A new development proposed along Sideroad 5 and Line 6 could bring about 2,000 jobs to Bradford West Gwillimbury.
Councillors learned about Highlight Motors’ proposed large-scale development, totalling nearly 500,000 square feet on 41 hectares of land, during a public meeting Dec. 13. The complex would contain a warehouse, head office, repair facility and several hundred parking spots.
With the project estimated to bring in nearly $11 million in development charges, not only would some councillors liked to have given the official go-ahead for the project during the meeting, but they also likely would have done so on site with shovels in hand to break ground.
Councillor Jonathan Scott highlighted the development of this land as something the previous three mayors — Frank Jonkman, Doug White and Rob Keffer — have all wanted for Bradford West Gwillimbury, and it was essential for Mayor James Leduc to see through one of his campaign planks of increased use of the town’s employment lands.
“This application suggests it’s cooking-with-gas time,” he said. “Two thousand jobs and a massive 500,000-square-foot facility; a third corporate head office coming to Bradford in this calendar year…. I think this is just fantastic from an economic development standpoint.”
First Gulf applied for official plan and zoning bylaw amendments on behalf of Highlight Motors for council to consider, affecting eight parcels of land: 2319, 2329, 2261, 2249, 2279 Sideroad 5 and 3603, 3651, 3695 Line 6. The lands are currently vacant, except for a salvage yard at 3651 Line 6, which will continue operation for two years following the sale to Highlight Motors.
Highlight Motors was founded in 2007 and is currently located in Vaughan. Specializing in cross-border trucking, logistics and warehousing, the company has five facilities throughout the Greater Toronto Area, as well as three facilities in the United States.
Moving to Bradford West Gwillimbury will ensure Highlight Motors is in “the right place.”
“They are really excited to be in Bradford. That’s why they’re choosing to have this significant investment,” said Andrew Sgro, development director for First Gulf. “They’re really focused on making sure that there is great access to transit, there’s a strong labour force and that Bradford is growing significantly. They want to be here and really put roots down in the community.”
To put those roots down, the company will need to overcome a significant obstacle in Fraser Creek.
Fraser Creek is a tributary of the West Holland River, which fragments portions of the site, flowing southwest, making it difficult to traverse and develop. As part of the proposal, Highlight Motors wants to modify the alignment of Fraser Creek by moving it to the east of the lands, where it will run between the new campus and Highway 400.
Coun. Ben Verkaik suggested moving the creek is “quite a hill to move.” Sgro looked to ease the councillor’s concerns by highlighting the collection of engineering firms working specifically on the relocation of Fraser Creek to ensure the meandering watercourse remains safe and isn’t hindered by either the work on the site or the salt runoff from Highway 400.
Given what they’ve been able to do with creeks in the past, Coun. Peter Dykie is convinced moving Fraser Creek will be a success and that working with First Gulf is the right move for Highlight Motors.
“I was very leery when they showed us (their) plans in 2006,” Dykie said, “but when (they) bought all the land here on (County Road) 88 and they came in with a vision of moving the creek, you guys did it. The Summerlyn subdivision was very successful.”
Final approval for the relocation will be made by the town, in concert with its engineering department and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA). Sgro indicated the LSRCA has been “great to work with” to date, and that the developer is awaiting its comments on the proposal.
“(It’s) obviously a pretty significant move and there needs to be a good reason for justifying that,” Sgro said.
That rationale needs to extend beyond the efficient development of the property or the logistical advantages of not requiring bridges, both mentioned in his remarks to council
“Most importantly, in context with the development that is occurring, being able to relocate the watercourse allows it to be protected, allows it to be moved away from other uses and allows it to flourish and, in our design, helping it to really improve,” he said. “Giving it this kind of space, I’ll say, has been important ... just making sure that it’s protected, and it’s given the proper attention.”
