Infrastructure costs continue to stall Georgina's Business Park

YorkRegion.com
Oct. 3, 2017
Heidi Riedner

Expediting Georgina's major employment lands through the planning queue is a major goal, but "major impediments” continue to stall the development of the Keswick Business Park.

It has been nine years since more than 500 acres in the Woodbine corridor were designated as part of a key town strategy to provide more local employment while diversifying the tax base.

The town, however, is hopeful recent discussions with the owner of the lands north of Glenwoods Avenue may kick-start the process, according to an update provided to council Sept. 20.

Six key items related to infrastructure costs remain major stumbling blocks to moving forward since the lands received draft plan approval in May of 2016, including those associated with the Woodbine Avenue project and obtaining a fill permit in advance of a subdivision agreement, according to the report tabled.

“These items are major impediments to proceeding with registration of the draft plan of subdivision,” according to Eric McSweeney, the town's consultant, who met with owner John Gallucci and the town's economic development manager, Karyn Stone, Sept. 8.

Assistance with pre-clearance of conditions from both town staff and a neutral third-party qualified professional would help provide “certainty of the ability to proceed with registration and help avoid the imposition of further requirements and delays,” the report states.

Unlike residential plans of subdivision, the “return on (Gallucci's) investment is significantly less,” Stone said, adding “registration of these lands, we must remember, is ultimately dependent on the market for these lands.”

According to staff, there is “a considerable amount of research on these items that must be undertaken” prior to a followup report being tabled outlining any avenues to expedite the process.

Getting the lands included on a provincial registry available to site selectors and proposed signage for the property developed through the town’s investment attraction strategy are also on the docket.