Real-life Environmental hurdles.
Interested in real environmental hurdles; endangered species, plants, floodplains, etc. you've experienced in the development process. What are actual environmental cases you've run into and what was the result? How were they overcome (if they were), and what did you learn?
[{"id": "cqrp17i", "text": "oooo I have a few that have caused a few gray hairs for me. I'm assuming your hurdles also include environmental contamination? \n\nI represented the Buyer in the purchase of a large tract of bank owned land. They are planning to build a luxury wellness spa on the property and ample water availability/quality were high on their list of must haves. \n\nAfter extensively walking the property, we came across 6 groundwater testing wells and a obscure private road leading up to them. It was pretty apparent that this was a dump site. We asked the bank about it and they said there was a small oil leak across the street but the subject property hadn't been cleared of any contamination. \n\nWe didn't believe this story and upon further research, it appeared that another (300 PAGE!) Phase 1 report was commissioned by this same bank a couple years earlier. It smells like willfull ommission to me but whatever, we re-traded the deal and moved on with the sale. \n\nIt's costing them almost $200k in remediation/testing over the next 5 years to even begin to develop the site. Given, there are major tax credits involved going through the Brownfield program, but it doesn't give any monetary value on the time put in. \n\nOur hurdles during development were mainly going through the Brownfield program which requires extensive site plan work, not to mention hefty fees with no guarantee of acceptance. There's also a public hearing that has to take place before approval. It takes at least 6-8 months to get a \"okay we're going to approve your Brownfield Agreement\" and at least another 6 months to actually receive it and begin development. \n\nIn addition to the groundwater contamination, we also had issues with radon and wetlands. A radon mitigation system was required and we had to jump through hoops with the army core of engineers for the wetland issue. \n\nI could probably write a novel on this one but I'll spare everybody. I've had a few floodplain situations too if you wanted to know about those. ", "replies": [{"id": "cqszwwn", "text": "What state if you don't mind me asking.", "replies": [{"id": "cqtbrom", "text": "NC ", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "cqvjduk", "text": "I didn't really learn anything, and this isn't my clusterfuck, but I still think its interesting so I'll share.  \n\nA fairly large company owned about 7 properties covering 5 blocks or so.  Most were highly specialized industrial manufacturing or office.  One of them was a lot they parked semi's on.  \n\nMy client wanted the semi lot.  There is a small building that is basically a demo, that at one time was a office for a car dealership, probably converted from a mechanic's shop, and fuck knows what before that.  This area (though about a half mile from this property) use to have some kind or iron works smelter or something.  I honestly don't know exactly what but I know a lot of the residential properties, mostly single families, have been testing for lead in the soil.  \n\nSo they sell half this shit off and we go after this lot/tear down.  Works great for us.  We make an offer.  No response, no counter, nothing.  WTF?  Every time I follow up I get the \"we appreciate the offer, I can't get into a lot of details but we are still talking, big company etc etc, just be patient\".  Eventually I get a fw: fw: fw: fw: fw: from the ownership company to the asset manager, to the national broker, to the local broker (none of which comment on this) that basically says phase 1 on another property they own had something in it that concerned them.  They want to investigate more before they do anything on this property.  Give them about 30 days.  \n\n30 days later I follow up, and get some fw: fw: fw: fw: shit no one wants to comment on saying they are still investigating, it will be at least 6 months.  \n\n18 months later, every other property has sold, I still follow up every few months and just get a fw fw fw fw fw: try us again in 90 days.  No one has touched this property for any purpose.  \n\nI am really really really curious what the hell they found on it, but they seem like the current strategy is fuck it, pretend it doesn't exist.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]