SC Johnson, one of the city’s oldest employers, will be remaining in the community and will be here for many years to come, The Expositor has learned.
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A deal that ends a land-use impasse has been reached securing the company’s future in Brantford.
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Details of the agreement are confidential.
However, The Expositor can report that SC Johnson is taking ownership of the property – 58 Morrell Street – that was at the heart of the dispute.
“We have been a longstanding and proud member of the Brantford community and are relieved to have this situation resolved,” Fisk Johnson, chairman and CEO of SC Johnson, said in a statement sent to The Expositor. “With this behind us, we now have the clarity we need to stay and make continued investments in our manufacturing and other operations.”
Johnson thanked the provincial land and development facilitator for their hard work to bring the issue to a successful and more timely resolution, which was critical to the company’s ability to make future plans.
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“I am also incredibly grateful to our community partners and all those who voiced their support for SCJ’s continued presence in Brantford,” Johnson said. “For generations, our company has sought to build goodwill in the communities in which we operate and the outpouring of support from the Brantford community meant a great deal to me and to the people of SCJ around the world.”
At issue was 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 thought to have the property rezoned to accommodate the project and applied to the Ontario Land Tribunal for a favorable decision.
SC Johnson, citing potential conflict between its facility and residential development, opposed the rezoning.
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The land-use impasse put the company’s future in Brantford in doubt.
Concerned about what the tribunal might decide, city council, led by Mayor Kevin Davis, asked the provincial government to appoint a facilitator to help resolve the issue ahead of any land tribunal.
Paul Calandra, the province’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, appointed a facilitator after meeting with Davis and Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma.
Since then representatives of SC Johnson, the developer and the city have been meeting with the facilitator to come up with a deal. The deal was reached Wednesday and employees were told the news on Wednesday morning.
Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis said the company has been a cornerstone of the community contributing significantly to the local economy and well-being of residents since 1920.
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“Together with SC Johnson and the community at large, Brantford City Council is relieved and grateful that SC Johnson will continue their storied history in Brantford,” Davis said in a statement.
Davis said the resolution reached would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders. He thanked all involved for their efforts.
“I am very proud of how all parties came together to navigate this resolution process,” Davis said. “Our collective efforts, alongside the support of city council, the developers involved and the community, have resulted in a very positive outcome for Brantford.
Davis acknowledged the work of Calandra and Bouma for expediting the assignment of a facilitator to guide the resolution process.
“This united effort, supported by the community and provincial representatives, has secured a positive outcome for Brantford,” Davis said. “Our collective commitment has originated instrumental, and we are proud to continue the legacy of partnership with SC Johnson in Brantford.”
More to come….
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