Скачать или смотреть CPES HOT TOPIC - November 13, 2025 - Developing Contaminated Sites

Welcome to our latest CPES Hot Topics session: a candid, expert-led discussion on how redevelopment really happens in New Jersey — legally, politically, environmentally, and financially.

This panel brings together professionals who sit at every side of the table:

Clark Machemer – Industrial developer with 25+ years of NJ experience

Joanne Vos, Esq. – Municipal and redevelopment attorney

Andy Robins, Esq. – Developer’s attorney and environmental counsel

Steve Senior, Esq. – Environmental attorney, ISRA/due diligence specialist

Moderated by Dr. Jorge Berkowitz

Across 90 minutes of real-world dialogue, the panel breaks down why redevelopment in New Jersey is both uniquely challenging and uniquely rewarding, especially as the state runs out of “easy” buildable land.

Topics Covered in This Video

✔ How municipalities evaluate developers — and what towns really look for
✔ Conditional designation agreements, redevelopment plans, and public engagement
✔ PILOTs (Payments in Lieu of Taxes): why towns use them, why residents oppose them, and why most major projects can’t work without them
✔ Reluctant sellers, condemnation powers, and when towns invoke them
✔ Why contamination is less of a dealbreaker today, and how the LSRP program changed risk assessment
✔ Site selection from the developer’s point of view: zoning, infrastructure capacity, flood hazard rules, and geotech “poison pills”
✔ Due diligence realities: LSRP involvement, tank surprises, emerging contaminants, and reporting obligations
✔ Affordable housing challenges and how environmental conditions are used—legitimately and strategically—to oppose projects
✔ The future of redevelopment in NJ: EJ concerns, community opposition, better architecture, and navigating DEP rule changes
✔ Why strong teams (municipal, environmental, legal, development) determine whether a project succeeds or dies on the vine

Who This Video Is For

LSRPs

Environmental consultants

Municipal officials & planners

Redevelopers & real estate professionals

Environmental attorneys

Community advocates

Anyone trying to understand NJ redevelopment, incentives, and environmental compliance

Key Takeaway

Redevelopment in New Jersey isn’t just about land and buildings — it’s about zoning, politics, environmental risk, infrastructure, incentives, public sentiment, and team quality. This conversation pulls back the curtain on all of it.