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l l WWW-W.Docembu5.ml2-B Council weighs need for brownfield development incentives mm Mason Coun. Diane Freeman also noted devel- to a minimum d340,”, regional develop- growthcentre. Chronicle my opers already receive financial incentives to ment charge exemptions. Tle (only avail- As part of its study, the city met with eight rehabilitate brownfields by way of paying able for cities with community improvement developers and landowners to discuss the (3 ity councillors are once again being lower real estate prices for contaminated plans aimed at brownfielrk) and funding for possibility of a brownfield incentive plan in asked to weigh the interests of devel- land. . municipalities to assist in developing or Waterloo. 'lheyindicated the high watermbie opers in Waterloo against the inter The staffreport highlights a series ofhigh- amending community improvement plans to in Waterloo and the high com of remediating ests of taxpayers after being presented with profile brownfield redevelopment prolects in alkwvfortheimplernentation oleGs. contaminated water are concerns. Some a staff report outlining possible brownfield the city over the past 20 years. including the The regional TIC program is currently on developers also noted surrounding municiâ€" development incentives former Bauer industries property. now the hold. however, pendingarevlew. palities have brownfield incentive programs lire purpose of the discussion paper was Bauer lofts, Waterloo town square and the 0f the 49 municipalities that provide â€"â€" Kitchener, Cambridge and Guelph â€" put- to provide council and other stakeholders former t‘anbar property, now actively being brownfield incentives, 47 offer 116s. 37 offer tingWaterloo atacompetitive disadvantage. with more information on brownfield pro» redeveloped as the BarrelYards project propertytax assistance. 2606a development “I don't see it." said Whaley. "Does Cam- grams within the region and province. with Since l986. 3l24 hectares ofcontaminatâ€" charge exemptions and only four provide bridge and Kitchener have a sky full of final recommendations coming in the new ed [and has been remediated â€" is of those rehabilitation loans cranes? year. coming in the past 10 years. In 2008 alone. The Region of Waterloo's urban threats Coun. Karen Scian expressed her concern Proposed options include doing nothing. about nine hectares were cleaned up. inventory database shows 38 known contam- with complacency with the rest of council. assigning a staff position of brownfield Many of these projects benefitted from inated properties in the City ofWaterloo. 0f "There isanotion that weareagreatplace coordinator with the city. tax incentives or the waiving of development charges. the those. 31 are in the central transit corridor to develop. but we must be proactive rather waiving development charges report states. and likely received exemptions and 12 are within the uptown Waterloo urban titan complacent," she said. The city undenook similar steps to spur that exceeded the remediation costs development in the uptown by waiving According to the ministry of municipal >7 . .--_._c___\ development charges from 1999 to 20l0. alfairs and housing. 49 ofthe more than 400 " \‘\. \ Waterloo is the only local city without a municipalities in the province currently have / ‘ , - - ‘ \ brownfield development plan. a brownfield-focused community improve- L 7 ’ I I f 7 ,7. .17 I I \ \V Brownfields are pieces of land contami‘ ment plan. Both Cambridge and Kitchener \ L ‘ ‘ l nated by a former use. such as gas stations or have brownfield programs that focus on tax \\ j , _ .. ‘ . ‘ ~ _ manufacturing, and are typically more incentives known as tax increment grants. \K‘ ‘ ' expensive to develop because of the added Tle are an annual grant equal to the difi’er- . L3 cost of decontaminating the soil or water. ence between the taxes paid pre- and post» . , ‘ a ‘ (loun. Mark Whaley questioned the need development. ‘ ‘ for taxpayers to subsidize development in Kitchener â€"â€" in partnership with the \ l 3 Waterloo when, in his mind. developers are region â€"- provides aTlG equal to it!) per cent I ‘ ' doing just fine without a brownfield pro- of incremental taxes. as well as 8 developâ€" I I A ‘ r' N r ' 3 gram. ment charge exemption in its downtown. The r .- g . ‘There's no need to rush into taxpayer city also has a brownfield co-ordinator on , g s supported development in the city,” he said staff to oversee its community improvement ’ . V in an interview following Monday afternoon's plan. ‘ .- . 4L ' ‘ councilsession. Theregionalsohasabrownfieldincentive â€" ‘We've got to realize that taxpayers are program with four distinct components. rightatthewall.‘ includingenvironmentalassessmentgrants . I Comfort Plus .32.“; a H celebrates their ’ 3| 42 d ' GRAND J "WW" 0 \ busrness wrth "'“""'""" RE OPENING super deals i l .2, . i ll . ‘ 7 . l ,r . 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