Jeff Kempenaar
Staff
Thursday February 24, 2005

Newbury’s efforts to spur residential growth in the village resulted in a tripling of building permits last year, said councillor Monte McNaughton.
First-year property taxes and building permits were scrapped last year and a radio advertising campaign lured 12 new homes and four new commercial properties to the village.
“It’s worked better than we could have imagined,” said McNaughton, who headed up the growth initiatives. “I thought we would have got two or three more, which would have been a lot for Newbury.”
Total value of the residential properties was $939,000 compared to $330,500 for 2002 and 2003 combined.
Total value of commercial development was less than 2003 totals, but one new application is pending.
McNaughton said it’s okay commercial development hasn’t gone up because the economic development committee has focussed on residential growth first.
“Our main focus was residential growth first and hopefully business growth will follow,” said McNaughton, who chairs the economic development committee.
While McNaughton is pleased with the growth he knows the village and committee have to continue their efforts.
Waiving first-year taxes and building fees will continue until the end of 2005 then council will look at costs to expand the village’s infrastructure compared to the tax base growth.
Costs for the 52-week radio campaign were about $5,000.
That cost was split by the committee and Industry Canada’s Community Futures Development Corporation.
McNaughton said the challenge now is finding more lots in the village.
“We’re running out of building lots,” he said.
The committee has not been approached by developers, but the idea of making a subdivision has been talked about, he said.
The village has enough land to develop for another five or six years, believes McNaughton.
The village has applied for funding to resurface all of the roads in the village.
If the application to the Canadian Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) is accepted, the three levels of government could split on a potential $300,000 bill for the work.
McNaughton said Newbury’s proximity to London has helped attract new families.
“There is an opportunity that rural areas and small towns can take advantage of,” he said. “We can offer 90 by 150-foot lots for $12,000.”