Puslinch
Community
Improvement
Plan
Project
Stakeholder Workshop #2 Presentation
July 9, 2015
Presentation Overview
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•
•
•
Project Recap
Work Completed to-date
Key Findings/Conclusions
Options for a Community
Improvement Plan in Puslinch
• CIP Implementation Process
• Next Steps
What is a CIP?
• A plan or framework to improve,
restore, redevelop, and rehabilitate
public and private properties
• A revitalization “tool box”
• Allows a municipality to implement
certain tools, such as providing grants
and loans to businesses and
landowners
What is a CIP?
CIPs are legislated under the Planning Act:
1. A municipality must designate a
Community Improvement Project Area
(CIPA)
2. A municipality may prepare a Community
Improvement Plan for the CIPA
3. A municipality may then offer grants and
loans to businesses and landowners for
‘eligible’ costs
4. Upper-tier municipalities may participate
financially in lower-tier CIPs
Work Completed to-date
• Our work so far has involved a needs and
opportunities assessment:
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Tour of the study area
Review of background documents
Stakeholder workshop (May 13, 2015)
Community survey (May/June 2015)
Council feedback(June 17, 2015)
• A Phase One Options Memo (June 9, 2015)
has been prepared to:
– Provide a summary of findings
– Determine where could tools apply
– Identify options for further discussion
• A Presentation was made to Council to
received feedback (June 17, 2015)
Key Findings
Study Area Assessment
Assets to build on:
• Aberfoyle
• Morriston
– Heritage buildings
– Heritage buildings
– Natural Features
– Natural Features
– Connection to agricultural
– Connection to
and rural surroundings
agricultural and rural
surroundings
– Aberfoyle Mill is a
landmark
– Specialty
commercial uses
– Specialty commercial
with popular
uses with an existing
restaurants
niche in antiques and
décor
– Recreational and
open space uses
– Recreational and civic
uses
Key Findings
Study Area Assessment
Opportunities
Improvement:
Assets
toforbuild
on…
• Aberfoyle and Morriston:
– Zoning could be updated
– More parking opportunities
– Overall physical condition of buildings and facades
– Landscaping on private properties
– Safer and more welcoming pedestrian environment
– Linkages within and surrounding Aberfoyle and Morriston
– Infrastructure for active transportation
– Streetscaping and improvements to the public realm
– Gateways and signage
– A wider range of commercial uses
Key Findings
Study Area Assessment
Industrial/mixed-use corridor:
• Assets to build on:
• Opportunities for improvement:
– Strategic location
– Landscaping on private properties
– Heritage buildings
– Outdoor storage could be screened
from Brock Road Corridor
– Few industrial eye-sores
– Physical condition and facades of
– Go Transit Park n’ Ride
some buildings
and future permanent GO
station
– Streetscaping and improvements to
the public realm
– Recent development
activity
– Gateways and signage
– Linkages to Aberfoyle and
Morriston
Key Findings
Summary/Conclusions
1.
There are a number of unique features and
assets that should remain distinct and can be
highlighted and built upon through improvements
to both public and private property
2.
There are also a number of needs that are
common to all of the areas, which can be
addressed in a coordinated manner in order to
connect and promote one economic corridor
3.
The existing Community Improvement Project
Areas in the County Official Plan:
a. are very large and include residential properties that
are not along/adjacent to the corridor
b. do not include all commercial, mixed-use, or industrial
properties located along the corridor
Options for a CIP
‘Our Corridor’
a Potential Vision:
Over the next 10 years ‘Our Corridor’ will be
integrated and transformed into an attractive,
prosperous, safe, and distinctive economic
corridor. Residents and visitors will come to
‘Our Corridor’, to shop, eat, socialize,
celebrate, play, and explore. They will be able
to move around through a network of roads,
paths, and trails. Our corridor will be a source
of inspiration, heritage, rural character, and
local pride.
Options for a CIP
‘Our Corridor’
Potential Goals:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Promote beautification and restoration of public and
private property
Celebrate and restore built/cultural heritage and rural
character
Attract new business development
Support and promote existing businesses
Encourage active transportation and enhance
recreational opportunities
Provide attractive streetscapes and improved
pedestrian environments.
Options for a CIP
‘Our Corridor’
Community
Improvement Project
Area Options
A. Maintain the Existing Community
Improvement Project Areas
OR
A. Amend the Existing Community
Improvement Project Areas
Options for a CIP
‘Our Corridor’
Municipal Leadership
Program Options:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
Strategy for County Participation in the CIP
Zoning Review
Marketing Strategy
Heritage Conservation Initiatives
Development of a Streetscape Strategy
Parking Strategy
Festivals and Events Strategy
Implementation of the Urban Design Guidelines
Implementation of the County Active
Transportation Plan
Options for a CIP
Municipal Leadership
A. Strategy for County Participation in the CIP
– Explore the possibility of participation from
Wellington County in ‘Our Corridor’ CIP
– A working committee made up of Township and
County staff could be organized to discuss options
for County participation
B. Zoning Review
– Zoning review of the CIPA to ensure that the
regulatory regime:
o
o
o
Conforms to the overall policy direction of the County’s
OP
Is consistent with Township development objectives
Supports revitalization, renewal and the Township’s
overall vision for each of the areas
Municipal Leadership
Program Options
C. Marketing Strategy
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Brand and market CIP and promote businesses,
tourism and recreational activities
Focus on key community features such as unique
heritage communities, high quality of life and strong
appeal for businesses
Use of brochures, web-based resources,
advertisements in local and regional newspapers
D. Heritage Conservation Initiatives
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Implement Heritage Property Tax Relief Program
Designate properties of cultural heritage interest or
value
Initiate Heritage Conservation District Study
Municipal Leadership
Program Options
E. Development of a Streetscape Strategy
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Establish a vision and conceptual designs for
improvements to public landscapes and
streetscapes which aims to:
o
o
o
Connect the main streets with other key areas in the
Township
Support pedestrian and vehicular circulation
Improve amenities and public spaces
* This initiative would build on on-going/completed initiatives
F.
Parking Study
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Examine the need and options for additional parking
including municipal, on-street and private off-street
parking spaces
Municipal Leadership
Program Options
G. Festivals and Events Strategy
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Create and hold festival events – aim for one per
season
Serves as an economic stimulator to attract people to
downtown and mainstreets
H. Implementation of the Urban Design Guidelines
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I.
Implement existing 2010 Urban Design Guidelines as
part of the review and evaluation of applications for
financial incentives
Implementation of County Active Transportation
Plan
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Implement active transportation routes as identified in
the Plan (i.e., shared roadways, signed bicycle routes,
and paved shoulders)
Options for a CIP
‘Our Corridor’
Financial Incentive
Programs Options:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Façade, Signage, and Landscaping Improvement
Grant Program
Building Improvement Grant Program
Building Conversion and Expansion Grant
Program
Major Redevelopment/Revitalization Tax
Increment Equivalent Grant Program
Motor Vehicle and Bicycle Parking Improvement
Grant
Planning and Building Permit Fees Rebate
Financial Incentive
Program Options
Examples of
Eligible Projects:
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Restoration of original
brick and stone
Restoration or
replacement of exterior
lighting
Exterior painting;
Chemical or other
façade cleaning
Replacement of
windows, doors and
awnings
Installation of new
signage
Addition of landscaping
features (sod, trees,
vegetation, permanent
planters, walkways,
etc.)
A. Façade, Signage, and Landscaping
Improvement Grant Program
–
–
This program would assist with the financing of the
following types of improvements to existing
buildings on private property:
o improvements to the façade or signage of the
street fronting wall of a buildings, or a side/rear
wall that is visible from a public street/public
space or fronts onto a laneway or parking lot
o improvements to the landscaping on the front
yard of properties
For example the grant could cover 50% of the
eligible costs of the façade, signage, and
landscaping improvement to a maximum of $2,500.
Financial Incentive
Program Options
Examples of Eligible
Projects:
•
•
•
•
•
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Structural repairs to
walls, ceilings, floors,
and foundations
Interior restoration and
design
Repair/replacement/insta
llation of building
infrastructure, such as
roofing, windows, and
doors
Repair/replacement/insta
llation of plumbing,
electrical, HVAC, and fire
protection systems
Weatherproofing
Improvements to
accessibility for people
with disabilities
B. Building Improvement Grant Program
–
This program would assist with the financing of
physical improvements to existing buildings on
private property that will:
o upgrade the building to meet the current
Building Code
o improve aesthetic quality
o provide for safe and usable eligible uses
– For example the grant could cover 50% of the
eligible costs of the building improvement to a
maximum of $5,000.
Financial Incentive
Program Options
Examples of Eligible
Projects:
•
•
•
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Conversion of existing
commercial or vacant
upper-floor space into a
rental housing unit
Conversion of noncommercial or vacant
space into new
commercial, mixed use,
and other eligible uses
Conversion of existing
ground floor commercial
space to better suit a
new commercial use
(e.g., retail to restaurant)
Expansion of existing
eligible uses to increase
the gross floor area
C. Building Conversion and Expansion
Grant Program
– This program would assist with the financing of:
o the small-scale conversion of existing vacant
space into new commercial, mixed-use,
industrial space, and other eligible uses
o the minor expansion of existing eligible uses to
support growing businesses
– For example the grant could be provided on the
basis of $15 per square foot of converted or
expanded floor space, to a maximum of $5,000.
Financial Incentive
Program Options
Examples of Eligible
Projects:
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•
•
•
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The redevelopment of a
property
The restoration or
improvement of an
existing building
The conversion of an
existing building
The expansion of a
building that results in an
increase to the gross
floor area
Infrastructure work
including the
improvement or
reconstruction of existing
on-site public
infrastructure (water
services, sanitary and
storm sewer)
D. Major Redevelopment/Revitalization Tax
Increment Equivalent Grant Program
– This program would effectively defer part of the
increase in property taxation as a result of a major
redevelopment/revitalization project by:
o
o
Providing grants that are equivalent to a percentage of
the resulting property tax increase following the
reassessment of the property
The increase (‘increment’) is the difference between the
former tax assessment (prior to improvements) and the
new tax assessment (after improvements)
– The grant could be equivalent to 50% of the municipal
and/or County portion of the tax increase.
– The grants could be provided for a period of 5 or 10
years
Financial Incentive
Program Options
Examples of
Eligible Projects:
•
•
•
Installation of new
or replacement of
existing outdoor
bicycle parking
racks
Improvement to
parking areas that
result in an increase
supply of parking
spaces
Repairs,
improvements,
repainting and
repaving of existing
driveways and
parking areas
E. Motor Vehicle and Bicycle Parking
Improvement Grant
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This program would assist with the financing of:
o
improving existing motor vehicle parking and
bicycle parking to increase the parking supply
o
adding new motor vehicle/bicycle parking to
increase the parking supply
The grant may be equivalent to 50% of the eligible
cost to a maximum of $2,000.
Financial Incentive
Program Options
Examples of
Eligible Costs:
•
•
•
planning
application fees
including minor
variances, site
plans, zoning bylaw amendments
or official plan
amendments
building permit
fees or change of
use permits
development
charges
F: Planning and Building Permit Fees Rebate
– This program would provide a grant for a portion of
the fees in relation to an improvement project required
for:
o
planning applications
o
building permits
o
development charges
– For example the grant could cover up 100% of the
municipal portion of the eligible cost
Options for a CIP
1. Are the potential Vision and Goals
appropriate?
2. Is the proposed Community Improvement
Project Area appropriate?
3. Should any of the Municipal Leadership
Programs be included or omitted in the
CIP? Should any others be considered?
4. Should any of the Financial Incentive
Programs be included or omitted in the
CIP? Should any others be considered?
Who is Eligible?
• The CIP will identify eligibility criteria that must
be met in order for an owner or tenant to be
eligible for any of the programs, such as:
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All proposed projects must be within the Community
Improvement Project Area
All proposed projects must result in some level of improvement
or rehabilitation over existing conditions
All proposed projects must contribute to achieving one or more
CIP goals
Total value of grant cannot exceed the total value of eligible
costs for a project
Financial incentives cannot be applied retroactively to works
started prior to approval of applications
The property owner must have no outstanding property tax
arrears
Administration of a CIP
•
A CIP Implementation Committee would be responsible for
implementing the CIP and reviewing applications for financial
incentive programs.
•
The following are the key steps of the CIP application and review
process:
Application
Submitted to
Committee
Application
Reviewed
by
Committee
Committee
makes
decision
Approved
Applicant
undertakes
work/notifies
Committee
upon
completion
Grant is
Paid to
Applicant
Next Steps
• Additional Consultation on the
Options:
– Public Open House (tonight)
• Prepare a draft CIP document based
on feedback (Summer 2015)
• Open House/Public Meeting (Fall
2015)
• Council Adoption (Fall 2015)
Thank you for your
time and input!
Any questions?