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Option 2: Previously Undeveloped Sites

If developing entirely on previously developed land is not feasible, a project must preserve and protect 40% of the greenfield area on the site from all development and construction activity and must not locate the development footprint on sensitive land types, including prime farmland, flood hazard zones, imperiled species habitat, wetlands or water bodies, and their surrounding buffers or steep slopes. These types of sensitive lands have been identified as critical to biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the safety and well-being of people.

The project must be designed so that the development footprint does not encroach on sensitive areas.

Prime farmland Prime farmland is land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing crops and is of major importance in meeting the needs of food and fiber. It has an adequate and dependable supply of moisture from precipitation or irrigation, a favorable temperature and growing season, acceptable acidity or alkalinity, acceptable salt and sodium content, and few to no rocks. Researchers use these lands with very rich soil are used for crop testing farms, and local or state regulations protect them.

Unique farmland refers to land used for producing high-value food and fiber crops such as citrus, tree nuts, olives, cranberries, as well as various fruits and vegetables. It possesses a unique combination of soil quality, growing season, moisture supply, temperature, humidity, air drainage, elevation, and aspect, allowing for the economical and sustainable production of high yields when properly managed. [27]

In some regions, farmers classify land that does not qualify as prime or unique farmland of statewide or local importance because it produces food, feed, fiber, forage, and oilseed crops. The appropriate state of local agencies establishes the defined criteria for this type of farmland and typically include soils that closely meet the requirements for prime farmland, capable of producing high crop yields when managed using proper farming practices. In favorable conditions, some of these areas may yield crops comparable to prime farmland. [28]

Projects must avoid development on prime farmland, unique farmland, or farmland of statewide or local importance.

27 Natural Resources Conservation Service, (n.d.), Soil Data Access, nrcs.usda.gov/publications/Legend%20and%20Prime%20Farmland%20-%20Query%20by%20Soil%20Survey%20Area.html. 28 Natural Resources Conservation Service, (n.d.), Soil Data Access, nrcs.usda.gov/publications/Legend%20and%20Prime%20Farmland%20-%20Query%20by%20Soil%20Survey%20Area.html.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 55