Baypointe Brownfield Designation
On Jan. 12, 2021, Pinellas County held a second Public Hearing to pass a resolution designating the former Baypointe Golf Course property as a Brownfield. Designating Baypointe as a Brownfield provided the County with an opportunity to pursue state and federal resources and incentives to perform contamination assessment and remediation.
To view the recording of the virtual public information meeting held on Sept. 29, 2020, please visit Baypointe Golf Course Brownfield Designation Discussion (~39 minutes).
What is a Brownfield?
A Brownfield is any property with real or perceived contamination. These properties are often neglected and can negatively impact community property values or pose health risks if they are not cleaned up. The Pinellas County Brownfield Redevelopment program seeks to improve these properties for the betterment of the local community.
Why Designate This Site a Brownfield?
Decades of pesticide and herbicide application for the golf course have left lingering low-level soil contamination across the site that must be addressed during the redevelopment process. Therefore, the County has pursued and obtained the Brownfield designation to provide opportunities to apply for federal and state funds as well as technical assistance for the cleanup of the site.
Benefits of Brownfield Designations
- Access to state and federal resources for assessment and monitoring
- Structured cleanup process
- Increased local property values
- Redevelopment of a site driven by community input
The Brownfield Process
The basic process of a Brownfield designation is as follows:
- Identification
- Public Outreach
- Application
- Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreement
- Site Rehabilitation Completion Order
Contact Pinellas County Economic Development for more detailed information on the Brownfields Redevelopment Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a Brownfield designation hurt my property value?
Actual property value impacts vary greatly from location to location, but in general, studies have found that a completed Brownfield cleanup can lead to property value increases of 5% within one-quarter mile of the designated site. The Environmental Protection Agency offers additional information on Brownfield designations.
What happens to the contamination?
The County works closely with environmental consultants and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to determine soil and groundwater cleanup levels appropriate for the intended use of the property. This is the same stringent process used for the remediation of hazardous waste and petroleum sites throughout the state. For more information on this process, visit the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Waste Site Cleanup Section.