A tax incentive request from a developer of a construction prject in the city was back before North Battleford city council Tuesday.
Council heard from Aaron Cadrin, who is behind a proposed strip mall development at 1542 - 100th St.
The proposed building would house Cadrin’s Sun Life investment and insurance business as well as other commercial tenants. A discretionary use application for the project was approved last month, but Cadrin is seeking a tax incentive as well.
Cadrin was seeking the new downtown construction incentive, which is applied to properties in the downtown BID district. That includes 100 per cent abatement of municipal property taxes for the first three years, 75 per cent for year four and 50 per cent for year five.
However, Cadrin’s proposed development falls outside the BID district, and council had previously expressed reluctance about granting the full incentive. One idea that has been talked about is granting a similar incentive to the one provided to the Davandy strip mall on the city’s southeast side along Territorial Drive, which started with a 30 per cent abatement for the first year.
Cadrin made his pitch Tuesday for a full tax incentive, stating that the building will bring considerable revenue to the City later on.
“This is going to generate at least $15,000 to $20,000 yearly in tax revenue based on the current mill rate,” Cadrin said. That is far more revenue than what was generated by an unserviced lot, he pointed out.
While not downtown, Cadrin noted he would be building in the key commercial corridor, which would benefit from new development. As for downtown, Cadrin said he previously had put in “multiple offers” for a building there but had been rejected. Cadrin said he made “every effort” to go downtown.
While it was a lengthy presentation on the issue, there was no motion before council on the tax incentive Tuesday.
At the end of the meeting, Councillor Kent Lindgren inquired about the possibility of a notice of motion. Director of Legislative Services Debbie Wohlberg assured Lindgren that a notice of motion did not need to happen immediately, instead, it could be presented prior to the next meeting.
Should that happen, a resolution on an incentive for Cadrin’s building could be up for discussion at the next council meeting Oct. 22.
