What is the NAS-JRB Willow Grove Redevelopment
Plan?
The Redevelopment Plan for NAS-JRB Willow Grove
represents a unique opportunity to establish not only a vibrant
place to live, work, play and raise a family, but also centers of
excellence for R & D innovation, environmental sustainability,
and "green" community development. From an economic development
perspective, the plan provides a framework within which a variety
of corporate, business, recreational, and community opportunities
can flourish. From a community development perspective, the plan
promotes a strong sense of place based on smart growth principles
that will serve as a model for future sustainable development
throughout the region.
How will the reuse plan be developed and paid for?
The Office of Economic Adjustment (within the Department
of Defense) provides federal planning grants to communities
affected by base realignments or closures. This grant money has
funded the work necessary to develop a redevelopment plan;
including professional consulting fees. For NAS-JRB Willow Grove,
the HLRA hired RKG Associates, Inc., an economic, planning and real
estate consulting firm experienced in military base closures. RKG
assisted the HLRA with the economic and market analysis, public
outreach, development of potential reuse scenarios to develop the
Redevelopment Plan that reflects Horsham' long-term goals and
values to submit to the Navy.
What is the overall concept for the redevelopment
plan?
The redevelopment plan is a strategic plan for the reuse
of the entire installation which the HLRA must submit to the
Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD). The redevelopment plan addresses many
factors, including a description of the overall redevelopment of
the installation in a comprehensive and coordinated manner and
describing the proposed land uses. The plan includes a description
of the property and improvements and address how the plan will fit
with any plans the community already has in place.
When will the Environmental Impact Statement process
take place?
Before disposing of any real property, the Navy must
analyze the environmental effects of the disposal action under
National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). The HLRA's submission
of the redevelopment plan triggers the NEPA process. The Navy's
analysis will include the redevelopment plan and consider a range
of reasonable disposal alternatives and assess their environmental
effects. The HLRA's redevelopment plan will be given substantial
deference in the final decision making process. More information on
the Navy EIS is available at www.willowgroveeis.com
What is the status of the Environmental Cleanup of past
Navy operations?
A comprehensive program was undertaken by the federal
government to systematically investigate, clean up, and monitor
environmental contamination that may have resulted from past
operations at the installation. This program began in the 1980's,
and is being carried out through several branches of the Navy, the
Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Navy is responsible for investigating and cleaning up the site pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA, 1986), the National Contingency Plan (NCP), and other federal and state laws and regulations.
The cleanup process is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The Navy is required to ensure that the facility is investigated and cleaned up to a level that is protective of public health and the environment. Areas of the base cannot be transferred or sold for reuse until after the investigation and clean-up of these areas is completed, unless the Navy, the State and the HLRA elect to use a process known as the Early Transfer Authority (ETA).
Early Transfer Authority is designed to assist communities in expediting the reuse of a former base while ensuring that the cleanup is completed. Under ETA, property may be transferred prior to the completion of cleanup, provided the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) are satisfied that safeguards are in place to protect human health and the environment.
The Navy remains liable after the property is transferred to complete or fund the completion of the required cleanup in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment. The NAS-JRB Willow Grove Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meets quarterly to update its members and the public on the status of the environmental investigations and cleanup. All meetings are open to the public.
When is the Navy relocating?
On September 15, 2011, NAS-JRB Willow Grove was officially closed.
The Navy and Marine Corps squadrons/units moved to McGuire Air
Force Base on March 31, 2011.
The 111th Fighter Wing of the PA Air National Guard remains at their present site along with Army Reserve and Army National Guard units on the former U.S. Air Force Reserve Center facility. The U.S. Army Reserve, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, and Pennsylvania Army National Guard units are located on the approximately 200-acre base that is located near the intersection of County Line and Easton Roads. The name of the new installation will be "Horsham Air Guard Station". On September 15, 2011, NAS-JRB Willow Grove was officially closed.
Who owns the property now that base is closed?
While the military operations that were at NAS-JRB Willow
Grove have been relocated, the Navy continues to own the property
and is providing the necessary maintenance and security services
through a caretaker agreement until the property is transferred and
those responsibilities go to the new owner.
Can I rent a building at NAS-JRB Willow Grove for my
business or an event?
The Navy has shut off water and sewer service to all
existing buildings at the base and demolished the on-base sewage
treatment plant. Thus no buildings are considered habitable.
Liability issues also make the grounds unavailable for. The HLRA
does not own the property; the Navy is still the owner until after
the approval of the Redevelopment Plan and new owner takes
possession.
Why is HUD involved in the redevelopment
plan?
As part of the difficult job in adjusting the size of the U.S.
Department of Defense through the BRAC process, Congress recognized
the need to accommodate the impacted communities multiple interests
while meeting the national priority to assist homeless individuals
and families. Under the Base Closure Community Redevelopment and
Homeless Assistance Act of 1994, the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) is tasked with ensuring the redevelopment
plan balances the community's expressed needs for economic
redevelopment and other development with the expressed needs of the
homeless individuals and families in the vicinity of the base. HUD
reviews the LRA's redevelopment plan and homeless assistance
submission to insure that all requirements have been met.
Per the Federal BRAC requirements, the HLRA solicited Notices of Interest (NOI) for potential homeless and public benefit conveyances of property and buildings at NAS-JRB Willow Grove. The HLRA selected the homeless providers from the NOIs received. Note that while the HLRA was required to select among the providers that submitted NOIs, the HLRA was not required to accept the NOI exactly as proposed in the NOI application. Rather, the HLRA can work with the selected homeless provider(s) to develop housing that best responds to the needs of the homeless and balances the needs of the community.
Why do the Homeless Service Providers get priority
consideration of useable property in a BRAC plan?
The Base Closure Community Redevelopment and Homeless
Assistance Act of 1994 (Redevelopment Act) established a
community-based process where representatives of the homeless and
other community groups participate in local reuse planning. This
Act placed the base reuse planning in the hands of a Local
Redevelopment Authority (LRA) who is selected by and represents all
community interests. The LRA develops a reuse plan that balances
the need for economic redevelopment, other development and homeless
assistance. Homeless assistance providers may include State and
local government agencies or private non-profit organizations that
provide or propose to provide assistance to homeless persons and
families. These organizations may receive base property under a
no-cost homeless assistance transfer. Only those organizations that
propose to serve homeless persons meeting the McKinney-Veto Act
definition are eligible to receive a no-cost transfer.
Will the homeless housing include a shelter (cots in a
gym) or be transitional in nature?
No, there will be no homeless shelter as part of the
NAS-JRB Willow Grove redevelopment plan. The homeless housing will
be permanent supportive housing, meaning there will be no time
limits imposed on residency.
HLRA – Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority
1025 Horsham Road, Horsham PA 19044 | Telephone: (215) 643-3131 | Fax: (215) 643-0448 | mail@hlra.org
This website is designed to provide information about the HLRA initiatives in relation to NAS-JRB. This is not a Navy website.