Paul Calandra, the province’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, has appointed a facilitator to help resolve the land use impasse between Rosart-Bucci Group and SC Johnson.
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Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma announced the appointment on Friday.
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“I want to thank Minister Calandra for taking decisive action today by appointing a facilitator that will consider the broader social and economic impacts of the case,” Bouma said in a statement. “I am committed to continuing to advocate to keep jobs at SC Johnson, a company that has had a local presence for well over a century, within our community.”
The company employs close to 250 people at its Webster Street facility in Brantford.
Bouma said that building at least 1.5 million new homes by 2031 remains a top priority for the provincial government.
“However, that should not come at the cost of eliminating existing good, local jobs,” Bouma said in the statement. “Today is a huge step forward for our community and the hard-working families of SC Johnson.”
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The identity of the facilitator has not yet been released.
At issue is a plan by Rosart Bucci Group to build a 156-unit residential development at 58 Morrell Street which, at present, is zoned industrial. The developer is seeking to have the property rezoned to accommodate the project and has applied to the Ontario Land Tribunal for a favorable decision.
SC Johnson, citing potential conflict between its facility and residential development, opposes the rezoning. The company said a zoning change would put the future of SC Johnson’s operations in doubt.
SC Johnson also said it could invest upwards of $30 million in its Brantford operations if the land remains industrial.
City council, at an October meeting, voted unanimously in favor of hiring legal counsel independent of the city to represent them at the hearing, likely to be held in 2024. Independent counsel is required because city staff, guided by planning principles, recommended approval of the developer’s application.
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The city also called on the province to appoint a facilitator to help resolve the issue ahead of any land tribunal hearing.
Mayor Kevin Davis told councilors at that October meeting that he had met with Calandra and asked him to appoint a facilitator to help resolve the issue. The meeting took place during a visit by Davis to Queen’s Park.
“I want to thank Minister Calandra for appointing a facilitator and MPP Bouma for his advocacy with the minister and his staff,” Davis said. “I’m hopeful that with the assistance of a facilitator a solution can be found that works for everyone, and allows SC Johnson to remain in Brantford for generations to come.”
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