HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-253-86 TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
-� REPORT File # '35, Sj, tr'
Res. #
By-Law #
MEETING: COUNCIL
DATE: Tuesday, October 14, 1986
REPORT #: PD-253-86 FILE #:
SUBJECT: ONTARIO PROGRAM FOR RENEWAL, IMPROVEMENT
DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION (P .R. I.D.E. )
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended to Council the following:
1. THAT Report PD-253-86 be received for discussion.
BACKGROUND AND COMMENTS:
At the Committee Meeting of October 6, 1986 it was resolved to direct Staff to take
whatever actions were necessary to put the municipality in a position to make application
for Provincial assistance under the Ontario Program for Renewal , Improvement, Development
and Economic Revitalization (P .R.I .D.E. ) .
In that regard, a deadline of October 17 , 1986 was established for municipalities to
request an application form for Provincial assistance. This request must be accompanied
by a brief summary of the project to be addressed through the P.R.I .D.E . Program. Staff
note that, at the present point in time the necessary Official Plan policies are not in
place. It is, therefore, necessary for us to forthwith adopt policies and seek Provincial
approval for same by the January 31, 1987 deadline.
. . .2
REPORT NO.: PD-253-86 Page 2
In that regard, Staff have drafted an Official Plan amendment dealing with
community improvement within the Town of Newcastle which should be forwarded
along with the necessary background report to the Region of Durham for
approval and submission to the Province. The subject amendment proposes the
designation of a number of areas as Community Improvement Areas, however,
since it would be beyond the financial capability of the municipality to
initiate all of the necessary community improvement projects, it is
necessary for Council to priorize the various community improvements for
submission along with our application request. Eligible projects must be of
a comprehensive community improvement nature and would be carried out in
areas of the municipality which are deficient in municipal services and/or
community facilities, exhibit symptoms of physical , functional and/or
economic decline, and reflect the commitment and endorsement of the people
who live and do business in the area. Emphasis is, of course, placed upon
the degree to which the improvement will positively impact the overall area
and act as a catalyst for private sector investment.
Staff note that any municipal submission to designate Community Improvement
Areas such as has been done through the Official Plan Amendment, must be
accompanied by a Background Study which fully documents the basis for such
desi gnation.
Staff note that, although a significant amount of work has been done to this
end to accumulate data, upon which we have based our preliminary
designations, this information is, in some instances, two (2) years out of
date and significant Staff time would be required to compile, review and
update the Background Report.
Given the present workload related to the extensive development activity of
the Town, Staff time is not available for such a project and Staff do not
feel that a credible job can be performed within the time constraints placed
upon this.
. . .3
REPORT NO.: PD-253-86 Page 3
The municipality must be prepared to commit Staff time and funds to any
community improvement project undertaken and must also match, dollar for
dollar, any Provincial grant available. Eligible project components are the
Town' s administrative costs; capital costs of building, improving or
replacing services and utilities such as streets, sewers or wate rmains;
capital costs of building, improving or replacing social and recreational
facilities such as parks, community centres libraries and daycare centres;
relocation costs including moving expenses and related compensation;
aesthetic improvements such as streetscapes, landscaping and buffers to
reduce land use conflicts, and land and building acquisition, as well as the
clearance and demolition for eligible P.R.I.D.E. projects.
Earlier this year, Council resolved to place a high priority on the
improvement of the Bowmanville Waterfront Area and more recently,
deficiencies, in the services for areas such as Newtonville and Courtice,
have become a concern to the municipality. Staff would, therefore , suggest
that our initial application be intended to address one or all of these
community improvement projects. Depending upon Council ' s direction , the
necessary documentation will be prepared and forwarded to the Province.
As a final note, Staff would advise that, as with other Provincial Programs,
municipalities are not usually permitted to piggy-back programs if funding
for a specific project has been approved through other sources such as other
Provincial Grant or Loan Programs.
Staff in the interim, will attempt to finalize our Community Improvement
Policies to be approved and forwarded to the Regional Municipality of Durham
for their approval . Staff also respectfully request direction as to
priorities for Community Improvement projects for submission to the Province
with our application request.
Respectful y--svbiwi�tted,
T.T. Edwards, M.C.I .P. ,
Director of Planning
TTE*j ip r
*Attach. -
October 9, 1986