Employment Land Strategy
In August 2022, Council approved an Employment Land Strategy (ELS) to foster economic growth and support a diversified economy now and into the future. The strategy will ensure that the City is well positioned to respond to Employment Land needs by considering future trends, projected demand, land supply, municipal services, incentives and other tools to support future growth and economic changes.
The ELS links planning, infrastructure and economic development to ensure that the city has an adequate supply of serviced employment land, and policy and incentive frameworks in place to stimulate investment, development and job creation. Which is reflected in the three broad recommendations to improve the city’s economic competitiveness and encourage the development of employment land.
Employment Land Strategy - Appendix
Employment Land Implementation Strategy - Staff Report
Policy Updates
The ELS called for a review of the current policy framework for commercial and industrial development, with a focus on reducing the number of zone categories. The review will include a summary of best practices, as well as stakeholder engagement to ensure that an appropriate policy framework is place that reflects current industry standards and practices. This project will take approximately 12 months to complete.
Incentives
To support projected economic growth and development, the ELS called for an incentive program. In 2023, Greater Sudbury adopted the Employment Land Community Improvement Plan (ELCIP) which provides a Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG) program that supports the expansion of existing industrial businesses and attraction of new businesses that meet certain scoring criteria.
Employment Land CIP manager’s report
Employment Land CIP public hearing report
Infrastructure Upgrades
At an aggregate level, the city has a considerable supply of over 830 gross hectares of industrial lands within settlement areas. The ELS aimed to ensure that the City has an adequate supply of serviced “shovel-ready” industrial land that meets a range of location and site needs and identified the need for an additional 125 hectares of serviced industrial lands to meet future needs. Four of the Eight strategic employment areas identified through the ELS require infrastructure upgrades. The Employment Land Implementation Strategy proposed an option to service multiple areas and proposed a timeline to design, budget and construct the required upgrades over a ten-year period.
Employment Land Implementation Strategy
Greater Sudbury ELS Implementation Report
Appendix A - Option C Proposed Implementation Plan