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Staff Report
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Report To: Planning and Development Committee
Date of Meeting: December 7, 2020 Report Number: PSD-057-20
Submitted By: Faye Langmaid, Acting Director of Planning Services
Reviewed By: Andrew C. Allison, CAO By-law Number: PLN 37
File Number:
Resolution#: PD-214-20
Report Subject: Community Improvement Plan Programs 2020 - Annual Report
Recommendations:
1. That Report PSD-057-20 be received; and
2. That all interested parties listed in Report PSD-057-20 and any delegations be advised
of Council's decision.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD-057-20
Report Overview
Page 2
The Bowmanville, Newcastle, and Orono grant programs under the Community
Improvement Plans continue to be an effective tool for incenting investment and renewal in
the historic downtowns. The Bowmanville, Newcastle, and Orono CIPs are intended to
encourage investment to improve the appearance and function of buildings in the
downtowns.
The Courtice Main Street Community Improvement Plan was adopted by Council in 2016
and functions in a different manner. Its purpose is to enable the Municipality to respond to
increased development and community growth through a framework of financial incentives. It
includes programs encouraging new, quality -designed high -density development and
significant redevelopment along the Highway 2 Regional Corridor in Courtice.
This annual report provides an update and overview of the downtown CIP program activities
and grants in 2020.
1. Background
1.1. Community Improvement Plans (CIP) are a tool available to municipalities under the
Planning Act allowing for incentives to business and property owners within an identified
geographic area. Council adopted the CIPs for Bowmanville and Orono in 2005, and
Newcastle in 2008. These three CIPs were refreshed and renewed in 2018 with
additional grant programs. The Bowmanville, Newcastle, and Orono CIPs primarily
focus on grants for existing buildings, and enhancing the downtown streetscape. The
Courtice Main Street CIP adopted in 2016 includes programs that encourage major
development and redevelopment within the Highway 2 Regional Corridor.
1.2. Information regarding CIP programs is available to business and property owners within
the CIP areas via the project page of Clarington's website, and is distributed directly at
pre -consultation meetings, through front counter inquiries, and through `word-of-mouth'
within the community.
1.3. Liaison Groups were established for the three historic downtown CIPs for Bowmanville,
Newcastle, and Orono. The CIP Liaison Groups meet with Planning and Development
Services staff on a quarterly basis. Group members are apprised of CIP- related
matters, assist staff with informing business/property owners about CIP programs, and
provide feedback on the effectiveness of the various grant opportunities based upon the
experiences of those who participate in the programs.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD-057-20
Page 3
1.4. Following the 2018 CIP refresh, staff updated existing and created new CIP
communication documents to incorporate the new and existing grant programs. The
Municipality also incorporated the use of social media into community outreach,
enabling staff to target the CIP areas with relevant information about the available grant
programs.
1.5. In 2018, a portion of the CIP grant funds for Bowmanville and Newcastle was allocated
to support the Sidewalk Patio pilot project. The initiative was expanded to include Orono
in 2019 and was made available again to all three communities in 2020. A request to
extend this initiative into 2021 is currently under consideration and will be addressed as
a component of the Sidewalk Patio Program annual report scheduled to come forward
in January.
2. CIP Grant Program Activity
Overview of CIP Grant Applications
2.1. Applications for three (3) different grants associated with three (3) properties were
received in 2020, the properties being in Bowmanville, Orono and Newcastle.
Participation of property/business owners in each of the downtown areas was
considerably lower than in 2019, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A detailed
overview of the 2020 CIP Activity Summary is appended as Attachment 1. In 2020,
there was a fagade improvement grants, an accessibility grant and a building permit fee
grant. These grants are available to business owners as well as property owners.
Bowmanville, Orono, Newcastle Community Improvement Funding
2.2. To date, the Municipality has provided funding of $1,236,000 for grants in support of the
CIP programs in the Bowmanville, Newcastle, and Orono downtown areas. CIP grants
represent an investment and partnership whereby the grant value is matched by
property or business owners at a ratio of 3.1 or 2.1, based upon eligible costs in
accordance with the specific type of grant in each community. It should be noted that
many projects exceed this ratio, thereby resulting in the grant comprising a much
smaller proportion of the overall cost of the project.
Municipality of Clarington Page 4
Report PSD-057-20
2.3. The implementation of the CIP through grant programs has translated into direct public
benefit. Investment in building code and accessibility upgrades, fagade improvements to
historic and aging buildings, and upgraded signage all contributing to the vibrancy of
Clarington's central business areas as viable and attractive places to shop and access
local services. It is estimated that the grant contributions have resulted in over $3.7
million in investments in the downtowns.
2.4. Funds not committed to grant applications are carried over to the following year. Each
CIP has carry-over funding from prior years available for projects when applications are
received. The funding request appears as part of the Planning and Development
Services budget each year.
Courtice Main Street CIP Funding
2.5. The Courtice Main Street CIP incorporates two programs, including the development
charge grant program, and the tax increment grant program. Grants issued under the
Courtice Main Street CIP will result in much higher grant values due to its focus on
incenting significant development/redevelopment projects that would provide the new
and/or increased property assessment.
2.6. Development charge grants are budgeted for annually in order to meet the anticipated
demand for development charge incentives and are held in a reserve fund. Tax
increment grants are related to the increased assessment value of a property resulting
from development or redevelopment which the Municipality would forgo for a specified
period of time (i.e.10 years).
2.7. In 2020, $100,000 was allocated to the Courtice Main Street CIP's reserve fund. The
reserve is being built to address the grants that will be distributed once the works have
been completed and meet the criteria for sustainability and high -quality urban design
finishes. Planning and Development Services staff has included funding in its 2021
budget to continue to build the reserve fund.
3. Concurrence
Not Applicable.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD-057-20
4. Conclusion
Page 5
4.1 The purpose of this report is to provide an update and overview of the CIP program
activity in 2020 and associated funding framework. COVID-19 has impacted several
municipal programs in 2020, including applications for the CIP grant programs.
However, the interest in and uptake of the CIP programs for Bowmanville and Orono
was strong and steady in 2019. No applications were received in Newcastle in 2019, but
the level of interest in the Newcastle CIP program from previous years suggests the last
2 years have been anomalous and an application was received in 2020. It is anticipated
that as businesses adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic, applications for CIP grants will
pick up.
4.2 It is respectfully recommended that Council receive this report for information.
Staff Contact: Sarah Allin, Planner II, 905-623-3379 x 2419 or sallin@clarington.net.
Attachment:
Attachment 1 — 2020 Community Improvement Plan Activity Summary
Interested Parties: List of Interested Parties available from Department.
Attachment 1 to
Report PSD-057-20
2020 Community Improvement Plan Activity Summary
Bowmanville
The non -capital funding provided to date for implementation of the Bowmanville Community
Improvement Plan (CIP) is $716,000. Approximately $511,700 has been expended to date. An
application for one grant was received in 2020, while eighteen had been received in 2019.
Outstanding commitments are $35,481 in grants.
Many of the grant applications received have multiple addresses and have been for more than
one type of grant. The 2020 grant application was a heritage building fagade improvement
grant.
To date, 45 properties have been approved for CIP grants in the form of 40 fagade
improvements, 16 building code related improvements, 5 signage, 17 building permit fee, and
6 site plan fee, 6 reconstruction, and 4 accessibility grants.
Newcastle
The non -capital funding provided to date for implementation of the Newcastle CIP is $348,000.
Approximately $221,270 has been expended to date. One grant application was received in
2020, and none were received in 2019. Outstanding grant commitments total $25,063.
The 2020 grant application was an accessibility grant.
To date, 25 properties have been approved for CIP grants in the form of 20 facade
improvements, 13 signage grants, 8 building code grants, 3 site plan control fee grants, 3
accessibility grants and 1 building permit fee grant. Many properties have benefitted from more
than one type of grant.
Orono
The non -capital funding provided to date for implementation of the Orono Community
Improvement Plan is $172,000. In addition, funds have been expended on anniversary
celebrations, brochures, and hall rentals for meetings. Approximately $137,100 has been paid
out in grants.
Applications for one grant was received in 2020, while five were received in 2019. The 2020
grant application was an upgrade to building code grant. $13,969 is currently committed.
To date, 29 properties have been approved for the CIP grants in the form of 19 facade
improvements, 23 signage grants, 4 building code grants, and 1 infill grant. In some cases,
properties have received more than one type of grant.
Courtice
The non -capital funding provided to date for Courtice is $246,000. The funding has been used
for street trees along Highway 2 at Courtice Road, the Tooley Memorial, the lighting at the
parkette at Trulls Road and Highway 2 and limited implementation of banners along Highway 2
from Centrefield to Townline Road. In 2019, funds were from the Courtice CIP were
reallocated to support works within the local parks and trails system. In 2020, $100,000 was
allocated to the Courtice Main Street CIP's reserve fund to build the reserve to accommodate
grants that will be issued once qualifying projects have been constructed.
Overall Summary of Funding and Applications
Table 1: Summary of Funding Status; Bowmanville, Newcastle, Orono and Courtice CIPs
Funding Category
Bowmanville
Newcastle
Orono
Courtice (DC
Grant only)
Provided
$716,000
$348,000
$172,000
$246,000
Expended
$511,709
$221,270
$137,138
$37,000
Committed
$35,481
$25,063
$13,969
$---
Remaining (Rounded)
$168,800
$101,600
$20,900
$219,000
Table 2: Summary of Total Applications by Grant Type; Bowmanville, Newcastle, Orono
Grant Type
Bowmanville
Newcastle
Orono
Facade Improvements
40
20
19
Building Code Upgrades
16
8
4
Signage
5
13
23
Building Permit Fee
17
1
0
Site Plan Fee
6
3
0
Infill/Reconstruction
6
0
1
Accessibility
4
3
0
Total
94
48
47