Regional Brownfields Initiative

Stimulating Infill and Brownfield Development in the Land-of-Sky Region - Click here for the new report

Land-of-Sky Regional Council's Regional Brownfields Initiative is Soliciting Sites for Grant Funding and Technical Assistance - Click here

Loan Funds Available to Clean Up Brownfields Properties - Click here

What is the Regional Brownfields Initiative?
About the Regional Brownfields Initiative
Benefits of Brownfields Redevelopment
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownfields Site Map for Region B
Suggest-A-Site
Brownfields Success Stories
Brownfields Related Links
Partners
Contact Us

What is the Regional Brownfields Initiative?
Land-of-Sky Regional Council, in close cooperation with numerous stakeholders, has begun a long-term initiative to comprehensively address the assessment, cleanup and redevelopment of the region’s Brownfields. The program offers numerous economic, social and environmental benefits to the Land-of-Sky region.

The EPA defines a “Brownfield site” as: real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

Partners in this initiative include the region’s Local Governments, Economic Developers, Commercial and Industrial representatives, area funding institutions, non-profit agencies, federal and state agencies and various private sector stakeholders.

The North Carolina Brownfields Program encourages the safe reuse of abandoned properties that have some measure of environmental impairment. Under a "Brownfield agreement" with a prospective developer, DENR defines the necessary cleanup and land management actions, and the prospective developer receives liability protection that allows him/her to obtain previously unobtainable loans for the project. In doing so, the program serves as a tool to turn these abandoned properties into productive use rather than building in a greenspace area and contributing to urban sprawl.

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About the Regional Brownfields Initiative
Background/Funding
In 2002, President Bush signed new Brownfields legislation appropriating $200 million nationally to Brownfields revitalization. Land-of-Sky Regional Council, in partnership with local stakeholders (link to partners page), applied for and received a $200,000 grant from the U.S. EPA in October of 2002 to fund Brownfields site assessments and redevelopment planning.

Additionally, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded Land-of-Sky Regional Council a $50,000 grant for further Brownfields redevelopment focused on infrastructure, marketing redeveloped properties and industrial park needs. Advantage West provided additional funding to support this Grant. These grants are designed to address the Regional Vision 2010 mission to “improve utilization of existing industrial sites.”

RBI Current Focus and Plan
From now until the end of August of 2003, Land-of-Sky Regional Council will accept site submissions of potential Brownfield sites in the region. The Council encourages all citizens to suggest possible Brownfield sites in the four-county region. Click on the “suggest a site” link to submit a potential Brownfields site to the RBI for funding. Based on these applications, the Council will then select the five owners to receive funding for assessments and redevelopment plans.

Land-of-Sky Regional Council will request proposals from environmental consultants, remediation crews, and developers for the five sites and then link them with the chosen Brownfields owners. The Council will select appropriate site assessors, clean-up crews and developers on an individual basis for each site. Land-of-Sky Regional Council will act as a facilitator throughout the process.

RBI Structure
The Regional Brownfields Initiative is directed by the Brownfields Advisory Group which is charged with serving in an advisory capacity for the Initiative. The committee is composed of members from Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania Counties, representatives from financial institutions, legal firms, environmental consulting groups, regional non-profits, economic developers, state representatives, Land-of-Sky Regional Council staff and others.

This Brownfields Advisory Group steers the activities of four workgroups which are charged with executing specific grant work plan tasks. Their focus is on funding possibilities, site selection, consultant selection, and public outreach. These workgroups are composed of Advisory Group members and other community volunteers with interests in Brownfields.

The Land-of-Sky Regional Council internal team monitors grant progress, reports to the RBI funders, addresses internal needs of the program, and scans for future Brownfields opportunities.

Please refer to the organizational chart below for clarification on the structure of the Regional Brownfields Initiative.

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Benefits of Brownfields Redevelopment

Economic benefits
Our region will benefit Economically, Environmentally, and Socially from Brownfields redevelopment. Revitalizing Brownfields will profit local Brownfield owners, citizens, environmental assessors, clean-up crews, developers, and communities as a whole.

Redeveloped Brownfield sites may provide new businesses and new jobs in the area. In addition, redeveloped Brownfield sites may help to stimulate more business in blighted areas and increase adjacent property values. Benefits for Brownfield owners and business developers include: A North Carolina tax incentive offering a five year property tax exemption; protection from future liability due to site contamination; and funding available for site assessments through Land-of-Sky Regional Council’s RBI and other programs. Furthermore, Brownfield sites often have existing utilities and proximity to infrastructure, saving the business owner additional expenses in redevelopment.

Social benefits
Social benefits for local citizens resulting from Brownfields revitalization can include: relief from potential environmental health hazards, aesthetically pleasing urban landscapes, and increased neighborhood safety and health. In addition, the Brownfields project can seek to preserve historical buildings and landmarks for future generations to enjoy. Finally, Brownfields revitalization may enhance citizens’ “sense of place” by transforming blighted areas to more livable and loveable towns and cities. According to Land-of-Sky Regional Council’s Regional Vision 2010, the mountains of Western North Carolina are “a special place, one to be protected, restored and enjoyed,” and Brownfields revitalization helps Western North Carolinians achieve these objectives.

Environmental benefits
Environmental benefits include improvements in local air, water and soil quality. Reusing previously developed land and buildings will lessen the need to consume additional residential and undeveloped areas for industrial or commercial development. Reducing urban sprawl may improve air quality by decreasing vehicle traveling distances in and around cities. Soil and water quality will improve on and near Brownfield sites as crews clean up existing contamination. Brownfield clean-up and development efforts will also seek to protect local ecology and existing wildlife habitats.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

 Local Brownfields Initiative

Q.  If I report a Brownfield site, what further obligations do I have?
A.  None, other than to provide a specific location and contact information for the owner.

Q.  What are some examples of Brownfield sites?         
A.  Brownfields sites may include old service stations, radiator shops, abandoned factories or mills, old landfills, and junkyards. Brownfields sites may simply be underutilized properties with redevelopment potential.

Q.  How and by when should I submit a Brownfield site?
A.  Submit a site by going to the “submit a site” link on this webpage or by contacting Holly Bullman at Land-of-Sky Regional Council directly for a submission form.  Remember all site submissions are due by August 29, 2003.

More FAQs about Brownfields Around the Nation

Please refer to www.epa.gov/brownfields or www.ncbrownfields.org  

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Suggest-A-Site

The Land-of-Sky Regional Council (“LOS”) has received grants to promote the redevelopment of properties where there is actual or perceived environmental contamination.  Such properties are often referred to as “Brownfields.”  The purpose of this form is to register with LOS a property where there is actual or perceived environmental contamination that may be hindering the property’s redevelopment and, as a result, could possibly benefit from assistance from LOS.  The submission of this form, however, does not obligate LOS to provide assistance of any type or guarantee or ensure any particular result or outcome. Sites are ranked on a competitive basis.

Click here for printable form

Please contact Land-of-Sky Regional Council (828) 251-6622; (ask to speak with a member of the Brownfields Team) with questions and for information about the Regional Brownfields Initiative and the NC Brownfields Program.

Brownfields Success Stories

Within the Region
Regional Brownfield success stories are currently in the making. Be a part of our Regional Brownfields Initiative.

The Town of Fletcher in Henderson County has partnered with Land-of-Sky Regional Council in redeveloping their “Heart of Fletcher” district. The Town began the process of revitalizing this downtown district with redevelopment plans and a letter of intent to the NC DENR office to secure a Brownfields Agreement. Through extensive planning and redevelopment efforts, Fletcher plans to create a new, vital urban center and Town Hall.

Within North Carolina
Visit http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/html-doc/ss_char2.htm for an EPA summary of the Gaines Brown Design Project, which focuses on a property located in Charlotte's Wilmore neighborhood.
Visit http://www.ncbrownfields.org/BFSuccessStories.htm for a summary of other Brownfield success stories around North Carolina. This site is sponsored by NC’s Division of Environment and Natural Resources.

Within Town of Woodfin
Land-of-Sky Regional Brownfields Initiative adopts Elk Mountain Landfill of Woodfin and Grey Hosiery Mill of Hendersonville.  Click here to go to the press release

Within Land-of-Sky Regional Council
"Land-of-Sky Regional Council receives NADO 2003 Innovations Award for Regional Brownfields Initiative"
Click here to go to the press release

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Brownfields Related Links

National News and Events about Brownfields can be found at

http://www.eda.gov/Research/Brownfields.xml Economic Development Administration's Brownfields Redevelopment web site
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/announcg.htm
www.epa.gov/brownfields is a link to the Federal EPA’s website, containing information and news about the National Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment Program.

www.ncbrownfields.org links you to North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Division of Waste Management’s brownfields site, which contains information about NC’s Brownfield initiative.  If you are interested in applying to the State program click on the link to the guidance documents: http://www.ncbrownfields.org/nws/guidance_docs.htm  or to speak directly with a Brownfields Project Manager click on the link for contact information: http://www.ncbrownfields.org/nws/contact_info.htm.


http://www.brownfield.org Portland, Oregon Brownfield Showcase Program. Go to “Global Learners” link for Brownfields and related educational information.

SMARTSITES.ORG is a Brownfields site listing services offered by Research Triangle Institute, designed to bring together municipalities who want to list potential brownfield sites and developers searching for redevelopment opportunities, all with a smartgrowth focus. This link is here for information purposes only. It is not controlled or endorsed by DENR.

http://www.epa.gov/region4/ is a link to the EPA’s Region 4, which includes NC.

www.brownfields2002.org/ is a link to a summary of the 2002 National Brownfields conference.

http://www.epa.gov/epahome/headline_011102.htm summarizes the new Brownfields legislation, signed by President Bush in 2002, appropriating double the amount of past funds for FY 2003 to Brownfields revitalization.

http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/topics.htm. contains articles about Brownfields liability, environmental insurance, legislation, tax incentives, sustainable development, environmental justice, and education and outreach can be found at ttp://www.epa.gov/brownfields/resource.htm. contains articles about Brownfields economics, laws and regulations, and other publications.  Downloadable articles, news, and links about economics, community, environment, redevelopment, government, law, and innovation can be found at http://www.brownfieldsource.org/, including information on subtopics of these headings.

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Regional Brownfields Initiative Partners

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration

Advantage West North Carolina

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
Waste Management Division

In addition to the funds provided by the EPA, EDA and Advantage West, numerous stakeholders from the region partner with the RBI through their involvement in the one or more of the project’s workgroups (this is a Microsoft PowerPoint file). The Council regularly updates the members of the Peer Group, who are regional stakeholders whose expertise relates to Brownfields issues.

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Contact Us/Calendar

Contact Us

Land-of-Sky Regional Council
(828)-251-6622
www.landofsky.org

Ron Townley
ron@landofsky.org

Linda Giltz
linda@landofsky.org

Jim Stokoe
jim@landofsky.org

Holly Bullman
holly@landofsky.org

Kate O’Hara
kate@landofsky.org