Re-use previously developed and brownfield sites

• Provide liability relief at low risk “brownfield” sites

• Finance environmental site assessments to determine remediation necessary on desirable brownfield development sites

• Simplify the regulatory process with one-stop-shopping for permits to reduce the time and cost of development and increase predictability

• Provide public financing through redevelopment agencies and tax exempt bonds to ‘jump start’ re-use of appropriate site

• Create income and property tax incentives for the re-use of desirable sites

Case Study: Truckee Rail Yard

In 1990, the last lumber mill in the town of Truckee closed. Located adjacent to the eastern edge of Truckee’s historic downtown, the 37-acre site has an active railroad line running through it and required some soil clean up due to its years as a mill site. Aptly known as the Truckee Railyard, the site provides Truckee with a unique opportunity to create a walkable development with businesses, housing and civic features adjacent and complimentary to the existing historic downtown core.

The geography of Truckee’s 34 square miles provides very few opportunities to develop property within the mature commercial core. Most development occurs as rural residential on the town’s outskirts. In fact, Truckee experienced rapid growth, a 52 percent increase from 1990 to 2000, due to this residential development.

The opportunity for commercial mixed use development at the Truckee Railyard, combining business and residential buildings, will allow Truckee to improve its downtown core by encouraging residents to live and shop there. Directing growth to the downtown allows the town to enhance the presence of its existing core by stitching historic downtown with the new development.

Brownfield land, previously developed land that has environmental concerns, needs remediation before the land can be redeveloped for other uses. Redeveloping brownfield sites have unique challenges. The Truckee Railyard has a federally mandated 200-foot setback from the railroad line, a fly-over zone for the Truckee Airport, and a 100-year floodplain for Trout Creek. Contaminated land can be expensive to remediate and prepare for development, but brownfields often occupy desirable land parcels within developed communities.

The town’s Downtown Specific Plan promotes development of an “attractive pedestrian-oriented activity center physically and visually connected with historic downtown Truckee.” To accomplish this goal, the plan highlights the need to encourage a mix of land uses, accommodate housing development including affordable housing and a building design compatible with the existing downtown. The Truckee Railyard also could potentially improve traffic circulation through downtown by connecting existing roads.

The Downtown Specific Plan has several policies to encourage local and visitor use of the Truckee Rail Yard. Providing a civic amenity such as a town square or ice skating rink combined with prominent pedestrian and bicycle corridors will help ensure foot traffic in the new development.