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Home My WebLink AboutPSD-004-10Clar~n~on REPORT Leading the way PLANNING SERVICES Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINIS11TRATION COMMITTEE Date: Monday, January 4, 2010. ~~Sd1w~S~J ~~' P~ ~DUg' 10 Report #: PSD-004-10 File #: PLN 37.3.1 By-law #: Subject: NEWCASTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN GRANTS UPDATE RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1: THAT Report PSD-004-10 be received for information; and 2. THAT all interested parties listed in this report and any delegations be advised of Council's decision. Submitted by: Da id . Crome, MCIP,RPP Director, Planning Services IL*FL*sn*df 15 December 2009 Reviewed by~ r ~~""`~ `~ ` "~- Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-0830 REPORT NO.: PSD-004-10 PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 On January 29"', 2007 Council approved the preparation of a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for Newcastle Village and a study area By-law 2007-015. The terms of reference for the study called for a community focus group, which was formed in March of 2007 and guided the study to its completion in April of 2008. 1.2 Council adopted the Community Improvement Plan by By-law 2008-064 on April 21g`, 2008 and it became final and binding on June 3ro, 2008. As part of the review process, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing commented on the CIP and its recommendations. 1.3 The Community Improvement Plan allows the Municipality to provide incentives to business and property owners in the Newcastle Village Community Improvement Project Area (Attachment 1). The merchants and business owners of the area were notified of the approval of the CIP and the availability of the incentives and grants during a well attended trade show in the community in June of 2008. The Newcastle and Bond Head Ratepayers Association were given a presentation on the CIP in June of 2009. Should businesses and/or property owners apply for a building permit or works that may be subject to a grant they are informed of such. by the Building Division and Planning Services staff. The CIP implementation has been assisted by a CIP Community Liaison Group which meets quarterly to review the Plan's progress and to bring forward issues that the Municipality can assist with. The Group chair is Carl Good and members include Gord Lee, Myno Van Dyke, Arthur Wynn, Ron Warne, Karin Murphy, Peter Sainovski, Councillor Robinson, and Theresa Vanhaverbeke representing the Newcastle BIA. This Group speaks to merchants and property owners on a regular basis to raise awareness of the CIP program and the services that are available. 1.4 The purpose of this report is to update Council on the grants that have been approved and pending the completion of works, paid out, or deferred pending further grant funding. This provides Council with an overall understanding of how the grants are assisting property owners. 2.0 CIP INITIATIVES 2.1 Genera! Comments There are a number of general rules within the grant program that are applicable to all grants and then there are specific rules for the different types of grants. We have encouraged applicants to take advantage of the free design service offered by the Planning Services Department for facade improvements and development of visualizations. In all cases we have worked with applicants, and inspected the buildings prior to the anticipated works. Grants are not released until the works are completed and the contractor paid. Property owners must be current with their tax payments. For properties that have multiple municipal street addresses or storefronts, each property owner is subject to an overall maximum of $45,000. REPORT NO.: PSD-004-10 PAGE. 3 2.2 Site Plan Control Fee Grant Program This grant program is intended to assist commercial zone property owners with financing the cost of the development process by providing a grant to offset some of the Site Plan Control Fee to a maximum of $3,000. 2.3 Building Facade Improvement Grant Program This grant program is intended to assist property owners with the financing of building facade improvements. The grant covers up to one half of the costs of the eligible work per building to a maximum of $5,000 per municipal street address or storefront. 2.4 Upgrade to Building Code Grant Program This grant program is intended to assist property owners with the financing of building improvements required to bring existing older buildings into compliance with the current Ontario Building Code. The grant covers up to one half of the costs of the eligible work per building to a maximum of $10,000 per municipal street address or storefront. 2.5 /nfill Project Grant Program This grant program is intended to assist property owners with financing the cost of the development by providing a one time grant to offset the amount of building construction to a maximum of $10,000. All buildings are to be designed in keeping with the historical context of Newcastle Village. 2.6 Sipnape Grant Program This .grant program is intended to assis signage improvements. The grant covers work per building to a maximum of $2,000. t property owners with the financing of up to one half of the costs of the eligible 2.7 Grants Applications and Status Fagade 2008 You're in the Dog House 205 King Ave. E $3,195.94 Paid out Facade 2008 The Black Knight 119 King Ave. W $5,000.00 Paid out signage 2008 The Black Knight 119 King Ave W $2,000.00 Paid out Facade 2008 Clark Chiropractic 10 King Ave. E $3,087.00 Paid out Fapade 2008 Roselina's 4 King Ave E $5,000.00 Paid out Facade 2008 Village Card & Gift Shop 19 King Ave. E $5,000.00 max Withdrawn signage 2008 Village Card 8 Gift Shop 19 King Ave. E $2,000.00 max Withdrawn Building Code 2009 The Black Knight 119 King Ave. W $10,000.00 Paid out Fagade 2009 Yummy Pleasures 123 King Ave. W $5,000.00 Paid out Fagade 2009 Canada Brokerlink Insurance In Person 83 King Ave. W $4,187.00 Approved Facade Facade 2009 2009 Newcastle Eye Care Tiny Bubbles 85 King Ave. W 54 King Ave. E $4,187.00 $5,000.00 max Approved Withdrawn signage 2009 Tiny Bubbles 54 King Ave. E $2,000.00 max Withdrawn signage 2009 Yummy Pleasures 123 King Ave. W $2,000.00 max Deferred Building Code Site Plan 2009 2009 Yummy Pleasures Diana's Gingerbread Cottage 123 King Ave. W 106 King Ave. E $10,000.00 max $3,000.00 max Deferred Deferred signage 2009 Lovekin Law 35 King Ave. W $2,000.00 Discussion REPORT NO.: PSD-004-10 PAGE 4 Approved - means letter issued for the funding Discussion - means we have been in discussion with owner; waiting for additional information and application Withdrawn - means that the grant applicant withdrew the application Deferred - means waiting for CIP funding approval for 2010 Below are photographs of CIP projects that were completed in 2009. Yummy Pleasures The Black Knight 123 King Avenue West (The Old Newcastle House Taps & Grill) Fagade Improvement on 119 King Avenue West Baldwin Street Building Code Upgrade for accessible washroom addition 2.8 Other CIP Works The Community Improvement Plan area is bisected by Mill Street, otherwise known as Regional Road 17. The Region of Durham proposed to upgrade Mill Street South from Highway 401 to King Avenue in 2009. The works included left turn lanes at Edward Street, reconstruction of the road pavement, curb and gutter, watermain and storm sewer, overhead cobra lights and repair and replacement of existing sidewalks. The CIP included comments regarding the tree canopy along Mill Street South, and how it defined the street, as such it was important that the road reconstruction be conducted in a manner that was sensitive to the protection of the trees and their root system. The Region of Durham was aware of the policies of the CIP and managed the road reconstruction project in a manner that was sensitive to the neighbourhood by protecting the mature tree canopy along the street. Consideration to the pedestrian environment at the intersection of King Avenue and Mill Street South was also enhanced by the Region as part of the project through the installation of interlocking brick in the street boulevard. 2.9 CIP Funding Council has provided funding since 2008 for the CIP and a total of just over $33,000 has been dispersed for various projects. Funds have been allocated for two projects scheduled for completion this year. Three applications, totalling $15,000, are deferred by the owners in anticipation that funds will be made available in 2010. There was just over $3000 remaining in the CIP budget for REPORT NO.: PSD-004-10 PAGE 5 grants, when the funds were frozen and budgets adjusted by Council on August 31, 2009 3.0 CONCLUSION 3.1 There has been good response to the grant program. The owners we have met with are pleased with the program and the financial incentives provided by the Municipality. Staff will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the program and make recommendations for changes as necessary. 3.2 It is recommended that Council provide funding for the continuation of the CIP grant program in 2010. Staff Contact: Isabel Little Attachments: Attachment 1 -Community Improvement Project area map List of interested parties to be notified of Council's decision: Valentine Lovekin, Newcastle BIA Newcastle Village CIP Community Liaison Group Go Isabel Little Attachment 1 To Report PSD-004-10