Redevelopment Plan for the Former South Gifford Road Landfill Summary Report July 2018 Treasure Coast Regional Planing Council
Former South Gifford Road Landfill Site Redevelopment Plan July 2018 prepared by Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council and Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. for Indian River County - Solid Waste Disposal District Funding Provided Through: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Cooperative Agreement # BF00D33215-0 and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council
Table of Contents Project History............1 Public Workshop - December 10, 2016.........3 Updates to Solid Waste Disposal District Board...4 Work-In-Progress Public Meeting - July 24, 2017...4 Phasing and Cost Estimates for Redevelopment...5 Artistic Rendering of Citizens Conceptual Master Plan...8 Project Participants INDIAN RIVER COUNTY Owner of the property. Financed prior site assessment and ongoing groundwater remediation activities. GEOSYNTEC CONSULTANTS Since 1999, has assisted Indian River County with assessment and remediation work. Has also assisted the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council with Brownfields-related activities on this site. GIFFORD AND INDIAN RIVER COUNTY RESIDENTS Residents and stakeholders in the community have been very engaged in the assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment planning. TREASURE COAST REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL Recipient of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assessment grants in 2012 and 2015 to conduct assessment, community outreach, and redevelopment planning activities for the site.
Project History The former South Gifford Road Landfill is located along 41st Street in the Gifford Community of Indian River County. The site is approximately 115 acres of land with portions owned by Indian River County (55 acres) and the City of Vero Beach (60 acres). This report summarizes the public outreach efforts to get input from a wide range of community stakeholders on how this property should be redeveloped; provides phasing and cost estimates; and presents an artistic rendering of the Citizens Conceptual Master Plan. Chronology of Activities at the Former South Gifford Road Landfill Site Assessment and Planning Activities: December 3, 2013: The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) applied for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant assistance through the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC) and authorized a site access agreement for assessment activities. July 2013-2014: Update of activities provided at Gifford Progressive Civic League (GPCL) meetings and community concerns received. The GPCL adopted a motion to Redevelop vacant part of old landfill with recreational/park use if environmentally safe. Provide community outdoor marketplace: vendors, flea market. July 2014: Indian River County BOCC approved 2014 Gifford Neighborhood Plan which identified Action 13.6 as By 2016, the County will prepare plans, seek Florida Department of Environmental Protection and EPA approval, and seek funding for redevelopment of the 41st Street Old Landfill Site for community and/or recreational uses. March 2014 to March 2015: Brownfields assessment activities for the county-owned portion of the site completed with TCRPC EPA assessment grant and County funding. Assessment activities focused on current site conditions that could potentially impact the health and safety of the community and to further evaluate the site for public use. The Solid Waste Disposal District (SWDD) Board directed staff to obtain community input and support through redevelopment planning activities for the site. December 2016 - June 2018: Redevelopment planning activities funded through TCRPC s EPA assessment grant. Community workshops, SWDD Board updates, cost and phasing analysis, and artistic rendering were conducted as part of planning and public outreach efforts to create options for redevelopment of the site. 1
2014-2015 Assessment Activities TCRPC funded Brownfields assessment efforts through an EPA Brownfields grant. Indian River County also provided funding for assessment activities designed to evaluate potential health concerns. The assessment work focused on areas that were most likely to be redeveloped and most accessible to the public. The purpose of the assessment activities was to identify chemicals in shallow soil above state regulatory guidance; evaluate the thickness of soil cover over landfill waste; and to assess the presence and composition of any underground soil gas. Project History Site Layout - County Uses Assessment Findings The assessment results indicated site conditions were typical of what is to be expected at a closed landfill site of similar age and composition. Findings include: Two chemicals were identified in five sampling locations above state regulatory guidelines, but within levels consistent with urban background Some areas of the site have less than 2 feet of soil cover over the landfill waste Gas sampling results showed the composition of the gas is typical of closed landfills (predominantly methane and CO2) Redevelopment of the site is appropriate for recreational and/or commercial uses, provided proper consideration of design as well as implementation of institutional and/or engineering controls as needed. Regulatory Update On January 23, 2017, program participants met with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to discuss the project. FDEP agreed that redevelopment is a good idea for this type of former landfill site. In fact, they report that over 50 former landfill sites have been successfully redeveloped in Florida. FDEP offered to work with the County on specific permitting requirements once a project plan is developed. Additionally, FDEP indicated that participation in the Florida Brownfields Program could provide financial incentives and potential access to additional grant funding and tax credits. Assessment Results Source Area Excavation engineers scientists innovators Source Area Excavation 2
Public Workshop A public design workshop was facilitated by TCRPC on December 10, 2016 at the Gifford Community Center. The goal of the workshop was to engage community stakeholders in the process of brainstorming ideas for potential redevelopment uses for the former landfill site. Since the objective of the meeting was to get input and ideas from the public on how to turn the site into a community asset, participants were told to think of what they would like to see, and not constrain their thinking to only things they believe could be funded. Participants were provided a brief presentation on the history, previous work, potential options for reuse, and environmental concerns associated with the property. They then split into two separate groups to draw on overlays of the site what community needs and wants should be developed at the site. After the groups put together their desired plans for redevelopment, two separate presentations were given by group members to all attendees. While there were two separate plans developed, there was consensus among the participants that improvements being considered for this site should be for the overall benefit of all residents of Indian River County. It was also emphasized that participants did not want more ballfields -- they wanted amenities that provide individuals and families with a place to enjoy nature, the arts, and community fellowship. 3 Workshop Participants and Their Redevelopment Concepts
Updates to Solid Waste Disposal District Board January 24, 2017 County staff, Geosyntec, and TCRPC staff provided an update to the Board on assessment findings, current site conditions and uses, redevelopment considerations, and the current community redevelopment planning process. The Board members provided input and expressed concerns on what they would like to see developed on the site. At that meeting, the SWDD Board: authorized the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council to continue with the redevelopment planning efforts; authorized staff to clean up and beautify County frontage in the initial phase; and reserved the 12 to 15 acres currently being used by the County as a road and bridge compound. July 11, 2017 County staff and Geosyntec provided an update to the board on the conceptual plans developed from the citizen input at the December public design workshop and the comments received from the Board at the January meeting, supplemented with preliminary cost estimates. At the meeting, the SWDD Board directed staff to clean up the frontage and remove the exotics from the former South Gifford Landfill Site with minimal additional landscaping; continue with the community meetings to prioritize their ideas for the site; economize and scale back the projects; and phase the redevelopment projects by priority. Work-In-Progress Public Meeting A community meeting was held on July 24, 2017 at the Gifford Community Center to review the drawings and comments from the public design workshop in December; present site plans developed from the community and SWDD Board members; and provide initial cost estimates. The objective of this meeting was to propose a final redevelopment alternative that is amenable to as many of the community stakeholders as possible, and viable for subsequent redevelopment of the site. Participants were asked to help with prioritizing, phasing, and economizing options. Initial Site Plans Developed from Public Input What We Heard From The Community Something different for the entire county. Need to think more than sports fields Regional destination for arts, nature and events (family reunions, weddings, entertainment) Amphitheatre Open air, unity, let everyone be together, large enough for a family reunion Solar Farm Arts Building Greenhouse and Community Garden with raised beds (grow food and sell) Place to Relax and Enjoy Nature Pavilions (with and without tables) 4
Phasing and Cost Estimates for Redevelopment Phase 1 Frontage Improvements and Open Field Phase 1 focuses on the surficial land clearing and disposal of the brush on approximately eight acres, which would include the three acres fronting 41st Street and the adjacent five-acre area to the south that will serve as a grassed open field. Additionally, this phase includes installing approximately 30 trees along the 41st Street frontage with an associated irrigation system (connected to a water source not associated with site groundwater) for an approximate cost ranging from $119,000 to $141,000. Phase 2 Farmer s Market/ Open Air Pavilions Phase 2 is for the development of a Farmer s Market/Open Air Pavilion area on approximately five acres. Work includes land clearing and disposal of brush across the area; construction of the initial paved parking lot; open-air pavilions, including one attached to a small concession building with restrooms; sidewalks; and central and eastern landscaping with trees. The approximate total cost ranges from $2,078,000 to $2,456,000. 5
Phasing and Cost Estimates for Redevelopment Phase 3 Agricultural/ Community Gardens Phase 3 includes the development of approximately 3 acres for an Agricultural/Community Gardens Area. The projected costs include clearing and disposal of the land/brush in this area; installation of above-ground planter boxes for the community gardens; construction of an equipment shed; landscaping and irrigation for this area; and installation of associated sidewalks. The approximate phase cost ranges from $229,000 to $271,000. Phase 4 Community Arts Building Phase 4 includes the development of a proposed 5,000 square foot community arts building. The projected costs under this phase include construction of the building and associated utility connections. The approximate phase cost ranges from $1,768,000 to $2,090,000. 6
Phasing and Cost Estimates for Redevelopment Phase 5 Amphitheater Phase 5 includes the construction of an amphitheater with stage and additional public restrooms; the expansion of the paved parking lots along the northern side of the site; and the installation of a stormwater retention pond along the western side of the site. The approximate cost for this phase ranges from $3,995,000 to $4,721,000. Phase 6 Open Fields This final Phase 6 includes the development of an additional open field for future uses. The areas to be cleared under this phase cover approximately five acres. The approximate cost for this phase ranges from $80,000 to $94,000. 7
Citizens Conceptual Redevelopment Master Plan Artistic rendering of Citizens Conceptual Master Plan for the Redevelopment of the Former Gifford Landfill. This incorporates the collective ideas from the Citizens who participated in the public workshops as well as input from the Indian River County Solid Waste Disposal District Board and staff. 8
View of community arts building and open-air farmers market. Central green facing community arts building and farmers market. View from the open-air Pavillion. Citizens Conceptual Redevelopment Master Plan