Brownfields Redevelopment

Brownfields are industrial or commercial areas that have been abandoned. They are often polluted and can range from small gas stations to large factories. 

Cleaning up these places can be hard, expensive and uncertain. This makes it difficult for developers to get loans from banks to redevelop these lands or take on the risk of cleaning them up. Getting developers interested in brownfield projects is an important strategy for in-fill style development. This helps avoid urban sprawl and uses road and utility infrastructure that already exists. To encourage developers to take on these challenges the city has created a Brownfield Community improvement Plan (CIP). 

Community Improvement Plan 

A Community Improvement Plan is a tool that helps a City focus on specific projects. It allows the City to identify strategic areas where developers can receive rebates on future property taxes to help pay for clean-up costs.

The Brownfield Community Improvement Plan  has been around since 2005 and has been updated several times. Our Brownfield Community Improvement Plan has helped initiate over 20 brownfield projects. This represents over 45 hectares of contaminated land, half a billion dollar's worth of new construction and almost $10 million of new property tax revenue per year going forward. 

Municipal incentive programs for brownfield projects 

Our goals are to promote community development and provide financial assistance to projects that will benefit the city. 

Brownfield Initial Study Grant 

We offer a grant called the Initial Study Grant which provides financial help to cover the costs of Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) that are required to determine the extents of contamination on a brownfield site and to create clean-up plans. 

This program is available to property owners within designated Project Areas of the Brownfield Community Improvement Plan and, if approved, can provide up to 50% funding to a maximum grant of $20,000. 

Phase one environmental site assessments are not eligible for an initial study grant and grants can only be provided for eligible expenses incurred after the date of City Council’s approval of an application. 

Future Tax Cancellations (BFTIP) and Tax rebates (TIRGP) 

Approved brownfield projects that have successfully cleaned up and redeveloped their properties can receive future tax cancellations or rebates. This will help offset costs incurred for environmental remediation. The amount of financial benefit available will be different for each approved property, but projects can receive cancellation or rebate of up to 80% of future annual property tax uplifts for up to ten years or until eligible remediation costs have been recovered.  Tax cancellations and rebates are not retroactive and can only be used to offset eligible remediation costs incurred after the date a brownfield project receives City Council approval. 

Brownfield project application process 

Brownfield projects can be complicated and are seldom alike. The best way to begin your brownfield application process is to speak with a city representative who will be able to advise you if your property is eligible and how best to proceed. Contact us to start the process.