community involvement plan
Transcription
community involvement plan
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAN EPA560-F-13-044 950 Riverside Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37403-1307 Environmental Protection Agency 2014 USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 2 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 GENERAL ....................................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 CONTEXT AND HISTORY OF THE CATALYST SITE............................................................................... 3 3.0 COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION.......................................................................................................... 4 3.1 COMMUNITY PROFILE ..................................................................................................................... 4 3.2 COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................................. 5 3.2 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.......................................................................................................... 6 3.3 KEY COMMUNITY CONCERNS .......................................................................................................... 6 4.0 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROGRAM ........................................................................................... 6 4.1 OBJECTIVES AND PLANNING TEAM .................................................................................................. 6 4.2 COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY ......................................................................................................... 7 5.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................ 7 5.1 PUBLIC MEETING & ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES .......................................................................... 7 5.2 INFORMATION REPOSITORY ............................................................................................................ 8 5.3 FACT SHEETS ................................................................................................................................ 8 5.4 NEWSPAPER ADS & JOURNAL ARTICLES .......................................................................................... 8 5.5 INFORMING LOCAL OFFICIALS OF PROJECT PROGRESS .................................................................... 8 5.6 LANGUAGE TRANSLATION ............................................................................................................... 8 6.0 PLAN UPDATE ............................................................................................................................... 8 7.0 POINTS OF CONTACT ................................................................................................................... 9 APPENDIX A - LIST OF CONTACTS ................................................................................................. 10 APPENDIX B - GLOSSARY OF TERMS............................................................................................. 14 APPENDIX C - LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................ 15 APPENDIX D - COMMUNITY GROUP NAMES .................................................................................. 16 APPENDIX E - COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES TO DATE ............................................... 16 APPENDIX F - COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP TEAM ........................................................................... 17 1|Page USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 _____________________________ 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Enterprise Center received an EPA Brownfield Area-Wide Planning Grant in 2013 for the redevelopment of brownfields between Third Street and Riverside Drive in downtown Chattanooga. The intent of the grant is to assist communities in addressing brownfield environmental challenges, which limit economic and social prosperity, through public participation in redevelopment planning. This EPA grant required identification, and planning, for a catalyst site that will spur redevelopment efforts throughout an entire community. The former Cannon Equipment/Cumberland Corporation property, the largest contiguous tract available for redevelopment, was identified as the primary catalyst site within the Project Study Area. The final product of the study will be an Area-Wide Master Plan with redevelopment and implementation recommendations, meeting the needs of the City of Chattanooga, a diverse group of stakeholders, and the overall community. This project is aligned with EPA’s Strategic Goal 3 of Cleaning-Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development, with the goal of promoting sustainable and livable communities (Seehttp://www.epa.gov/oig/catalog/goals/Goal3.html). This document will serve as a source of information for community members and key stakeholders regarding project background, intent, and goals, as well as the intent, goals, and strategies for public outreach. This plan will encourage community interest and participation, and elicit feedback through public meetings, informal sessions, interviews, surveys, and research. The intent is to support two-way communication between the community and TEC as the grantee. The community outreach objectives include the following: • Inform and educate the public on brownfields redevelopment; • Update the public on the status of the project throughout the process; • Engage the public to determine community concerns, needs, and opportunities; 2|Page USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 • • Solicit and respond to community feedback regarding proposed concepts and implementation strategies; and Identify and engage potential investors in specific redevelopment strategies. 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION 2.1 General The Third to Riverside project centers around the 17 acre former Cannon/Cumberland industrial site. This site is broadly bounded by the 160 acre project study area. (See Map 1, Yellow and Red outline, respectively). The planning efforts around the Cannon/Cumberland industrial site, and Citico Creek, will benefit not only the people who live and work in the Planning Zone, but also those in the surrounding Impact Zone and the community as a whole. The address of the Cannon/Cumberland industrial site is 950 Riverside Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37403. Its geographic coordinates are 35.053024, -85.283241 (Latitude: 35° 3' 10.8864" Longitude: -85° 16' 59.6676"). 2.2 Context and History of the Catalyst Site The Cannon/Cumberland catalyst site is located close to the urban core of downtown Chattanooga. It is surrounded by underutilized land zoned for manufacturing uses, including an abandoned railroad right-of -way to the south and a large vacant parcel to the north. Citico Creek, an impaired waterway, passes through the northern portion of the site, and empties into the Tennessee River. The site is also in the path of a proposed pedestrian-oriented road extension, connecting two busy vehicular corridors, Riverside Drive and Third Street. This extension will connect the site and the communities to the south to the Riverwalk running along the Tennessee River. The Cannon/Cumberland property was the site of a 65-year-old manufacturing facility, which housed a saw mill in its early operations, and later a metal plating operation. The last operator at the site, Cannon Equipment, was a Large Quantity Hazardous Waste Generator of F006 sludge. This sludge contained metal hydroxides, chromium and cyanides. Other wastes generated at the site included paint waste, used oil, PCBs from light ballasts and mercury from light bulbs. Additionally there was an on-site waste water treatment plant. While the 3|Page USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 manufacturing operations are now closed, the water runoff from the site still flows into Citico Creek. Map 1 3.0 COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION 3.1 Community Profile The project study area is a 650 acre eclectic blend of large institutions, small neighborhoods, and historic landmarks. Of the thousands of people who come here to work each day, many are employed by the 813-bed public teaching hospital founded in the late 1880s, or the medical offices nearby. The 327 people who live in the mill houses of Lincoln Park are predominately African American. Today this close-knit community has a median household income of $21,823. In the late 1990s, Lincoln Park residents mounted a successful campaign to stop Erlanger from expanding into the neighborhood. The hospital agreed to a 50-year moratorium on development. The 550 who reside in the Victorian homes of Fort Wood are middle class white (63.76%). The housing around these two communities includes fraternities and student rentals from the neighboring state university, as well as refurbished middle income homes built from the 1920s to the 1960s. The remaining residents of the Corridor are students living in campus dormitories. 4|Page USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 3.2 Community Description The Fort Wood and Lincoln Park neighborhoods are predominantly characterized by singlefamily detached homes, though some multi-family and attached structures can be found as well. Each neighborhood has a rich and unique history, with cultural resources that are highly valued by the residents and community as a whole. Engel Stadium is a nationally recognized historical ballpark in Fort Wood, where efforts are under way to create a multi-functional public space. In addition, the City is in the process of acquiring 5.3 acres of land for the renovation of Lincoln Park, from which the neighborhood got its namesake. Third Street, which runs along the southern boundary of the Target Planning Area, is home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Erlanger Health Systems, the prominent higher education and medical institutions for this region. Together, these institutions have significant need for office, research, and classroom space, as well as housing for faculty, staff, and students. Specific to redevelopment site efforts, The Enterprise Center identified the former Cannon Equipment/Cumberland Corporation property, the largest contiguous tract available for redevelopment, as the primary catalyst site within the Project Study Area. Redevelopment of the Cannon/Cumberland site is needed, along with the clean-up of Citico Creek. The creek, which runs along the northern property line of the site and empties into the Tennessee River, is considered an impaired waterway by the EPA. The consultant team is expected to identify other brownfields sites that may exist within the Project Study Area during the planning process. 5|Page USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 3.2 Community Organizations The Enterprise Center and RPA are keenly aware of local community groups. The Grantee has met with the local leadership about project activities and gathered feedback to drive additional input and communication efforts. Project activities will support services to identified groups, such as assistance with production and mailing of newsletters they may develop and community involvement relevant to neighborhood issues. The list of community groups located in Appendix E will be updated as the AWP progresses. 3.3 Key Community Concerns Community input on the project has and will continue to be obtained during various public outreach efforts, through land use planning efforts, and meetings with the City and the community. The following concerns were identified by Neighborhood Services surveys of Lincoln Park and Fort Wood Neighborhood Association members: • • • • • • • • Identify redevelopment opportunities or blighted areas Develop neighborhood amenities Sex-offender Registry in Lincoln Park Neighborhood Crime Prevention – Drug, home break-ins, and car related Retain Lincoln Park community identity Preserve Lincoln Park as an historic landmark Encourage expanded retail services, including restaurants, neighborhood shops and services, and a grocery store Building neighborhood unity with college students This data will be supplemented by a more broad based survey, which will collect additional information from all stakeholder groups within the Project Study Area. 4.0 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROGRAM 4.1 Objectives and Planning Team RPA has assembled a Leadership Team that will participate in the area-wide planning process through regular meetings. As part of this project’s community involvement component, this team will review general content before larger public gatherings, give feedback on content and direction, and facilitate community outreach. . Members of this committee are listed in Appendix G. The overall objectives of public participation are: • • Providing timely, project specific information to community members; Providing regular, informal opportunities for public input and communication tailored to meet community needs and concerns; 6|Page USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 • • • • • Ensure the community members are well informed about brownfields in general, site and project activities; Timely feedback to neighborhood questions and issues specific to grant activities; Enhance communication for media sources by streamlining efforts between The Enterprise Center and public relations team; Creation and maintenance of a project website; and Delivery of an Area-Wide Plan and Implementation Plan/Strategy 4.2 Communications Strategy We will develop an overall communication strategy with tactics to ensure all audiences within the initiative are invited to participate and are well informed throughout the process. Our key audiences include: Elected officials and civic leaders EPA officials Environmental groups Neighborhood associations and community leadership Developers and realtors Other related agencies, including the Regional Planning Agency, City of Chattanooga Public Works, Chamber of Commerce, consulting engineers and planners, etc. Surrounding businesses and public institutions including Erlanger Health Systems, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Tennessee American Water Company, the DeButts Yard of Norfolk Southern Railway, Friends of Engel Stadium, the Chattanooga Zoo, and businesses along Amnicola Highway and Riverside Drive 5.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES The Enterprise Center and RPA will use a variety of ways to encourage public participation in the AWP process. The Community Involvement Plan is geared towards meaningful and continuous community engagement activities and will be a fundamental activity throughout the grant cycle. 5.1 Public Meeting & Engagement Opportunities Public meetings will be held at the project site and/or government offices. Public meetings will be targeted to community stakeholders within the Project Study Area; however, they will be open to the general public. Public meetings are intended to present educational information regarding brownfields, gather feedback on public needs and concerns, present information on existing conditions within the study area, and gather input from community members on planning recommendations. A public design charrette will bring together community members and key stakeholder groups to incorporate their feedback on potential land uses, design, and planning for the Target Study Area. Input fro the community and key stakeholder groups will be used to generate the areawide plan and identify planning priorities. Further stakeholder discussions and follow-up meeting may occur after the charrette. 7|Page USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 During these meetings, participants will sign in and provide mailing, telephone, and email (if available) contact information. The Enterprise Center will make every effort possible to protect the privacy of community residents, if requested. Public Meeting notes and summaries will be held in our information repository. 5.2 Information Repository A dedicated brownfields website will be used to capture all activities related to the AWP effort. This will serve as our information repository. The email attached to this site, as well as the site itself, will be monitored to ensure incorporation of community member feedback into our planning efforts. The brownfields website will serve as an online source for community input and continuous information about project status, successes, and challenges. The web address is www.chattanoogabrownfields.com. 5.3 Fact Sheets The project will provide fact sheets about relevant topics and general information related to Brownfields as part of community involvement. Fact sheets will be made available at the repository site. 5.4 Newspaper Ads & Journal Articles Funds have been budgeted for public meeting notifications to be run in local newspapers. To ensure the widest possible exposure, project notices about activities will run in Chattanooga’s local newspaper, the Times Free Press. Documentation will be maintained regarding all publications. 5.5 Informing Local Officials of Project Progress The Enterprise Center, RPA, Office of Economic and Community Development, and the City of Chattanooga Transportation Department staff enjoy a strong collaborative relationship. As this project goes forward, this plan will be aligned to work in conjunction with other ongoing initiatives of the city. 5.6 Language Translation English is the preferred language by most Chattanooga residents. However, translation services are available through project partners, as needed. 6.0 PLAN UPDATE The grantee will update this document on a regular basis to reflect changing concerns of the community related to activity progress. The contact list will also be revised whenever elections result in a change of local elected officials, as identified in the Appendix A – List of Contacts. If updates are necessary, the revised CIP will be provided to the public through the identified public information repositories. 8|Page USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 7.0 POINTS OF CONTACT John Bridger, Executive Director, and Heather Shank, Senior Planner of the Regional Planning Agency, will serve as the community points-of contact for this project. They will lead project tasks, including the kick-off meeting. They will also serve as the community spokesperson on behalf of this project. Specific tasks include meeting with key stakeholders, review and approval of project documents, and presentations to the public, partners, and other key stakeholders in order to share findings and receive feedback. For additional information, they may be reached at: John Bridger, Executive Director 1250 Market Street, Suite 2000 Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone: 423-643-5930 Heather Shank, Senior Planner 1250 Market Street, Suite 2000 Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone: 423-643-5928 [email protected] [email protected] 9|Page USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 APPENDIX A - List of Contacts A.1 Federal Elected Officials US Senators Lamar Alexander’s Office Joel E. Soloman Federal Building 900 Georgia Avenue, #260 Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone: 423-752-5337 Fax: 423-752-5342 http://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email [email protected] Bob Corker’s Office Electric Power Board Building 10 West MLK Blvd., 6th Floor Chattanooga, TN 37402 Main: 423-756-2757 Fax: 423-756-5313 [email protected] [email protected] U.S. House of Representative for Congressional District 3 Congressman Fleischmann's Office 900 Georgia Avenue, Suite 126 Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone: 423-756-2342 Fax: 423-756-6613 [email protected] 10 | P a g e USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 A.2 State Elected Officials Governor Bill Haslam 1st Floor, State Capitol Nashville, TN 37243 Phone: 615-741-2001 [email protected] State Senators Todd Gardenhire District 10 P.O. Box 4506 Chattanooga, TN 37405 Phone: 615-741-6682 Fax: 615-253-0209 [email protected] State House of Representative in District 28 JoAnne Favors 2441 Meade Circle Chattanooga, TN 37406 Phone: 615-741-2702 Fax: 615-253-0351 [email protected] A.3 Local Officials City of Chattanooga City Council 1000 Lindsay Street Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone: 423-757-5196 Fax: 423-757-4857 District 8 Councilman Moses Freeman [email protected] Hamilton County Commissioners 401 Courthouse 625 Georgia Avenue Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone: 423-209-7200 Fax: 423-209-7201 District 4 11 | P a g e USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 Commissioner Warren Mackey [email protected] A.4 EPA Region 4 Officials Olga Perry US Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 61 Forsyth Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-562-8534 Fax: 404-562-8439 [email protected] A.5 State Environmental Agency Officials Andy Shivas TN Brownfields Coordinator & VOAP Manager Department of Environment & Conservation William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 14th Floor Nashville, TN 37243 Phone: 615-532-0912 Fax: 615-687-7078 [email protected] Paula Larson TN Brownfields Outreach Coordinator Department of Environment & Conservation William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 14th Floor Nashville, TN 37243 Phone: 615-532-0926 Fax: 615-687-7078 [email protected] A.6 Media Newspapers Chattanooga Times-Free Press 400 E. 11th Street Chattanooga, TN 37403 Phone: 423-756-6900 Television Stations WTVC Newschannel 9 12 | P a g e USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 4279 Benton Drive Chattanooga, TN 37406 Phone: 423-756-5500 WDEF Channel 12 3300 Broad St. Chattanooga, TN 37408 Phone: 423-785-1200 WRCB-Channel 3 1107 Stringer Ridge Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37405 Phone: 423-267-5417 WTCI TV 45 7540 Bonnyshire Dr. Chattanooga, TN 37416 Phone: 423-702-7800 Radio Stations US 101 FM 7413 Old Lee Highway Chattanooga, TN 37421 Phone: 423-899-7224 Sunny 92.3 2615 Broad St. Chattanooga, TN 37408 Phone: 423-321-6200 WUTC-FM 88.1 615 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga, TN 37403 Phone: 423-425-4756 Social Media Chattanoogabrownfields.org Enterprisecenterbrownfields.org theenterprisectr.org/ chattanooga.gov/ 13 | P a g e USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 _________________________________ APPENDIX B - Glossary of Terms Brownfields: With certain legal exclusions and additions, the term "brownfields site" means 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. (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/overview/glossary.htm) Community: All of the populations occupying a given area; a neighborhood or specific area where people live. Initiative: The ability to assess and initiate things independently; the power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC): TDEC is committed to protecting and improving the quality of Tennessee’s air, land and water. Department programs and initiatives protect human health and the environment and support economic development and quality of life through education, outreach and effective enforcement of state and federal environmental laws. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Established in 1970 to consolidate in one agency a variety of federal research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities to ensure environmental protection. (http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-history) 14 | P a g e USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 ___________________________ APPENDIX C - List of Acronyms CERCLA EPA FS GPS HH&E MOA MOU NFA NPL OBLR PAA POC QC RTC SOP TDEC TEC TOSC UL Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund) US Environmental Protection Agency Feasibility Study Global Positional System Human Health and the Environment Memorandum of Agreement Memorandum of Understanding No Further Action National Priorities List Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program Area Analysis Point of Contact Quality Control Response to Comments Standard Operating Procedure Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation The Enterprise Center Technical Outreach Services for Communities Urban League of Greater Chattanooga 15 | P a g e USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 ________________________________ APPENDIX D - Community Group Names Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association Fortwood Neighborhood Association Chattanooga Organized for Action APPENDIX E - Community Involvement Activities to Date ACTIVITY TIME FRAME Kick-Off Meeting February 7, 2014 March 26, 2014 Community Involvement Plan Developed August 2014 Upload in public repository As needed Planning Team Meeting As needed Maintain communication with community Ongoing Revise the Community Involvement Plan As needed Design Charrette: Present and engage in participatory design Community Meeting: Present data and obtain feedback November 2014 January 2014 16 | P a g e USEPA Area-Wide Plan Chattanooga, Tennessee Project No. EPA560-F-13-044 August 12, 2014 APPENDIX F - Community Leadership Team Member Affiliation Karen Hundt RPA Heather Shank RPA Miguel Partap The Enterprise Center Ty Amour Neighborhood Services Representative Bert Kuyrkendall City Transportation Department Chris Senn/ Mark Senn Canon/Cumberland site property owner Michael McGauley/ Matt McGauley Riverside Drive property owner Russ Elliot Riverside Drive property owner Wiley Morton Lincoln Park resident Vannice Hughley Lincoln Park resident Lisa Mack Fort Wood resident Hal Baker Fort Wood resident Janna Jahn Engel stadium Erlanger Richard Brown University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 17 | P a g e