The subdivision nestled in the foothills just east of downtown Hailey has garnered the first-ever four-star rating of the National Green Building Standard (NGBS), meaning the 147-lot residential development is more eco-friendly than any other similar land development across the U.S.
The NGBS certification program is a rigorous one- to four-star rating system that covers the design, planning and development of residential and mixed-use green communities. The NGBS Land Development certification is based on a point system to rate Project Team, Lot Selection, Lot Design, Lot Construction, and Innovative Practices sections. The Sunbeam Subdivision Phase 1 was awarded with a total of 191 points, surpassing the minimum of 176 points needed to achieve the highest performance level rating of four-stars.
Under the recently adopted 2020 standards, the four-star certification was the first given in the state of Idaho, and the first in the country.
The Sunbeam Subdivision was originally configured to host 108 lots. At the request of the city council, the applicant team increased the density to 147 lots by dividing half-acre lots, altering cottage lots, and allocating smaller lots throughout the property. Sunbeam Phase 1 incorporates a large 4.5-acre park which will feature passive play equipment, such as boulders and wooden structures, native and low-water use vegetation, and a hill for sledding. The park will abut Curtis Park and offer paved bike path connections to Old Cutters Subdivision and Quigley Road, creating neighborhood connectivity and encouraging alternative forms of transportation.
Conservation of water and energy were the guiding principles of Sunbeam. Approximately 60% to 70% of the land area of each residential lot will be either hardscaped or drought tolerant to reduce watering needs and residents will be required to follow regulations that limit time-of-day watering, pesticides, and species of grass planted. According to the Sunbeam Developer Agreement, residents living on lots greater than 14,000 square feet can only have turf on 25% of their total land area. Moreover, the developer intends to prewire each unit for the future installation of a solar energy system.
“We have a tremendous need for housing in Hailey, particularly for full-time employees and workers,” Hailey’s Community Development Director, Lisa Horowitz, commented. “Our Council is looking for diversity in housing stock and they are looking for projects that are progressive on the environmental and sustainability front, so this project hit both of those goals.”