In its current form, the former KSS site, known as Central Green, is not sustainable nor financially viable.

That's the crux of a report City Council will debate Monday.

In earlier deliberations over proposed redevelopment of the 13 acre property at the corner of Richter and Harvey, council mandated the site meet LEED Gold certification with a 20 per cent affordable housing component.

After extensive research, staff has come back with a recommendation that buildings on the site achieve a minimum LEED Certified standard with a 15 per cent affordable housing component.

The city is set to undertake a detailed RFP process and staff feel setting mandatory requirements too high could deter proponents from submitting a proposal.

"Staff believes the mandated requirements of LEED Gold and 20 per cent affordable housing will significantly hamper the quality and quantity of RFP submissions and affect the creativity that would come from developer proposals," says Strategic Land Development Manager Derek Edstrom in his report.

"Staff believe the most prudent path to balancing strong leadership in sustainability and project viability is to mandate the sustainability minimums at a level of LEED Certified construction for all buildings and 15% of units for affordable housing."

Edstrom says costs associated with the higher requirements would be greater than the value of the land and, therefore, would not produce any economic return upon disposition.

"Staff plans to deliver a project that will demonstrate province-wide industry leadership by setting minimum standards and looking for increased level of social, environmental, economic and cultural objectives through the request for proposal process."

He says this is best achieved with the recommended standards.

A similar request by staff in October of last year was rejected by council.

Five of the 13 acres will be maintained as a community park.

Edstrom adds the city is exploring the option of selling individual land parcels instead of the whole eight acre development site.

The site, in 2008, had an assessed value of $17 million.