ELORA – Ten new properties have been listed as priority sites on the Centre Wellington Community Improvement Plan (CIP).
At the June 17 committee of the whole meeting economic development officer Patricia Rutter gave council a report about the 10 properties in question.
“Priority sites are sites that are designated by council under recommendation of the Economic Development Task Force and without being designated as a priority site we cannot offer the larger, higher order incentives such as the tax increment, brownfield or a level two facade improvement,” Rutter said.
“The economic development task force has been taking a proactive approach with these properties as the township does have a lack of commercial land.”
A subcommittee was developed in order to identify priority sites.
“They have met several times and have been scouring the map of properties in Centre Wellington and have come up with a list that they would like to add to the list of priority sites to this point,” Rutter said.
“If they get added, the subcommittee will then proactively take some action on these sites by visiting properties owners to talk about outline opportunities that could be available to redevelop, reuse some of these properties.”
The properties include:
– 599 Hill St. West in Fergus (AO Smith Building): heritage value and substantial redevelopment opportunities;
– 350 St. Andrew St. West in Fergus (former doctor’s office beside Melville United Church): underutilized;
– 680 St. David St. North in Fergus (Morris Auto): underutilized;
– 684 St. David St. North in Fergus (Golden Fish and Chips): underutilized;
– 920 and 930 St. David Street North in Fergus (strip mall and former fuel depot);
– 197 Beatty Line in Fergus (Sharpe Feed): underutilized;
– 165 Geddes Street in Elora (former L and M Food Market);
– 16 Mill Street East in Elora (strip mall): underutilized;
– 355 Wellington Road 18 (Elora Raquet Club): underutilized.
The subcommittee also recommended removing 101 St. Andrew St. West in Fergus (The Vault coffee shop building) because it has already received a grant/loan for façade improvement.
“[It] will probably not require any additional incentives,” Rutter told council.
Councillor Kirk McElwain asked whether the businesses on priority sites will automatically receive a grant.
“Just because they’re designated as a priority site does not mean we would even offer incentives to them,” Rutter said. “It just means they are available should a development come up on those properties that provides a greater economic impact to the community.”
There are a number of criteria that must be met in order to be listed as a priority site, such as frontage on the Grand River, a known brownfield property, significant heritage value, underutilization or potential for significant development or redevelopment, Rutter explained.
Council must still go through a rigorous process to ensure the sites are eligible for grants, Mayor Kelly Linton explained. However, the properties that are listed as priority sites will be eligible for more grants than those properties that are not listed.
The committee of the whole accepted the recommendation and it subsequently passed at the June 24 council meeting.
