Beginning in February, DPD is sponsoring a series of free workshops to help applicants understand and apply the principles of the Seattle Green Factor, a new program intended to increase the amount and quality of urban landscaping in new development in Commercial Zones while providing flexibility for developers and designers to efficiently utilize their properties. The green factor is one of many commercial land use code changes that became effective Jan. 20, 2007, as part of the Neighborhood Business District Strategy.

Permit applicants will need to demonstrate how they intend to achieve the functional equivalent of 30 percent parcel vegetation using the menu of landscaping strategies incorporated within the green factor. Start learning more at the first two workshops:

• Feb. 7, “Green Factor - How To” with DPD’s Steve Moddemeyer
• Feb. 21, “Green Walls” with Randall Sharp, Principal with Sharp & Diamond Landscape Architecture & Planning in Vancouver, Canada

Both events will be held from 12-1:30 p.m. in the Bertha Landes Room at Seattle City Hall.

The workshops will:

• explain what the green factor is;
• reveal how the green factor works;
• connect you to experts who have successfully integrated landscaping strategies that get you the green factor credit; and
• cover techniques to successfully implement green walls, green roofs, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, plant selection, irrigation and landscape management plans.