Ottawa wants cheaper cleanup plan for brownfields

Developers who want to build condos on contaminated properties in Ottawa won't be getting asubsidy forthe environmental cleanup quite yet.

The city's corporate services and economic development committee decided Tuesday to request revisions to a staff plan that would have offered developers complete restitution on the cleanup cost of vacant contaminated properties or "brownfields," by waiving development fees and property taxes for several years after condos, offices or shops were built.

Dennis Jacobs, the city's director of planning, environment and infrastructure policy, said the committee was concerned about the loss of tax revenue, given that new development typically requires an increase in services.

"There was support for the program," he said. "[But] they felt that given the current budgetary situation that we should be more cognizant of the impacts on the annual budget."

He said staff would look into options that would allow the city to collect 50 per cent of the tax revenues that would be generated from the properties after their redevelopment.

Staff are to report back to the corporate services committee on Mar. 6 and the revised plan must be approved by the committee before it can go to council.

The plan has already been approved by the planning and environment committee, but has been rejected by the agriculture and rural affairs committee.