Clearview aviation business park gets extension for planning conditions
The proponents of an aviation business park will be able to keep their subdivision approvals until 2033.
Clearview Township councillors approved granting Clearview Aviation Business Park (CABP) an extension on the draft plan of subdivision for all three phases of the 285-acre project located beside the Collingwood Regional Airport.
The proponents had been looking for 15 years from the current lapsing date of the approvals, taking it until 2036 for Phase 1, and 2037 for the second and third phases; municipal staff recommended extending the draft approvals for Phase 1 for another two years, and one year for Phases 2 and 3, to 2022 and 2023, respectively.
After the decision, CABP spokesperson Paul Bonwick said the extension provides the project with stability.
“I think council understands the uniqueness of the project. There’s really one driving theme behind the request: to create a long-term stable environment to attract industry,” he said.
Several council members spoke in favour of extending the lapse date until 2033, notably Deputy Mayor Barry Burton. Burton noted that although he is typically loath to approve draft plan extensions to projects, he would be willing in this case because, he said, “I realize five years is not enough time” to develop the property.
Bonwick said CABP remains committed to its investment in the property, which he said is in “the millions of dollars.”
“It has taken us four years to go through the official plan, the draft plan, zoning. I appreciate the comments and concern about the long-term implications, but there has been many millions of dollars invested in the property,” he said. “At every turn, when the development group has been asked to make actions, they’ve done so.
“They’re not doing this to keep it rented out to the farmer who’s growing corn on it right now. That’s not the intention of investing that many millions of dollars.”
Bonwick said if the draft conditions lapsed in 2022, there could be a new provincial government in place by that time, “and a whole new set of rules and regulations and changes in planning policy.
“How do you spend $20 million in servicing on that risk?”