Article date: May 20, 2000

By Ben Orcutt

The Industrial Development Authority for the town of Front Royal and Warren County is bringing in "premier" experts for its "Green Design" workshop Tuesday, according to Economic Development Authority Executive Director Stephen A. Heavener.

Heavener said Tuesday’s workshop, which is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Northern Shenandoah Valley 4H Educational and Conference Center is intended to tap the knowledge of "the best and the brightest" minds in green design as it relates to the revitalization of the Avtex Superfund site.

"My philosophy is don’t reinvent the wheel," Heavener said. "We want to do this (green design) and we want to learn from other people’s successes and failures." Heavener said the EDA also is brining in the heavy hitters "because this is such a new approach to things."

The terminology "green design" involves the use of "environmentally friendly construction materials, design technologies, and work-space environment," Heavener said.

There are two primary reasons why the EDA has chosen green design for the Avtex site, he said. First, it is the "exact opposite," Heavener said, of the contaminated materials found at the site, such as PCB’s, which ultimately forced the rayon plant to close in November 1989. The second reason, Heavener said, is "to position ourselves in the marketplace. There are hundreds of office parks in Northern Virginia. How do we differentiate ourselves?"

Heavener believes such amenities as a riverfront park and soccer fields, which are planned for the site, will help. "Hopefully we’ll come out on top," he said. The EDA’s desire is to land new and innovative businesses that will view the new Avtex site as a cut above other industrial parks, he added.

The workshop will start with an overview of the benefits of green designed industrial parks by Maile Deppe of Cornell University’s Center for the Environment. Deppe is the research director at Cornell’s Work and Environment Initiative, according to the EDA. The EDA biographical material also says that she has worked with localities nationwide that are considering industrial green design.

Michael Krause, executive director of The Green Institute in Minneapolis, will then speak on the kinds of construction materials that are used in green design. EDA information states that the Green Institute is nationally recognized for a 64,000 square foot green designed office and manufacturing park it opened last year.

After a lunch break, Dan deBettencourt of dBF Associates, a McLean based architectural firm, and the EDA’s architect for the project will present a specific plan at 1:30 p.m. of how office space will be integrated with green design.

At 2 p.m. Dan Sloane an attorney with McGuire, Woods, Battle & Booth, is scheduled to speak on covenant issues he dealt with in the development of the Cape Charles Sustainable Technology Park in Northampton County and other similar parks.

Sloane is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and is national counsel for the Sustainable Washington Alliance, Virginia Housing and Environmental Network, Green America, and the Congress of New Urbanism, according to the EDA.

Also, Tom Harris , former Northampton County administrator, will speak on the political aspect of green development. The Cape Charles project was the nations first eco-industrial park and has received national acclaim, EDA information says. Harris is now county administrator for King George County.

The final speaker for the day is Tim Hayes, executive director for the Cape Charles park, who will speak on it development and operation. EDA information lists Hayes as the developer of the Cape Charles project and credits him with forging public and private investment in the park.

"In my humble opinion," said EDA Marketing Manager Marla Taylor Jones, "this (Avtex revitalization) is going to put Front Royal on the map." The endeavor is one of the most important the community will embark upon, she said. "We hope that we get a real good turnout for our green design workshop on Tuesday," she added.

Heavener said space is limited. A spot may be reserved by calling 635-2182.