Economic development open house seeks input on community improvement plan

By Ron Giofu

A community improvement plan could be soon coming to Amherstburg.

An economic development open house was held at the Libro Centre last Wednesday evening where town officials asked for feedback on a possible community improvement plan. The plan, as described by the town’s development services department, “supports the local economy by attracting significant new investment and development that represents desirable sectors for the Amherstburg economy” and “encourages job creation in Amherstburg by attracting significant new industrial and commercial development and expanding existing industrial and commercial businesses in identified sectors of the economy.”

Deputy CAO/director of development services Melissa Osborne said the community improvement plan (CIP) would give town council the tools it needs to determine how it could help attract new businesses and industries to the town.

“We’re looking for public input on types of incentives council would be able to offer industrial and commercial developers,” said Osborne.

Incentives could include waiving property taxes, with Osborne stating the property would not see taxes waived completely, but rather the differential should the value increase. If it was a property that was valued at having $100,000 in taxes and a development caused it to increase to $200,000 in taxes, the $100,000 differential would be waived.

Other options town council could consider would be waiving development fees, building permits and/or planning permits, she indicated.

With the EV battery plant coming to Windsor, Osborne indicated it could lead to spinoff development elsewhere and the CIP would help Amherstburg be in a position to capitalize on that.

If town council were to try waiving taxes or fees now, they could face challenges from other businesses questioning “why them and not me?” she explained.

“Amherstburg has not had the tools necessary to give incentives,” said Osborne. “(A CIP) gives council the toolbox to pick from.”

The boundaries of the suggested community improvement plan is Texas Road to the north, Lowes Side

Road to the south, the Detroit River to the west and an easterly boundary that includes Meloche Road, Alma St. and Concession 3 North.

Osborne and manager of planning services Christopher Aspila indicated if this CIP is approved, administration could work towards having CIP’s established in other areas of Amherstburg.

While there weren’t a lot of people that attended last Wednesday evening’s open house, there will still be an other opportunity for input.

A public meeting will be scheduled for late March or early April with a final bylaw anticipated to come before town council near the end of April or early May. Aspila said the province is aware the town is working on such a plan but added he can’t put a timeline on when the province could approve it.

Tony Pietrangelo, a McGregor resident, said he hopes areas such as his receive attention from the town. He said River Canard, Anderdon, Malden as well as McGregor need to be looked after too.

“We should be included,” said Pietrangelo, as he looked at maps that were on easels in the Libro Centre lobby. “Why isn’t McGregor on there? I am on the Amherstburg side of McGregor.”

Pietrangelo said residents in those areas pay taxes as well.

“We should be included on this map as soon as possible,” he said. “Where am I at? I’m not on there.”