After building a state-of-the-art facility to house its growing company five years ago, B&D Manufacturing is moving another step forward, privately developing an industrial park on its Chelmsford property just outside of Sudbury.

Acquired in 2006, the property, which is zoned light industrial, encompasses 95.5 acres (38.6 hectares), from which 15 assigned lots measuring roughly 6.4 acres (2.58 hectares) will be developed and sold as shovel-ready parcels.

After settling into its new home, B&D decided the time was right to move to the next phase of its development scheme, said controller France Dubois Hnatiuk.

“Our plan was always to develop the actual site; however, when we purchased the land in 2006, our priority was to actually develop the facility for B&D Manufacturing on this land,” Dubois Hnatiuk said. “So our focus was on that development, and now it’s time to put our resources towards developing this industrial park.”

To date, B&D has submitted its preliminary draft subdivision plan to the city, and will soon submit its official draft plan for review. Dubois Hnatiuk expects a six-month turnaround period. Although the plan is to fund the park’s development independently, B&D is also considering approaching funding agencies for some assistance in getting the project off the ground.

B&D’s general manager, André Ruest, said there are no restrictions on the property, and the flat land on which it’s situated means no blasting is required, which should help ease development, physically and financially.

Once approved, the park would be developed in phases; B&D would try to locate buyers for specific sections of the park and then expand roads and the sewage system as the commitments are made.

The company is also looking specifically at environmentally conscious companies that make reducing their footprint a priority, much like B&D did when it built its new facility. Eco-friendly options B&D incorporated include a solar wall that reduces fuel costs by 30 per cent per year, and the recycling of rain water into grey water holding tanks for use in the washrooms.

“We’re getting a lot of interest, but most people that are interested are looking for shovel-ready land,” Ruest said. “So it’s hard for us to work out any agreements or contracts with anyone at this stage until we have the green light from the city.”

Shovel-ready industrial land is notoriously difficult to find in Sudbury, and earlier this year the city approved a $65-million, multi-stage development plan to combat the shortage. It pinpoints areas in need of amenity upgrades, with a New Sudbury park showcased as the number one priority. This summer, the city proposed an $8.8-million infrastructure improvement cost-sharing program, which the landowners flatly rejected.

With no stated timeline for completing the city-led industrial land expansion, and landowners and the city at an impasse, B&D’s park may be the most viable option for companies looking to expand or open new operations. As an added bonus, the park has a most valuable asset.

“Without sounding too corny, it’s location, location, location,” said Dubois Hnatiuk.

The park is strategically located at the juncture of Sudbury’s main thoroughfares, a key benefit the company zeroed in on when searching for land six years ago. The property provides access to Highway 144 north and the Highway 144 bypass, which extends to Highway 17 and Highway 69. The park itself is situated on Regional Road 15 which leads to Valley East.

B&D is never more than about 29 kilometres away from the major mine sites operated by Vale, Xstrata Nickel and KGHMI.

Word of the park’s development is spreading and even without soliciting interest, companies are eager to get in on the ground floor.

“Companies are calling and saying, ‘I understand you have industrial land. We might be interested. Give us a call when you’re ready,’” Ruest said.

Most of those calls are coming from local businesses that are looking to grow but are out of space at their current location. But, once everything is finalized with the city, Dubois Hnatiuk envisions working with the city to attract out-of-town business to the fold.

“It’s good growth for the city and a nice, fun project,” she said.