No development charges break for Cleantech Commons at Trent

Development charges will be dropped for downtown apartments with 15+ units

The city plans to impose development charges on industries in Cleantech Commons at Trent University after all, states a new staff report.

Development charges are fees collected by the city to cover costs associated with growth and development, such as installing sewers.

Cleantech Commons is a new business park for new green-tech industries planned for Trent University.

Earlier this year, city staff recommended changes to development charges involving both industrial lands and downtown apartment buildings.

Staff recommended that city council drop development charges on any downtown building with a minimum of 15 apartments; the idea is to boost downtown revitalization.

To offset the loss of those fees, the city could start imposing development charges on industrial lands within city limits

(right now there’s no charge).

Meanwhile, staff suggested making an exception for Cleantech Commons: they

thought no development charges should apply there.

But now that’s changed: in a new staff report issued this week, the recommendation is to apply development charges to Cleantech Commons after all, except in cases where the prospective tenant was already in discussions with the city.

That grandfathering would apply in all cases, city-wide, where a prospective buyer has been in discussions with the city over a piece of industrial land.

For Cleantech Commons it means there won’t likely be development charges for the inaugural tenant, which is expected to be NobleGen Inc.

NobleGen Inc. is a startup that produces bioproducts for use in food and beverages and also water filtration systems.

Founders Adam Noble and Andressa Lacerda have told council before they’re prepared to build a facility worth more than $50 million facility in Cleantech Commons.

Construction may begin on the 85-acre business park later this year.

On Monday evening at a general committee meeting, councillors approved these changes to development charges effective April 30.

Coun. Dean Pappas didn’t vote; he declared a pecuniary interest because he owns a business downtown.

The plan still needs a final vote before city council.