Cornwall.ca — At a Planning Advisory Committee meeting on Monday, May 21st, City leaders granted the necessary approvals for a proposed redevelopment of a 17-acre parcel of land at the corner of Boundary Road and Marleau Avenue in the Cornwall Business Park. The Committee, which is made up of members of City Council, approved an application from BTB Real Estate Investment Trust to rezone the property at 805 Boundary Road from Manufacturing 40 to a new hybrid Manufacturing 40 zone in order to allow for a wider range of uses. The property owners intend to revitalize the site through a combination of renovating existing space and constructing additional buildings over several years. The intent of the multi-phase development is to create a Business Park Plaza Complex featuring four stand-alone buildings and a wide mix of tenants.

“This is a significant proposal that will create an impressive new gateway to the Cornwall Business Park and the City of Cornwall itself,” said Mayor Bob Kilger. In addition to the rezoning approval, Committee members also agreed that the proposed development will be subject to a comprehensive site plan control process to ensure all potential requirements and concerns are addressed. During the PAC meeting, the members also agreed to establish a new financial incentive program under the Heart of the City Community Improvement Plan (CIP). The Le Village Residential Façade Improvement Program will provide matching funding to a maximum of $10,000 for exterior renovations to eligible residential properties in the following areas:

• Water Street between Race Street and Marlborough Street
• Marlborough Street South
• Edward Street south of Montreal Road
• McConnell Avenue south of Montreal Road
• Targeted homes along Montreal Road from McConnell Avenue to St. Lawrence College

The new program would be funded in part by making use of any unspent funds that have been allotted to the Renaissance Housing Rehabilitation Program. “With the creation of this new program, we are adding another important tool to our Community Improvement Plan (CIP),” said Councillor Glen Grant, Chair of the Planning Advisory Committee. “This will greatly assist with our overall efforts to beautify the historic commercial areas in our City, as well as the surrounding neighbourhoods.” The City’s Heart of the City and Brownfield Community Improvement Plans are designed to encourage and assist property owners to improve their properties, and by extension, improve their local communities.  Since 2006, there have been 167 applications made through the Heart of the City CIP. Together, these applications have qualified for approximately $8.1 million in assistance and they have or will generate over $36 million in private sector investment in the community. The approvals from the Planning Advisory Committee will go before City Council for formal approval at the Council meeting of June 10th. That will be followed an appeal period prior to the approvals taking effect.