Whereas vacant sites or orphan properties known as brownfields are prevalent on properties located within communities along the Highway 16 transportation corridor, are eyesores to the community and have caused real or suspected environmental contamination and negatively impact economic development of that specific site and in the general area of that specific site; And whereas the owners of these brownfield sites have already reaped the benefits and there should be a financial cost for those who dont clean up their mess: Therefore be it resolved that the Assessment Act Prescribed Classes of Property Regulation be amended to add a separate property class; Class 10 Brownfield, which applies to any vacant or deserted properties that are classified as a brownfield.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs Housing The issue of contaminated sitesbrownfields is a province-wide concern, for both rural and urban communities, and one that the Province takes seriously. As pointed out in response to UBCM resolution 2016-B104, the cost of remediation is often prohibitive, and can even exceed the market value of the property. As a result, increasing the rate of taxation andor creating a new property class for these properties may have unintended consequences and challenges from the outset. As such, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is not at this time considering a separate property class for brownfield sites Ministry of Finance is in agreement with this position. However, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy staff have been reviewing the results of the Provinces first Brownfield Renewal Strategy 2008-2014 to develop a plan for encouraging the remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites across BC going forward. Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing staff will certainly collaborate where appropriate once this plan takes shape.