Road Will Pave Way for Development

The Packet & Times -

Construction on the West Orillia Industrial Park roadway will begin early next month, says Dan Landry, Orillia’s manager of economic development.

"We actually just had a pre-construction meeting today," Landry said Thursday. "There was an indication the contractor should be on site very soon, after the August long weekend."

City politicians awarded the $1.66-million project to JB Enterprises Limited of Barrie July 16.

The project includes water, sewer, street lights and sidewalks.

With an engineered road design, Orillia now has legal descriptions of the parcels of land available for sale.

When the roadway is complete, it will provide access to four five-acre lots accessible from University Avenue and the new road in addition to four three- to five-acre lots accessible from the new road.

"Basically we can start writing deals and actively marketing the land," Landry said.

The pricing starts at roughly $115,000 per acre.

"Those will go up based on location," Landry said. "When we get together with (potential buyers) we’ll be able to justify the value of the land that we’re looking to promote."

Revenues from all of the land sales will go into the city’s land acquisition fund, which is used to fund the construction of the road.

With the road construction on its way, the city will be contacting those who have expressed interest in the land, Landry said.

No sites have been sold at this point.

"There are at least 20 to 30 requests that we’ll be getting back to and working with as a starting point," he said.

In marketing the land, Orillia is promoting its two-year moratorium on industrial development charges, which began in June 2011.

Companies who build during the development charge freeze will save the $109.04 per-square-metre charge.

"We’re hoping it would be a sizeable incentive," Landry said. "(We’re) looking to basically inspire companies to develop there and grow business and jobs."

The approximately 50-acre lot is Orillia’s last remaining employment lands, which can accommodate small and large industry.

It sits near another 100 acres owned by Charter Construction and Mark Rich Homes.

"Ideally, we’re looking for clean or green economy-type developments," Landry said. "If there’s any leverage with Lakehead (University) or even the (West Orillia Sports Complex) from an industrial or employment type use, those would be ideal."

The city is anticipating interest and has received interest from small manufacturing and professional operations, Landry said.

The roadway is expected to be complete in the late fall or early winter of this year.