Program of the Month
Previously a brownfield, this site in Arlington, Virginia, now houses a residential and commercial building.
The Brownfields Land Renewal Program: Turning brown into green
Abandoned or underutilized sites such as gas stations, industrial facilities and dry cleaners can tarnish a community's image and could be environmental hazards. With the help of the Brownfields Land Renewal Program at the Department of Environmental Quality, they could also be prime development opportunities.
Neglected industrial or commercial properties are considered brownfields if real or perceived contamination prevents their redevelopment. The Virginia Brownfield Restoration and Land Renewal Act of 2002 promotes their cleanup and renewal by providing liability protection for owners and buyers.
"This provision makes all the difference for sites that otherwise would not be cleaned up," DEQ Brownfields Coordinator Chris Evans said.
In addition to cleaning up pollution, the program also helps reduce urban sprawl and has an economic benefit for the host community. Developers buy a brownfield instead of a greenfield, or undeveloped land, and in the process, help promote another kind of green-money.
"The program is helping create hundreds of millions of dollars in capital reinvestment and hundreds of new full-time and part-time jobs," Evans said. "Sometimes the program has even saved hundreds of jobs."
Developers also benefit from the brownfields program. In most cases, it costs less to develop a property with facilities already in place, and sometimes a developer is eligible for special tax incentives.
The DEQ brownfields program began in the summer of 2003 and has facilitated over 30 brownfield redevelopment projects. The program's success stems from its innovative application process, according to Evans.
Buyers and landowners wishing to sell their property determine if they are qualified for the program. Having participants asses their own eligibility sets Virginia apart from similar programs in other states. Removing this task from the agency allows staff to review more applications per year and significantly accelerates discussions between buyers and sellers.
Within about three weeks, DEQ can process an application and issue a letter to the applicant. The letter protects the buyer from being held legally accountable for the contamination but does require the applicant to exercise due care to protect human health and the environment in the future.
After DEQ issues the letter, the cleanup process can begin. The landowner and buyer decide who will fund the cleanup, and depending on the type of contamination, the site may be eligible for or subject to cleanup programs at DEQ. Full redevelopment of a property could take 18 to 24 months.
Evans also credits other unique features to the program's success. Virginia, for example, is the only state that has amnesty or protection from legal penalties for qualifying owners of land with environmental contamination. The program's web site helps connect buyers and landowners, and provides a list of consultants and other business that could assist applicants. In addition, Virginia's program has a coordinator with no regulatory authority, giving a high level of comfort for customers to discuss their project freely.
"Participants need a voice within the program," Evans said. "Earning trust and credibility are essential to furthering the program's success."
DEQ has received recognition for its successful brownfields program at national conferences and is hosting the 2004 Virginia Brownfields Conference in September. Anyone involved in the professional development of properties in Virginia is invited to attend.