Hurricane Sandy served as a wake up call for many cities to the dangers of rising seas and more extreme storms. To prepare for these threats, officials in Boston have proposed zoning rules that would require developers to detail mitigation measures.
"City officials proposed new zoning rules Tuesday that would require developers of large new buildings in Boston to submit plans to deal with flooding, heat waves, and other potential complications of climate change as sea levels and temperatures are projected to rise," reports David Abel.
“Climate change is rapidly and drastically altering the world in which we live, and Boston, like many other coastal cities, will suffer if we don’t take action,” Brian Swett, the city’s chief of environment and energy, said at a press conference announcing the rules. “We cannot and will not kick the can down the road for someone else to deal with, because this issue is not generations away; it’s right on our doorstep.”
"Swett said the proposed rules would require developers to fill out a lengthy checklist about their building’s ability to withstand floods, cope with power outages, and conserve energy, among other things," notes Abel. "But he said the city has no plans to institute blanket regulations about where a developer might house electrical systems or what kind of materials they use."
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