Brownfield cleanup grant approved for Ridge Road North property

A local property owner will receive some financial support from the town as he works to remediate a Ridgeway property.

Councillors supported a staff report recommending 247 Ridge Road North be approved for the town’s Brownfields Rehabilitation Grant program. Under the program, the town will rebate a portion of the increased tax revenue that would result from the property’s rehabilitation and development.

Environmental site assessments on the property found the soil meets applicable standards for residential use, however, water sampling found a higher than acceptable level of various volatile organic compounds.

There was at one time a drycleaner nearby, as well as historical on-site de-icing operations on the property.

All told, the program will provide just over $183,000 in rebates to the property owner, including $22,000 a year for the first eight years, and then just shy of $6,000 for year nine.

Currently, the Niagara Region doesn’t have a matching program, though it’s in the process of reviewing its programs, something Mayor Wayne Redekop brought up at the meeting.

“Is it possible this property could qualify for some kind of regional rebate in the future?” he asked.

Junior community planner Kimberlyn Smith said it is possible, however the timing of the Region’s review is uncertain.

“At this time the Niagara Region doesn’t know how far away they are from developing something,” she said.

The staff report said it expects the first rebate payment to go out at the end of next year.

Stay Informed

Events, offers, contests, and breaking news, all delivered straight to your inbox.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Subscribe