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I went to a breakfast meeting this morning where J.E. Issac was talking about the JumpTown proposal that would turn Memorial Coliseum and the surrounding area (including the Rose Garden, where the Blazers play) into a sports/entertainment-focused neighborhood.

The development project is intriguing. And as senior v.p. of business affairs for the Blazers, Issac knows the proposal inside-out. There is one part of his presentation he might want to rethink, though. Especially if he’s trying to win the support of the local building industry.

According to Issac, the project is going to be sustainable to such a degree that it will qualify for certification in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

“Just imagine,” he told this morning’s gathering. “Someday, when three or four helicopters are hovering overhead (for the NBA Playoffs), people will look down and say, ‘Look at that sustainable development.'”

More than a few people in the room shot each other confused glances at that comment. I have to admit, it left me scratching my head, too.

Helicopters don’t exactly paint a picture of sustainability. But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe having a bunch of helicopters spewing fumes into the air is OK as long as the buildings they’re  hovering over are made with recycled materials.

I guess it’s like carbon offset credits you buy to make up for the fact that the vehicle you drive is a larger-than-life Hummer that gets 11 miles to the gallon.