Phase II ESA for the McKellar Street Brownfield Redevelopment Project in Southwest Middlesex

The Municipality of Southwest Middlesex will undertake a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of three former industrial properties in the downtown core of the Village of Glencoe, to enable the revitalization of the site. The target properties include a former municipal bulk water station, a former private bulk fertilizer storage facility and adjacent vacant land purchased at low cost from CN Rail, covering a total area of approximately 1.75 hectares. The municipality plans to combine a portion of the public and private lands to create three residential building lots. To confirm if the site can be redeveloped for residential purposes, Southwest Middlesex must carry out a Phase II ESA. The study will involve the analysis of soil and groundwater samples to delineate any contaminants that may be present. The municipality will subsequently identify any remediation activities that are required in order to fill a Record of Site Condition with the province and rezone the property from industrial to residential use. Southwest Middlesex intends to use the proceeds from the residential development to restore the remainder of the site as an arboretum and community dog park. The new green space will be planted with native trees with the help of local community groups and horticultural students from a local college. The space will serve as both a public amenity and a venue to educate local residents about environmental conservation. This initiative aligns with the intensification goals of the Southwest Middlesex Official Plan and is expected to increase property tax revenues and attract new residents to the municipality’s urban areas. The project will serve as an innovative example of how small and rural municipalities can catalyze brownfield redevelopment. (Project description from original funding application)