By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Council for the Town of Essex approved a By-Law to enter into a Development Agreement between the Corporation of the Town of Essex and Inspiration Industrial Park Ltd. for the industrial subdivision known as Inspiration Industrial Park.
The agreement is required to facilitate the development of the industrial park.
On January 21, 2025, the Town’s Committee of Adjustment issued a Notice of Decision to approve the application for Consent to Sever land for Inspiration Industrial Park, located at 14978 14th Concession Road – on the south-side of Highway 3 – the Report on the matter explains.
The approval granted the creation of five new industrial lots, one retained industrial lot, and one easement for a private roadway.
Typically, Development Agreements outline the responsibilities of the owner in meeting various municipal development requirements, Lori Chadwick, Director of Development Services, explained.
“This milestone – as we know – moves us one step closer to creating six large fully-serviced industrial lots,” Chadwick said, noting it will “help position our municipality to attract new industrial development and investment, but also support local business expansion, and – of course – create future jobs.”
The project is being developed with Abe Friesen of Essex Weld Solutions LTD.
It also includes expansion of sanitary and water services, and infrastructure to support not only the business park but also future adjacent employment lands.
“Overall, we are quite proud and very excited for Council and the developers. This is a significant long-term investment in economic development in infrastructure that will help strengthen our community for years to come,” Chadwick said.
The owner has two-years from the date of Consent to Sever approval to satisfy all conditions imposed by the Committee of Adjustment, being January 21, 2027. As a condition of consent approval, the owner is required to enter into a Development Agreement, and agree to satisfy all requirements of the Town concerning the payment of Development Charges, provisions of road installation, and capacity of services, including sanitary and sewage collection systems, water distribution systems, private utilities, and stormwater management facilities for the development of the lands, the report adds.
All costs associated with the preparation of the Development Agreement are recovered through the application fee.
Councillor Kim Verbeek said moving the industrial sector in Essex has been slow going for a while, and this Term of Council and administration has been moving the needle forward in expanding the industrial sector.
“We are very happy and proud to do this,” Verbeek said. “This Inspiration Industrial Park is going to generate growth, generate jobs, it is going to generate new tax revenue. It is going to bring people to our town and businesses, which is also great for the economy.”
She said they were lucky to be able to provisionally adopt a plan that could provide up to 126 dwelling units at 47 Wilson Avenue – the former Essex Centre Home Hardware site – earlier that meeting, because “we are going to need more housing for all the jobs this park is going to generate.”
She thanked the developer for choosing Essex.
In answering Verbeek’s question if the dollars forwarded to the Town in lieu of parkland from the project could be put towards the Essex Sports Field, CAO Kate Giurissevich said that it is something administration will have to look into at budget time, due to the boundaries. She will get back to her about that.
Mayor Sherry Bondy added that developments like this are exactly what the Town needs to support getting sports fields up and running through the increased tax assessments.
“This is a long time coming. I am so grateful to see that we are finally making some progress here,” Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais said, adding she hoped the project would progress quickly.
Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley was also excited to see the program progress.