The City of Sarnia has 318 hectares of surplus employment land, but because it's not all in a strong location or shovel ready with servicing, it's not being put to use.
Consultants presented ideas on how to develop the land while updating their work on the official plan's growth management program with Sarnia council Monday.
Councillor Bill Dennis asked Lauren Millier of MDB Insight if being a border community still accounted for something to a potential firm or company looking to export.
"Part of what we'll do in the next phase of our work, is actually a deeper dive into the industry analysis and look at the pattern of development activity by industry that is happening across southwestern Ontario," Millier said. "So, we'll have a better sense of where the product is moving to, how much of it is moving through Windsor or other border locations along the Great Lakes or how much of it is actually benefiting from the proximity to the GTA."
Councillor Dennis pointed out the success Strathroy has had growing its business park in recent years, but Millier seemed well aware.
"We're working in another community along the 402 corridor that has industrial land on the 402 as well, and they are giving consideration to how best to approach the use of those lands and whether that is partial servicing or full servicing, it's under consideration at the moment," Millier said.
Councillor Margaret Bird said the lands need to be "ready to go" once they're advertised.
"If the city is too cautious, it's going to miss some great opportunities, and somewhere along the line we have to take chances," said Bird. "We have to go into a little bit of debt to have successes, so I think we have to service these lands fully, with whatever each type of land allows us to do."
Ron Palmer, with The Planning Partnership, said municipally owned lands could also be converted to residential use.
"That will be one of the key elements of a broader and more comprehensive approach to achieving affordable housing, but absolutely, municipal assets, including the potential of those lands should be considered," said Palmer.
Consultants are encouraging the city to modernize the land use framework at the 402 Business Park off London Line and the University of Western Ontario Research Park.
Part of the 300-acre UWO business park off Modeland Road, north of Wellington Street, was sold to the developer of a new long-term care home in May.
A business parks analysis and draft official plan will be prepared in December, with a goal to initially release the draft to council in January 2022.
Surplus employment land in the City of Sarnia. (Handout via. Sarnia council agenda.)
