It turns out the green roof initiative voters passed at face value without questioning the environmental community behind it is just plain incompatible for Denver.

The task force trying to sort out the mess has discovered these problems, Westword reports:

  • Conflicts with the fire code
  • 90 percent of existing buildings can’t support the load
  • Requires roofs to retain more water than the state law allows
  • Already delaying new needed roof installations
  • Would increase construction prices and rent on affording housing
  • Drains building maintenance costs
  • Puts the planning board in charge of building code

So what’s the solution? It looks like a lot of builders and property owners might be able to pay a bribe fee so they don’t have to meet the standards.

Meanwhile, the task force is studying other ways to get around the damage inflicted by voters.

The task force is considering the city’s findings and could amend the initiative so that it stays true to its intent but varies some requirements, according to Councilwoman Mary Beth Susman, a member of the task force. “It’s not about the green roof, but it’s about the goals,” she said during the meeting.

As we recall, the goal of voters was to have all the rooftops on existing buildings of 25,000 square feet and larger covered in gardens.

This is the prefect example of why voters should become more informed and seek out both sides of an argument whenever environmentalists propose new laws that seem to good to be true.

If 90 percent of the buildings can’t even support the load, then the green roof initiative was a complete failure from the beginning.