Sustainable Land Development Requires Major Change

By Sarah Lansdale, Executive Director, Sustainable Long Island

 

As we officially welcome the change of seasons and fall surrounds us, I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking, did I miss the summer? Whether or not our cool, wet summer can be explained by scientific theories and equations, it’s clear that our seasonal patterns as we know them are changing.

We are at a critical point now, where scientists are certain that climate change is happening and we need to change our behaviors and patterns in order to limit our impact on the environment.

There’s no question that part of the solution to climate change will be changing the way we develop land; abandoning our sprawling patterns and opting for downtown development. This way, we can live in an environment where it's possible not to have to get in the car several times a day. According to the Urban Land Institute, more compact development saves between 20% and 40% of vehicle miles traveled. This translates directly to significant air emission reductions.

By redeveloping brownfields, we can reclaim thousands of parcels that stand unused and curb sprawl. Because there can be clean-up complications, developers have, in the past, opted to develop in the pattern of sprawl, on undeveloped land, located outside a downtown. As an island we have limited space. Nearly 95% of Nassau County is developed and 75% of Suffolk County. Developers, looking to accommodate more business or build residences are pushed to build on undeveloped land, worsening our sprawl and further diminishing our open space and harming our air quality.

A brownfield, as defined by New York State, is 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. These eyesores may pose environmental threats to surrounding areas and beyond, affecting, for example, the common water and air supply we all share. Most definitely, they can be dangerous to our health and obstacles in the way of downtown and community revitalization. Some of these sites, like Class 2 State Superfunds, some of the most contaminated sites, do not qualify currently for clean-up programs. We could be twiddling our thumbs for years, waiting for responsible parties to take action and clean-up their messes, while we stand to lose – with the threat of toxic air, water, and soil and properties kept off the tax rolls. That’s why Sustainable Long Island is exploring opportunities to incorporate Class 2 State Superfund Sites into the current clean-up programs.
Our region gives us plenty of opportunities to notice the implications of brownfields. Long Island is home to an estimated 6,800 such sites. They are everywhere: buildings that were former factories or drycleaners, warehouses, vacant commercial lots, shuttered corner gas stations and auto shops. The brownfields problem on Long Island is more acute than elsewhere because Long Island is one of the few places in New York State where the groundwater is the sole source of drinking water – making cleanups that much more important. At the current rate of clean up in New York State, it will take over 450 years to clean up Long Island's brownfields.

Brownfields are inextricably linked to climate change and on Long Island especially, climate change cannot be ignored, as sea-level rise is a threat to our coastal region. According to the EPA, New York’s sea level has risen an estimated 10 inches in the last century. Continued sea-level rise could destroy our beaches, wetlands and contaminate our drinking water. The redevelopment of brownfields reduces our footprint on the environment.
Many brownfields were once thriving businesses. By cleaning brownfields and transforming them back into community assets, we can preserve existing greenery that produces oxygen and consumes carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global climate change. By promoting the reuse of properties located in existing neighborhoods, we put an end to developing pristine farmlands and priceless open spaces. The findings of a number of case studies have shown that brownfield redevelopment, in comparison to alternative greenfield development.
By promoting the clean-up of these wasteful sites, we can shrink our footprint as a region and contribute more positively to environmental health.

To learn more about Long Island’s brownfields and solutions to this critical problem, log on to www.sustainableli.org