Imagine you are a developer that wants to build commercially in the West Parry Sound District.
Wouldn't it be easy if you could search for the area of land you want to build on in the township of your choice?
Soon, this will actually be possible.
If a funding application is approved, this application — a searchable property database — could be added to the Regional Economic Development Advisory Committee's (REDAC) website (www.cityfree.ca) as soon as this summer, said Kirsten LeDrew, the newly-hired area co-ordinator for the joint committee between the Town of Parry Sound and Seguin and McDougall Townships that promotes economic development of the area.
"When it comes to land inventory, a developer could come on the website, say I want this much property in McDougall, and all the options come up for them," she said.
"They will be able to find that ?perfect piece' of property."
The areas the database will cover are eight nodes or areas that have been classified as good spots for commercial or industrial development, such as the Parry Sound Area Industrial Park.
The project will cost the townships $6,000, 75 per cent of which will hopefully be covered by a grant from the Northern Communities Investment Readiness fund.
That leaves a balance of $1,500, which is split between the three townships in the standard REDAC formula — 40 per cent Parry Sound (this time $600), 40 per cent Seguin ($600) and 20 per cent McDougall ($300).
All three councils approved the funding at their respective council meetings this month.
In the meantime, REDAC has employed a representative from the West Parry Sound Geography Network who has completed the inventory and the economic committee has put out a request for a consultant to add the information to the website.
Another subcommittee of REDAC is also working on a residentially owned, public and private land inventory, but at this point it's not planned to go on the database, said LeDrew.
Though Parry Sound town council passed the resolution without hesitation at their meeting last Tuesday, concern about a permanent funding formula for the breakdown of costs of projects between municipalities for the economic promotion group is still evident.
"I think in this instance we're getting a good value for our money, but I'm hoping a resolution for a permanent funding formula for REDAC will come through," said councillor Paul Borneman.