Catalyst Environmental Solutions Corporation’s Post

Tasked with looking at how the state of #California can best house its growing population while meeting its aggressive energy, housing, transportation, land use, and equity goals, the California Strategic Growth Council faces a slew of challenges. But, if the outlook of SGC Executive Director Lynn von Koch-Liebert is any indication, it’s only a matter of time before those challenges are successfully met. Read our complete #interview from the latest issue of Modular Advantage: https://lnkd.in/dqzeCS6k #affordablehousing #fairhousing #sustainability #sustainablehousing #modularconstruction #offsiteconstruction #energyconservation #housingcrisis

Sustainable corridor planning is about more than transportation – it impacts economic development, housing, and livability. Learn more about what we’re doing in Kansas and Missouri. #transportation #planning Stantec Adam Jones, AICP #TOD #mobility Stantec

Residential CAN go on a former brownfield as long as it meets the residential standards. Redevelopment on a former brownfield property, whether it's industrial, commercial or residential, is beneficial to the entire community! In order to apply for and be granted an US EPA Brownfield assessment grant you have to own the property and have a compliant Phase I ESA (among other requirements). You want to go the affordable housing route? Piggyback ALL the funding possible to get that project completed! Keep in mind- for most of those government type funding sources you will need a Phase I ESA and likely NEPA!

Interesting article by our Transport and Environmental Planning lead Matthew Grist, discussing the need to embrace both brown/green development to unlock common ground to support economic growth.

Our fourth brownfield recommendation is to encourage proportionate decision-making to ensure that planning decisions are taken at the appropriate level, where their impacts are most felt, and with the appropriate level of expertise.   Currently, too often decisions are taken at one level, only to be appealed (or called in) at a higher level later. This is partly driven by local authorities being asked to determine matters that are of greater significance than to their local area alone.   We think there needs to be more consistency in how decisions are made, based on which issues are local and which are genuinely strategic – while still maintaining the critical link with the local community.   To help solve this, we’re calling for applicants of significant brownfield urban regeneration projects to have the choice to refer their application to the relevant strategic or combined authority right from the start.   We also recommend that planning committee members involved in determining large, complex urban regeneration applications should be provided with rigorous and up-to-date training, to equip them with the expertise they need.   For more on this and our other recommendations, see here https://lnkd.in/eg48UmU8 British Land #urbanregeneration #brownfield

https://lnkd.in/g_Jrd3NH In a time of historic funding allocation, land scarcity, affordability struggles and new sustainability goals, brownfields are poised to see an unprecedented revival. Law360's Real Estate Authority has spent months investigating the opportunities and challenges that lie in redeveloping contaminated land.

📢 FEDERAL Grant Alert: Bridge Investment Program (BIP) – Large Bridge Project Grants Apply now for Large Bridge Project Grants under the Bridge Investment Program. The Bridge Investment Program's goals are to: - Improve safety, efficiency and reliability of the movement of people and freight over bridges; - Improve the overall condition of bridges in the United States; and - Provide financial assistance that leverages and encourages non-federal contributions from sponsors and stakeholders involved in the planning, design, and construction of eligible projects that will cost more than $100 million. Learn more: https://ow.ly/Tfcr50Qq4JL Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Blair Planning Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Pennsylvania Municipal League North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors PA Chamber of Business and Industry ASHE National Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Earlier in the summer, Carson Risner and I attended the Green Infrastructure Federal Collaborative, a quarterly gathering of federal agency staff who are experts on green infrastructure and larger nature-based solutions. We presented on Earth Economics' work with FEMA, incorporating the benefits of nature-based solutions into FEMA’s Benefit-Cost Analysis Toolkit, valuing the Duckabush Estuary in WA with Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, and Green Stormwater Infrastructure co-benefits in DC with Green Compass Federal agencies can use ecosystem services valuation for: Decision making—expanding benefit-cost analyses to include nature’s benefits underscores the benefits (and often lower costs) of nature-based solutions. Measuring success—by assessing project performance in broader terms that include co-benefits and greater community resilience. Return on Investment—linking ecosystem goods and services to federal budgets demonstrates to legislators that nature-based solutions are wise investments. Landscape-scale engagement—using ecosystem services valuation as a means of communicating with Tribes, state and local governments, and both national and local nonprofit organizations. Thanks for the opportunity Robyn De Young! https://lnkd.in/eJiAS9FD https://lnkd.in/eGwkYnzp

I am thrilled to share that a paper I worked on for the better part of 2023 is now published! Nathaniel Mattison and I explored the green infrastructure policies of 4 different cities and how they can advance equity by providing important environmental benefits to marginalized communities that have so long beared the brunt of environmental harms. Give it a read below!