As our Town continues to grow it is important to encourage the development and re-development of commercial spaces within our Town. This means working to fully realize the potential of idle development areas. To help achieve this, a Brownfield Development Grant is available for areas that are not currently realizing their full potential.
The Brownfield Development Grant Program promotes redevelopment of qualified properties by helping cover some of the remediation costs. The available Brownfield Development Grant is calculated based on property tax increment values. The difference in taxes is used to provide a grant to the applicant for three years as a measure to offset remediation costs that were incurred.
A brownfield is an idled or under-used industrial or commercial property where redevelopment is complicated by environmental concerns.
Applicants must meet the following conditions:
- The site must be located in the Town of Paradise.
- The applicant must be the owner of the site but not responsible for causing the on-site contamination that requires remediation.
- Environmental assessments must be completed, and provided to the Town, indicating the condition of the site and work required to remediate, redevelop and provide an adaptive reuse.
- All development plans must meet Provincial and Municipal policies and approvals.
- The site must be in good standing of tax arrears and other financial obligations.
- Application for the Brownfield Development Grant must be received prior to development approvals and permits issued. The program takes affect after the site has been remediated and re-assessed.
- Applicable property and business taxes are payable each year by due date. Once accounts are in good standing, a grant will be issued each year for the difference between the base property tax bill at the time of application and the re-assessed property tax bill for the duration of the program.
- tax incentives do not include the increases/decreases in municipal taxes as a result of reassessment cycles.
- The grant program duration is three (3) years, pending continuing to meet program guidelines.
- Reductions and concessions are forfeit should the Town have to take collection action.
- All applications are subject to Council approval.