Councillors packed away the idea of delaying payment requirements for a proposed storage facility in Bradford.
Based on a report from town finance director and treasurer Ian Goodfellow, committee of the whole recommended Nov. 5 that council deny a request from Randy Shiff to defer almost $3.12 million in development charges (DCs) for the planned three-storey 11,724-square-metre (126,199-sq.-ft.) Apple Self-storage facility at 490 Holland St. W.
A similar request for the property was previously denied by council in June of last year.
Since then, Goodfellow said the request had been “significantly reduced” with Shiff asking to make four payments of 25 per cent each when: the development permit is issued, the occupancy permit is issued or by Dec. 31, 2025, and on the third and fourth anniversary of the issuing of the building permit.
Shiff also requested no interest be charged, but Goodfellow recommended charging five per cent on the outstanding balance in keeping with other deferral agreements, as well as stipulating that all of the town portion of DCs be paid in full no later than Dec. 1, 2028.
Goodfellow previously explained the town currently has seven DC deferral agreements in place, include three for hotels, one each with the developers of the West Gwillimbury Power Centre and the Holland Street West SmartCentres plaza, one for the severance of a residential lot on Simcoe Road and one for the accommodations of seasonal farm workers.
Past agreements were based on supporting initiatives that provided positive economic spin-offs, or incentivizing developments not otherwise available in town as a way of adding community amenities, according to the report.
In supporting Shiff’s request, Goodfellow noted the development would fit within those themes as the first large-scale self-storage facility in town.
Mayor James Leduc agreed.
“It’s time. We need a self-storage spot in Bradford,” he said.
However, other councillors disagreed.
“I don’t see a strong community benefit to the taxpayers for a storage facility in a prime retail location,” Ward 4 Coun. Joseph Giordano said.
Council approved the site plan and zoning bylaw amendment allowing the storage facility on April 5, 2022, according to town chief administrative officer Geoff McKnight.
Even if council had approved the deferral it would have only applied to the town portion, and DCs to the county of about $687,000 and to the Ontario Ministry of Education of about $101,000 would still have been due once the building permit is issued, according to the report.
Recommendations from committee of the whole are considered for approval at the next regular council meeting.
