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Town slashes planning fees in effort to attract more industrial development The fee structure will be reviewed annually. CYNTHIA GAMBLE Mayor Rick Bonnette said the market is hot Staff Writer and there has been a lot of enquiries, and the Future industrial developers in Halton Hills Town has to be competitive. He pointed out will get a 50 per cent break on planning fees industrial taxes represent only 9 per cent of that will cost taxpayers close to total taxes, and "we have to look at any $120,000. other way to create opportunity to Council unanimously approved a increase assessment and jobs." revision to the planning fees at a recent The Town's industrial areas will be meeting. designated as Town Priority District "We are sadly lacking in industrial "where the establishment of new development so anything we can do to industrial, commercial and office encourage more industrial developdevelopment is a top corporate policy." ment in the industrial areas in our There is no water capacity available town, the better off we are," said Acton at this time in Acton to allow any Councillor Michael O'Leary. "The first industrial developments. There is MICHAEL thing is we'll get more new taxes and capacity in the Georgetown industrial O'LEARY that's basically a forever situation. area and in the 401 Corridor (which is Secondly, industrial development requires less supplied by the Big Pipe). services-- they don't require parks or schools (Cynthia Gamble can be reached at or rinks, pools, community centres or libraries, cgamble@independentfreepress.com) but the development charges they pay contribute to all those." He said a revenue increase in development charges would offset the taxpayers' portion by about $37,000. The Wellington-Halton Hills Federal Liberal Ward 2 Councillor Bryan Lewis called it a "long-term investment for taxpayers," while Association will be holding an evening of dinWard 4 Councillor John Duncan said, "we're ner and dialogue with defeated Liberal leadertelling businesses we are here and we want ship candidate Gerard Kennedy on April 12, at The Plantation Restaurant, 77 Market Street, you." In 2007 the total revenue increase for indus- Georgetown. Kennedy, who lost the Liberal leadership to trial, commercial and institutional is expected to be about $237,250, but once the 50 per cent Stephané Dion last year, is seeking the Liberal fee reduction is implemented, taxpayers will nomination for the Toronto riding of ParkdaleHigh Park. have to pick up $118,625. Cocktails will begin at 6 p.m. followed by Overall cost recovery of planning fees in both the residential and ICI sectors would be at dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person. For tickets please contact: Dennis McLay, about 82 per cent-- the overall cost to the tax905-877-2948 or Carol Lawson, 905-877-3753. payer would be $146,625.