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Guideline S.11: Brownfield Redevelopment

Intent

To promote the redevelopment of damaged or contaminated sites to reduce development pressure on undeveloped land and utilize existing investments in infrastructure, conserve natural resources, and promote a new sense of community renewal, identity, and revitalization.

Recommended Performance Criteria

Guidelines apply to all projects designated New Buildings.

  1. Redevelop brownfield sites to support Minnesota’s Community-Based Planning Act.
  2. Provide remediation as required for EPA’s Sustainable Redevelopment of Brownfields Program and enroll site in the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup Program.
  3. Develop a site classified as a brownfield into a greenspace (a process known as B2-G), for park or open space connected to building development.

Implementation in the Design Process:

During site selection, Predesign, and other early design phases, seek direction from the local government unit or authority with jurisdiction over the project’s brownfield redevelopment. In planning for facilities not yet located, include a brownfield redevelopment option that meets expectations of key locations, appropriate size, and sufficient infrastructure to support planning goals within the applicable rules, regulations, and permitting requirements. Select a building approach that is adaptable to brownfield redevelopment. Preferably, select a site that is eligible for the EPA’s Brownfield Redevelopment Program. County Brownfield maps may be useful in listing contamination source and degree of contamination.

Predesign:

  • S.11A: Area of brownfield redeveloped.
  • S.11B: Area of brownfield remediated.
  • S.11C: Area of brownfield redeveloped into parkland.

Final Design:

  • S.11A: Area of brownfield redeveloped.
  • S.11B: Area of brownfield remediated.
  • S.11C: Area of brownfield redeveloped into parkland.

Minnesota Community-Based Planning Act: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=462.3535
EPA Sustainable Redevelopment of Brownfields: www.epa.gov/brownfields
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup Program: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/brownfields

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Contamination Cleanup and Investigation Grants Program: https://mn.gov/deed/government/financial-assistance/cleanup/contamination.jsp

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