now. "

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papercut wrote on May 9, 2008 9:48 PM:

" whoa nellie, you got me. I am T & C just like you, observor and the three commonsenses are the same "

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whoa nellie! wrote on May 9, 2008 6:39 PM:

" PC- your undertones lead me to believe that you could be our ol pal T&C.

Don't forget the "important" part about the BC deal was saving the existing 600-700 jobs with the idea that the new facility could easily increase to 1,000 employees. Add that to the increased revenue stream (sales tax) by the retail development and any lame brain CC member would vote for it.

Hopefully with the mortgage & foreclosure mess, economic woes, etc etc, our City Leaders will walk, not run, into approving these mega projects.

"

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sam wrote on May 9, 2008 4:54 PM:

" pc, they still tell lodians that their IS a greenbelt. Surprise !!! It does not exist. "

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papercut wrote on May 9, 2008 9:45 AM:

" Reynolds Ranch should never have been approved. That was land that was designated for the greenbelt, and council persons Johnson, Hansen and Beckman voted for Mr Gillespie's project prematurely before the greenbelt studies could be done. This was the first controversy I encountered when coming to Lodi and what sparked my interest in investigating all these land and real estate deals involving the smae group, or groups, of local investors with ever changing company names and anonymous financial backers either from this area or southern California. The theme of this whole development was Blue Shield, and if it weren't for them this project would have been rejected by council 4-1. Don't you wonder why your council persons all of a sudden forgot that the greenbelt was the hot topic at that time and those three members sold Lodi's greenbelt down the river for the almighty dollar. No one will ever know how much money went under the table and out the back door on this deal. Lodi citizens need to wake up and stop electing those who are just well connected puppets to their council and management team. "

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sam wrote on May 9, 2008 8:50 AM:

" 7 "units" per acre??? Where is the quality of life? Are these condos or apartments?? "

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stucknlodi wrote on May 9, 2008 8:31 AM:

" the City should of required Blue Shield to have a grassy roof with solar electric panels. they should require RR to have solar electric on ever roof too. "

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Audi 5000 wrote on May 9, 2008 8:24 AM:

" The well-being of Lodi will definitely improve? How? With energy efficiency? Holistic development? Noble ideals to a special few, but how do these translate to definitely improving the well-being of Lodi? Mr. Pirnejad has learned many buzz-phrases which make for good filler in reports, yet have no real impact when applied in reality, much less a tangible improvement to Lodi. "

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sam wrote on May 9, 2008 7:16 AM:

" Well since this is Lodi's only official greenbelt, I suggest you make Reynolds Ranch as green as possible. "

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