BY MICHAEL-ALLAN MARION
EXPOSITOR STAFF / BRANTFORD

Brantford is opening up a new era in industrial development with council's approval in principle of a 450-acre industrial park completely generated by a private developer in the northwest comer of the city. Council, in a planning meeting Monday, overwhelmingly endorsed two official plan amendments and a rezoning application that set the stage for the creation of Oak Park North - two parcels of land on the west and east side of Oak Park Road, north of Highway 403.

The park will be, built by King and Benton Development Corp., a rising industrial developer in the area, and contains a range of yet unnamed prestige industrial and warehousing concerns.

"I think the call the municipality has sent out to the private sector to join in developing the area has been answered," King and Benton president Steve Charest said outside the council chamber.

"It's exciting what's about to happen. We've been working on this for the past couple of years, and we're ready to hit the ground running."