Photo: Goderich Town Hall
The Town of Goderich held a public meeting surrounding a Surplus Land & Building Community Improvement Plan (CIP).
The goal of the CIP is to stimulate private investment through the use of municipal incentives, with the goal of improving the economic health of the town’s industrial areas, promote the development of vacant surplus properties, support new business development and expansions, and to create new employment opportunities.
Speaking in favour of the proposed CIP was Charles Oliver, Vice-Chair of the Economic Development Committee, who spoke to council with the hope that Goderich would be open and supportive of new development even if a formal community improvement plan was not yet in place.
“I would welcome the opportunity to, say, if we had somebody show up at out door who’s going to open up a factory or a plant and employ 250 people and pay them great salaries, we’ll figure it out. Because that would dramatically change this town.”
The CIP will carry with it a particular method to enticing business developers to the town. The municipality will identify lands and buildings to be deemed surplus and determine the best use of the property. Once Council formally declares land or a building surplus, by resolution, at least one appraisal of the fair market value of the land and a public notice must be provided.
Available properties will be posted on the Town’s website with relevant details including location, size, zoning, servicing information, and method of sale.
The proposal also talks about incentives such as the cost of servicing the parcel of land with water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as hydro and natural gas could be waived, development charges could be waived, and there could also be a reduction in property tax and municipal fees collected.
“The urgency of getting new employers back into this town cannot be strongly stated enough,” he said. “We have seen, over the past decades, large employers leave. There are people in this room who have suffered because of that. We need to change that.”
Oliver shared that it was in the town’s best interest to be open to new or expanding business developments, because without viable job opportunities, the town would not be able to grow and thrive, particularly with the younger population.
“We cannot continue to just be a town that is half-filled with retirees, who sadly – we all know how to do math – 25 years from now, we’re not going to be here. ” Oliver implored.
The meeting was held in accordance with Section 8 of the Ontario Planning Act.
Consideration of the proposed Surplus Lands CIP and corresponding schedules will be considered for by-law at the next council meeting in June.