Coral Springs is getting ready to reward people in the community who purchase green vehicles.
The city attorney is now putting together an ordinance that will give drivers of eco-friendly vehicles preferred parking spaces in buildings within the city. It is the first such initiative among cities in Broward, although neighboring Parkland provides cash incentives for hybrid vehicles.
Vice Mayor Vince Boccard, who brought the idea forward, is scheduled to have a meeting with city staff in the next few weeks. “This is something new and goes well with the other green initiatives that we have in the city. The idea is to reserve parking spaces for owners of eco-friendly vehicles, like what we have for the handicapped. It might come up at the next commission meeting.”
Buildings would benefit by reserving parking spaces for green vehicles, Boccard said. “We have the LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) program in the city and setting aside parking spaces for such vehicles will give the building extra points that go toward getting certification” criteria, he said.
Mayor Scott Brook said he supports the idea. “It makes a lot of sense. We are trying to go as green as we can. We have a lot of initiatives that encourage people to take care of the environment.”
Salt Lake City, San Antonio, and New Haven, Conn., are among the American cities that offer free parking at meters to hybrids and other eco-friendly cars.