GUELPH, ON, October 29, 2009 – This afternoon, local officials and business leaders gathered to mark the start of construction for the Hanlon Creek Business Park (HCBP). Lloyd Longfield, President and CAO of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce joined Mayor Farbridge and HCBP project partners from Cooper Construction and Belmont Equity for a sod turning ceremony at the site.
“The Hanlon Creek Business Park will create good local jobs and strengthen our business tax base, and it includes extensive environmental protections, including the protection of the heritage maple grove, Provincially Significant Wetlands, and groundwater resources,” said Mayor Karen Farbridge. “Those are just some of the reasons the project was unanimously approved by the 13 elected members of City Council. It’s also supported by Guelph’s Federal and Provincial representatives, and by the many agencies, organizations, committees, and business and community leaders in attendance this afternoon.”
Members of Council and representatives from the Grand River Conservation Authority, University of Guelph, Environmental Advisory Committee, Guelph Economic Development Advisory Committee, Guelph Partnership for Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and local real estate agents and brokers were also in attendance.
Construction will get underway in mid-November with the installation of a watermain and utility casing to service the site.
The watermain will be installed beneath the Hanlon Expressway from Clair Road to Phelan Drive. A utility casing will also be installed beneath the Hanlon Expressway for future hydro and telecommunications services for the HCBP. The installation of the watermain and utility casing will cost $1.7 million and will be cost-shared between the City and the utilities on a proportionate basis. The project will also receive $621,294 in funding under the Community Adjustment Fund of the Federal Government.
Earlier this week the City received a letter from the Ministry of Natural Resources, indicating the City can proceed with two additional construction projects at the business park site in 2010.
Construction in the north western part of the business park along Downey Road will begin in January 2010 and includes the extension of existing water and sanitary services, on-site grading, and the expansion of the existing stormwater management pond. This work will cost approximately $2.5 million and will allow the City to market two serviced employment blocks in the business park.
The second project includes construction of a 300 metre section of road north of Laird Road and related site work to the blocks of land east of this road. These lands are owned by Belmont Equity Partners Inc. and this project is expected to begin later in 2010.
The MNR approved these projects to proceed, prior to the salamander monitoring work that will begin on the site in March, as the potential for the Jefferson Salamander to be present in these areas is not likely. The City will continue to work with MNR to ensure all requirements under the Endangered Species Act are met. If a salamander is discovered during the construction period, the work will stop immediately until the MNR provides further direction.
