2,000 hectares of industrial, commercial in 400 corridor?
By Bruce Haire

The Hwy. 400 corridor will see major industrial/commercial growth in Innisfil if proposals by The Cortel Group (Cortelucci) proceed.

Wednesday saw the planning firm of Malone Given Parsons provide council with an overview of developing the employment corridor from Hwy. 89 north to the moratorium lands at the 10th Concession.

The "Enterprise Park" is proposed for 2,000 hectares (almost 5,000 acres).

Don Given told council that "the opportunities for growth along the 400 corridor are very strong" and that Simcoe County is looking at the creation of 100,000 jobs and growth of 275,000 people by 2031.

"The jobs are migrating out of Toronto" and the Richmond Hill and Markham addresses are gone.

While the bulk of the growth is in the inner ring, there will be "spillover growth for York Region." The greenbelt didn't leave York with enough land he added.

Also, Given noted that there wouldn't be growth along the 404 because it goes through the moraine.

The Given team also presented possible servicing solutions that would be cheaper than utilizing Barrie.

He asked council to reserve everything along the 400 for commercial/industriagrowth.

Given also noted that Bradford West Gwillimbury has already designated 500 hectares for industrial corridor along 400.

He called for a made in Innisfil solution, including servicing the corridor from Alcona and developing membrane technology to take the Innisfil sewage system to "a higher level of technology."

He urged council to adopt Official Plan Amendment #1 which it withdrew at the Province's request. He also suggested that four modifications would achieve what was needed.

Councillor Lynn Dollin noted that BWG might want more water for its lands and it might want to designate more of its 400 corridor for industry.

Given asked "why don't we use the water over in Alliston (from Collingwood).

Coun. Bill Pring asked about the use of Zenon membrane technology and whether the MOE would licence it.

It has already been done he was told.

Several council members stressed the need for more information.

The development group said they could also reduce flooding in older areas, meet targets on phosphorus loading, phase in the plan and increase agricultural productivity.

By putting the storm water and sewage water into Cook's Bay they could also reduce phosphorus that would go into Kempenfelt Bay that threatens the deep water fishery.

Council received the report and referred it to staff.