Sustainable Brownfields and Stakeholder Engagement

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Sustainable Brownfields and Stakeholder Engagement

• Prepared by
• Deborah Lange, The Brownfields Center, Carnegie
  Mellon
• dlange_at_cmu.edu, www.ce.cmu.edu/Brownfields
• Prepared for
• The International Conference on Sustainable
  Cities How to Improve the Environment and Health
  though Better Quality Municipal Management
• Date
• December 8-9, 1999
• Location
• Hotel Metropol, Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia

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Brownfield

• abandoned, idled, or under used industrial and
  commercial facilities where expansion or
  redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived
  environmental contamination (USEPA, 1995)

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Sustainability

• development that meets the needs of the present
  without compromising the ability of future
  generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland
  Commission, 1987)

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Stakeholder

• individuals, organizations and other entities
  that directly affect or are directly affected by
  the brownfields property or its redevelopment
  (ASTM, 1999)

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Mission

• Understand the role of brownfield development in
  the context of
  sustainability

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Background

• Presidents Council on Sustainable Development
• United States Environmental Protection Agency
• American Society for Testing and Materials
• Regional Initiatives
• Sustainable Pittsburgh

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Presidents Council on Sustainable Development

• Strategies prosperity, opportunity, and a
  healthy environment
• Integrated policies economic, environmental and
  social welfare
• Issues sprawl, climate change, urban renewal and
  corporate environmental responsibility
• www.whitehouse.gov/pcsd

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United States Environmental Protection Agency

• Characteristics of Sustainable Brownfield
  Development
• Sustainable Brownfields Model Framework
• www.epa.gov/brownfields/

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American Society for Testing and Materials

• E1984-98 Standard Guide to the Process of
  Sustainable Brownfields Redevelopment
• www.astm.org

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Regional Initiatives

• Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Detroit, Michigan
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Sierra Nevada, California
• Cleveland, Ohio
• St. Louis, Missouri

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Sustainable Pittsburgh

• Health and the Environment
• Economic Prosperity
• Equity
• Conservation of Nature
• Stewardship

• Sustainable Communities
• Civic Engagement
• Population
• International Responsibility
• Education

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There are really two questions

• Do brownfields fit within the realm of
  sustainability goals for the region?
• How sustainable is a particular brownfield?

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Question 1
Do Brownfields Fit Within the Sustainability
Goals for a Region?

• YES, they can
• All-in-one package
• Environmental
• Economic
• Equity/Social

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Question 2
How Sustainable is a Particular Brownfield?

• More subjective more complex more difficult
• Must define then weigh alternative
• Must develop metrics for evaluation

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Brownfield Development Epitomizes Sustainability

• Forget the word sustainable
• Do not confuse successful with sustainable
• Admit that economic prosperity is the driver
• Engage community and stakeholders

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Stakeholder Engagement

• Workshops based on R/UDAT model
• Plan for sustainable development
• Involve local groups and outside experts

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A Case Study Ostrava, Czech Republic

• Ostrava, Czech Republic
• Vitkovice Steel - operating since 1828
• 105 hectares to be vacated
• Ostrava Master Plan
• Market forces
• Closure impacts
• environmental improvements
• 1200 redundant jobs

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Workshop Participants

• Experts
• Project Leaders
• Indirects
• Primary
• Secondary
• Organizers

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Workshop Process

• Orientation
• Site visit
• Presentation of Background Information
• Town Meeting
• Brainstorming Session
• Presentation

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Orientation
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Site Visit
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Presentation of Background
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Town Meeting
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Brainstorming Session
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Presentation of Findings
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Development Issues

• Site should be approached in parcels
• redevelopment
• conservation
• costly remediation and/or demolition
• Who will take the lead on development?
• What is the market demand for this site?
• Ownership rights must be clarified

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Workshop Outcome

• City needs a Brownfield Coordinator
• Lead Group must advance site development
• A 5-10 year implementation plan is needed
• remediation
• transportation planning
• marketing and financing
• construction and development

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Summary

• Simple and synergistic elements
• Brownfield development
• Sustainability
• Stakeholders
• Challenge to integrate