Redeveloping brownfields a major focus of the Commerce Committee

(Feb. 29, 2008) The legislature’s Commerce Committee is continuing its efforts to stimulate greater redevelopment of brownfields — abandoned or underutilized contaminated areas in Connecticut, located primarily in the state’s cities.

Following a briefing on the 2008 report of the state Brownfields Task Force, the committee held a public hearing to explore recommendations to be advanced during this legislative session. 

CBIA has long advocated the revitalization of brownfield properties in Connecticut because of the many and substantial benefits — including job creation, additional property tax revenues, a cleaner environment, responsible growth and urban revitalization.

While Connecticut has had a limited number of high-profile success stories in redeveloping brownfields, recent efforts to redevelop brownfields have been encumbered by processes calling for substantial government agency ovesight. This approach is time-consuming, expensive and resource-intensive.

Better would be to create a brownfields program designed from the perspective of the development community and the marketplace in which government facilitates, where needed, but the process is primarily driven and managed by the private sector. 

The 2008 Task Force report highlights a variety of innovative concepts that have been used successfully to encourage private investment in brownfield redevelopment. Its recommendations would make brownfield redevelopment much more attractive to developers — perhaps even more than developing non-brownfield sites or sites outside of Connecticut.

CBIA supports the legislature’s and administration’s efforts to boost Connecticut’s development and return large numbers of brownfield sites to productive use.

 
For more information, contact CBIA’s Eric Brown at 860-244-1926 or eric.brown@cbia.com.