The City of Sarnia's Economic Development Master Plan has received final approval.
It will guide decision making for the next ten years.
Nick Kazakoff of UrbanMetrics told council the city has a sufficient industrial land supply to support employment growth up to 2051.
He noted a need for "more tactical efforts to address infrastructure and servicing shortfalls to deliver shovel-ready land to realize new business development."
Kazakoff highlighted four areas to focus on in the future, including business support and programming, maximizing the potential of city owned assets, amplifying Sarnia's competitive advantages and having impactful and collaborative partnerships.
He said Line 5 uncertainty, Canada-U.S. relations, changing provincial and federal policies and an aging workforce threaten those goals.
Council approved the plan and directed staff to incorporate its elements into the budget process for future considerations.
Councillor Anne Marie Gillis voted against the recommendation.
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Birnam Excavating has been awarded the second phase of Wellington Street construction in downtown Sarnia.
As part of the ongoing combined sewer separation program, just over $2 million will be spent on road reconstruction including new watermains, storm and sanitary services to homes and businesses.
Traffic safety and beautification components are also planned between Front and Christina Streets.
The raised cycle tracks will be continued, intersection bump-outs will be installed reducing pedestrian crossing distances, paving stones will be installed at the intersections and a new Veteran's Crosswalk design is planned.
The federal government's Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund is covering 40 per cent of the cost of the project.
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Henry Heyink Construction has been awarded a nearly $4.4 million project to reconstruct Michigan Road from Colborne Road to Indian Road.
The project also includes implementation of a road diet and protected intersection at Michigan and Colborne.
The city is collaborating with the County of Lambton on the project, since it's a county road.
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Over $2 million dollars has been approved to resurface the asphalt on a number of roads in the city.
About 30 roads have been identified -- to have sections or the entire length resurfaced -- in the 2025 road rehabilitation program.
The list can be viewed here.
The city said road rehabilitation is generally only considered for roads where the underground infrastructure is in relatively good condition or when road condition is very poor and a reconstruction is not planned within ten years.
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A proposal to service vacant land for a new industrial subdivision has been approved.
Seven new industrial blocks will be developed on Gladwish Drive.
The subdivision will be serviced by municipal water, storm, and sanitary services.
Council also awarded the tender for the Gladwish Drive extension -- between McGregor Sideroad and Plank Road -- to Van Bree Infrastructure.
The $2.1 million project will improve traffic flow.
Funding was approved to proceed with construction of the road extension, sanitary sewer and drainage components in the 2025 budget.