Welland to explore options for new industrial park; city owned land all sold
Sites serve as foundation for manufacturing, creating jobs and economic growth, council told
Welland has no city-owned industrial land left; the last parcel of its River Road Industrial Park sold and construction of a 2,320-squaremetre multi-unit industrial building is to begin later this year.
But 157 hectares of privatelyowned property could be used as employment lands — areas set aside for commercial or industrial development — said Grant Munday, the city’s director of planning and development.
Employment land supply is “constrained,” Munday said during a general committee of council meeting at city hall last week.
On the agenda was a proposal by the city’s economic development office to look at the concept of a future industrial park.
Chief administrative officer Rob Axiak said the presentation by economic development officer Lina DeChellis was simply to gauge the temperature of the room.
“As staff, we see tremendous value in this idea coming forward from economic development. That said, we don’t want to move too far along if council might see this differently,” said Axiak.
Axiak said to ensure discussion stayed within the realm of the concept, staff was not looking at anything that would be discussed in camera, such as approaching property owners or land expropriation.
In 2020, city council voted in favour of expropriating 25 hectares of land at 349 Ridge Rd., just east of Highway 140, owned by Marsha Rempel, to build an industrial park.
Councillors backed off the process in 2021 after elected officials, in the face of opposition from the landowner and residents across the city and beyond, changed their minds.
DeChellis said city-owned and serviced industrial land was established in the 1970s and was successful in attracting companies.
Welland has Southwell Industrial Park, built in two phases with a third coming soon that includes lands south of Shaw Street to Townline Tunnel Road and west from Welland International Flatwater Centre toward the landfill; Enterprise Industrial Park north of Ridge Road on the east side of Highway 140; Harry Diffin Industrial Park, which takes in the Innio property on the west side of Highway 140 between Buchner Road and Silverthorn Street; and the River Road and Downs Drive Industrial Park, on the north side of Downs Drive and the east side of River Road to Youngs Sportsplex.
DeChellis said industrial parks serve as the foundation for manufacturing, production, and distribution activities, driving job creation and fostering economic growth.
A new industrial park could offer various benefits and opportunities for the local economy and community, outside of economic growth, including eco-friendly initiatives, such as green building standards and renewable energy usage, contributing to a more sustainable and responsible industrial environment.
It can help attract investment from both domestic and international businesses looking for a strategic location and contribute to increased tax revenue, and community development by supporting local businesses, schools and services.
A new industrial park can help meet immediate development needs and secure lands for future growth, said DeChellis.
“Should council find value to explore the potential, staff will bring forward opportunities, feasibility and financial considerations for council to direct staff to explore opportunities on the creation of a new industrial park,” she said.
Ward 6 Coun. Bonnie Fokkens said it looks like the city is getting full.
Munday said property owners could approach the city if they are interested in their lands becoming an industrial park, and added if no one wants to sell Welland is out of business for industrial lands.
Council heard the 157 hectares of privately-held property isn’t a lot of land.
Munday said the Innio property (formerly GE) sits on 31.69 hectares and only four areas of employment lands left in the city are large enough to come close to that size.