Tentative agreement reached to bring Brantford airport into city boundaries

The Brantford Municipal Airport could soon be brought within the city’s boundaries. CTV’s Heather Senoran reports.

The City of Brantford and the County of Brant are one step closer to a formal agreement that would bring the Brantford Municipal Airport into the city’s boundaries.

Currently, although the airport bares the city’s name, it is technically in Brant County.

The two municipalities have been locked into a lengthy debate over extending the city’s boundaries to include the plot of land the airport sits on. However, some Brant County community members have worried doing so would also force them to become part of the city.

Late last year, the city asked the province to help bring the airport lands into the city. In March, a provincial facilitator was appointed to guide discussions between the city and the county. They were given a deadline of June 30 to come to terms.

Tentative deal reached

On Wednesday, Brantford and the County of Brant announced a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed. It outlines proposed terms for a municipal boundary adjustment that would include the airport and surrounding lands. Approximately 1,317 acres of land are covered by the agreement. Aviation Avenue, some lands north of Colborne Street West and some properties east of Rest Acres Road are involved in the potential land transfer. Anyone living within that proposed boundary adjustment would become a City of Brantford resident if the agreement goes forward. The city said 40 properties could be affected, but they believe some people own multiple plots of those lands. Impacted property owners should receive hand delivered letters starting next week.

According to a page outlining the project on letstalkbrantford.ca, the city is considering building an aviation business park in the future. It could include aircraft maintenance facilities, parts suppliers, paint shops, flight training and other aviation-related companies.

If the deal moves forward, the city will pay the county a $1.3 million lump sum in addition to $13,500 per acre for the developable land. The cost of the land is expected to reach $8.3 million. The city will also cover up to $75,000 of the county’s legal fees.

A statement from the County of Brant confirmed the agreement had been reached, but raised concerns with the process.

“While the County of Brant is disappointed by the manner in which this process was initiated and by the timelines that were enforced - particularly during an election year - County Council and staff have remained committed to negotiating in good faith while advocating for residents to the best of our extent within the parameters directed,” a media release from the county said.

Community watchdogs are echoing the concerns from the county. They believe regular citizens are being left in the dark, especially people who own property within the new proposed boundary.

“They need to understand the taxation implications,” said Travis Welch, founder of the Brant Civic Accountability Association. “They need to understand the municipal and planning changes that may occur. There is a plethora of items that coincide with a boundary adjustment that the public is unaware of.”

Meanwhile, the city recognized concerns with the timing around the proposed agreement.

“The City understands that some residents and community groups may have questions about the timing of the process,” the City of Brantford said in an email to CTV News. “The proposed boundary adjustment is connected to long-term planning work already identified through the Airport Master Plan and the City’s Economic Development Strategy, and discussions related to the future of the airport have been ongoing for quite some time.”

Welch previously told CTV News that he believes fresh eyes are needed on the issue, and suggested the decision wait until after the upcoming municipal election in October, when new mayors will be elected in both Brantford and Brant County.

Have your say

The deal is not yet set in stone.

The public still has a chance to have their say, statutory public hearings must be held, and both municipalities’ councils must consider a formal restructuring agreement.

Feedback is being collected through the letstalkbrantford.ca website. Two public open houses will also be held at the Walter Gretzky Municipal Golf Course on Balmoral Drive in Brantford on June 11. The first session is scheduled for 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., followed by a second opportunity from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Once the feedback has been collected, if both councils agree to the move, it still needs to be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for further consideration.