Brownfields Improvement Plan

What are Brownfields?

For the purpose of this Brownfield Community Improvement Plan (CIP), a brownfield is defined as an abandoned, vacant, derelict, idled or underutilized property in the Urban Area of the Town of Fort Erie with an active potential for redevelopment, where redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.  Brownfields are also often characterized by building deterioration/obsolescence, and/or inadequate infrastructure and can include many uses such as old landfills and abandoned factories to dry cleaners and former gasoline stations. 

Most brownfields are located in urban areas and many are located in key areas such as the downtown or along the waterfront.  It is conservatively estimated that there are at least 30,000 brownfield sites in Canada (Source: National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy, 2003). 

Financial Incentive Programs

An important component of any Community Improvement Plan are financial incentive programs that are offered to eligible property owners as a means of promoting private investment and change.  The incentive programs contained in the Town of Fort Erie Brownfield Strategy and Community Improvement Plan represent a comprehensive framework containing a range of programs that are designed to stimulate local brownfield redevelopment by addressing identified critical needs.  The financial incentive programs are primarily directed at the private sector and are designed to encourage private sector remediation and rehabilitation, adaptive reuse and construction activity on brownfield sites.

A copy of the Brownfield CIP can be downloaded by clicking here.

For more information regarding the Brownfield CIP or to make an application, please contact:

Fahima Begum, Junior Community Planner
1 Municipal Centre Dr., Fort Erie, ON L2A 2S6
(905) 871-1600 ext. 2527
fbegum@forterie.ca