There will be no free passes for developers in Aventura, even if they construct green buildings.

That was the message sent by the Aventura City Commission on Tuesday when it changed an ordinance that adopted incentives for developers who construct environmentally friendly buildings.

The new ordinance, which passed 6-1, is different from the one approved in September in that the commission will now have to approve the bonuses developers are granted for building LEED certified buildings.

In the first ordinance, Aventura's staff could grant an increase to the size of the building and the amount of land it can cover if the developer received one of the top level scores in the nationally recognized green-building certification program, LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

The LEED program, which awards points based on criteria that measure the building's design for energy efficiency, carbon footprint and environmental friendliness.

``I felt like that was way too much of a bonus, it was an enormous amount,'' Mayor Susan Gottlieb said in an interview following the meeting.

Now the percentage of the bonus will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the commission. Other incentives, such as recognition on the city's website and in the Go Green program, will not need commission approval.

Despite the changes, a representative of the Builders Association of South Florida who attended the meeting was satisfied with the result.

``It was a good start,'' said Truly Burton, the government affairs director for the association in Miami-Dade County. ``I think Aventura's approach with a series of incentives and seeking voluntary compliance is really the way to go.''

Zev Auerbach was the only commissioner to vote against the ordinance. During the meeting, he argued that the LEED program sets the bar too low because it only requires that a building be 10 percent more efficient than average.

He also argued that the program does not do enough to promote solar power.

``To me, we're taking a first step based on a program we know is deficient. To me it's the wrong step, we're past that,'' he said.

Jason Bionbi, a LEED expert with the Spinnaker Group who was brought to the meeting by developers interested in constructing LEED buildings in Aventura, defended the program, and said that by adopting it, Aventura was helping to set a standard for the region.

``There are not a lot of LEED buildings in South Florida,'' he said. ``I hate to say this, because I grew up here, but it's not that environmentally conscious of a place, which is a shame because it's really beautiful and there is a lot of natural beauty here.''

The commission also voted to require Florida Power & Light to purchase electricity generated by municipalities at a more generous rate.

In what are called net metering programs, utilities purchase excess electricity generated by users who have a source of renewable energy on their property, such as solar power. Auerbach said Aventura had considered putting solar panels on the roof of the new art and cultural center, but were told by FPL that it would take 30 years for the city to make enough money from solar power to cover the costs of buying and installing the panels.

``Solar power has the potential to cut your electric bill by 70 percent. How could it take 30 years?'' Auerbach asked.

The resolution is largely symbolic since Aventura has no authority over FPL. Auerbach said that he plans to lobby other cities to adopt similar measures so that municipalities could pressure the state as a group.

He said the timing was right since FPL has asked for a $1.3 billion rate increase, and since the Public Service Commission, which regulates FPL, has been under scrutiny after being accused of having too-close ties with the utility company,

``If we don't do something now at the cusp of solar energy, as the new era of energy comes into fruition, we will be a victim of their rate increases for ever,'' he said.

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