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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-004-14 Clarftwn REPORT PLANNING SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: January 6, 2014 Resolution #: P p0 1� By-law #: N/A Report#: PSD-004-14 File Nos.: PLN 37.1.1, 37.2.1, 37.3.1, 37.4.1 Subject: COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2013 ORONO, BOWMANVILLE, NEWCASTLE AND COURTICE RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report PSD-004-14 be received; and 2. THAT any interested parties to Report PSD-004-14 be notified of Council's decision. Submitted by: Reviewed by: D,4664.J. Crome, MCIP, RPP Franklin Wu Director, Planning Services Chief Administrative Officer KK/FL/DJC/sn 5 December, 2013 CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-0830 REPORT NO.: PSD-004-14 PAGE 2 1. BACKGROUND 1.1 Council adopted Community Improvement Plans (CIP) for Bowmanville and Orono in 2005, and Newcastle in 2008. Courtice does not have a CIP in place as of yet, however funds have been provided in the past 5 years for civic space (streetscape) improvements. 1.2 The CIPs allow the Municipality to provide incentives to business and property owners within a specific geographical area and outlines specific grant programs in the Plan. The merchants and business owners of the different CIP areas are notified via the municipal website, counter inquiries and through word of mouth. When applying for a building permit or other works that may be eligible for a grant, applicants are informed of the grant program by Building Division and Planning Services staff. 1.3 The three downtown CIP's have liaison groups which meet on a quarterly basis. The liaison groups are apprised of any issues arising in the area and assist staff in spreading the word about the grant programs. 2. CIP INITIATIVES Grant Programs 2.1 There are a number of general rules within the grant program that are applicable to all grants across the three CIP's. There are specific rules for the different types of grants and slightly different grants for each downtown (see Attachment 1). Grants are not released until the works are completed, the contractor paid and permits finalized. To be eligible, property owners must be current with their tax payments. 2.2 The grant programs for each community have been tailored to meet the specific opportunities and challenges of the different downtown areas. Types of projects that qualify include building facade improvements, signage improvement, infill projects, upgrades to building code, building permit fee, site plan control fee, and building reconstruction. Grant funds are committed at the outset of a project and may carry over to a subsequent year while the work is being completed. CIP Updates (Attachment 2) • ORONO — There was a small surge in grant applications in Orono this year. Three grant applications were received in 2013; others are in the discussion stage. Funds remain from prior years for Orono should applications come forward. • BOWMANVILLE — In 2013, the entire $55,000 budget allocation has been earmarked for CIP grants. To date not all of the funds have been dispersed; however because of the commitments no applications have been accepted since April. No funds remain from prior years. • NEWCASTLE — In 2013, the entire $22,000 budget allocation has been earmarked for CIP grants. No funds are available from prior years as there has been full uptake of funding since the inception of the grant program in Newcastle. REPORT NO.: PSD-004-14 PAGE 3 ® COURTICE - The CIP funds for Courtice are intended to improve the streetscape and the public realm. The intent was to have additional street trees planted along Highway 2 in the area of Centrefield and Darlington Boulevard; the works to date have not been carried out and have been carried over to 2014. CIP Funding 2.3 To date the Municipality has provided funding of$600,000 in grants in the 3 downtowns. The CIP monies have to be matched by the building owners/ merchants on a 3:1, 2:1 or 1:1 basis depending on the grant. In Bowmanville there has been in excess of$1.3 million invested in the downtown. When totaled with the other downtowns, the investment is approximately two million dollars. Direct public benefit is realized in the form of signage, building code upgrades, accessibility and facade improvements for aging buildings in our central business areas. 2.4 For the past three years the funds for Newcastle and Bowmanville have been allocated early in the year. Since April, Staff have had to inform numerous potential applicants that there are no remaining funds for the year. Applications are addressed on a first come, first serve basis. Because of the limited funds some worthy projects are being deferred or not proceeding based on decisions of the building owners. In many cases, it is the CIP funds which provide the necessary incentive to prompt an owner or merchant to invest in refreshing their store front and interior. Lack of funding is resulting in missed opportunities to have enhancements carried out. In future, if additional funds cannot be provided, it will likely be necessary to establish a rating system for priority projects. 2.5 For Courtice, a Community Improvement Plan will follow the zoning changes resulting from the Courtice Main Street Secondary Plan. Approval of the Secondary Plan by the Region is imminent and will be followed by the Zoning By- Law amendments. In advance of the CIP being prepared, Council have been allocating funds to make improvements on municipal lands to kick-start the enhancement process that would occur once a CIP is in place. CIP Effectiveness 2.6 The influence of CIP projects has initiated other projects. In Newcastle, urban design guidelines have been developed and approved by Council as a result of the projects which have already benefitted from careful crafting of their street presence. Also in Newcastle the Engineering Services Department has undertaken a streetscape study to be completed in 2014. 2.7 In Bowmanville a number of building owners have taken advantage of the CIP grants to repaint the brick on their buildings, removing the flaking and chipped paint and refurbishing it with a three step process that seals the brick and then recreates the look of the original brick facade. Because of the number of buildings that have undergone this process the streetscape along King Street has a much enhanced appearance. 2.8 The liaison groups in both Newcastle and Bowmanville have expressed concern that the lack of grant funding is delaying additional enhancement projects. Some merchants have proceeded with works based on designs provided through the urban design and visualization service provided by Planning without taking advantage of the grants. REPORT NO.: PS®-004-14 PAGE 4 2.9 In 2013, presentations of the impact of the CIP's on each community were prepared and shown to the liaison groups. These presentations included before and after photographs of the works. The presentations will be made available on line. 3. CONCURRENCE - Not Applicable 4. CONCLUSION 4.1 There has been good response to the limited grant program and other CIP initiatives. The merchants/owners we have met with are pleased with the grant program and visualization service provided by the Municipality. 4.2 Staff will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the program and make recommendations for changes, if necessary. CONFORMITY WITH STRATEGIC PLAN The recommendations contained in this report conform to the general intent of the following priorities of the Strategic Plan: X Promoting economic development Maintaining financial stability Connecting Clarington Promoting green initiatives X Investing in infrastructure X Showcasing our community Not in conformity with Strategic Plan Staff Contact: Faye Langmaid Attachments: Attachment 1 — Grants available in downtowns Attachment 2 — CIP Grant Work Summary by Community List of interested parties to be notified of Council's decision: Garth Gilpin, Coordinator, Bowmanville BIA Liaison groups for Bowmanville, Newcastle and Orono CIP's c/o Faye Langmaid ATTACHMENT 1 TO REPORT NO.: PSD-004-14 Orono Grants Bowmanville Grants Newcastle Grants Si na a 50% up to $2000 N/A Si na e 50% up to $2000 Heritage Facade 33% up to Facade 50% up to $5000 $10,000 Facade 50% up to $5000 Site Plan Control Fee up to Site Plan Control Fee up to N/A $3000 $3000 Building Permit Fee up to N/A $2000 N/A Building Code Upgrade 50% Building Code Upgrade 33% Building Code Upgrade up to $5000 up to $5000 50% up to $10000 Brownfield grant up to $10000 Reconstruction up to $10000 Infill up to $10000 CIP Area -3.29 ha CIP Area -89.25 ha CIP Area - 19.95 ha Encompasses two additional Encompasses more Encompassed more properties to BIA, BIA covers properties than BIA area (BIA properties than BIA area 2.48 ha, minus ROW property it is 10.48 ha, minus ROW and (BIA is 11.33 ha, minus is 2.42 ha MOC roe ROW and MOC property General to all Three CIP's At no time shall the total amount of grants provided to a specific property owner exceed $50,000.00 Capital Works Capital Works are different for each CIP area and are subject to annual budget deliberations of Council. Development Charge Exemptions Development Charge Exemptions are the same for all three CIP area. (They are interpreted by the Chief Building Official) Note While there are more grants in Bowmanville and Newcastle than Orono, the circumstances are different and were examined at the time of drafting the original CIP's. For instance the Site Plan Control grant has only occasionally been used, this is also applicable to the Building Permit Fee grant. For Orono there is no opportunity for infill as there are no vacant properties in the CIP area; as such the Site Plan grant would not be applicable. ATTACHMENT 2 TO REPORT NO.: PSD-004-14 Community Improvement Project Summary Report 2013 Bowmanville: The non-capital funding provided to date for implementation of the Bowmanville CIP is $379,000. Just over $280,000 has been paid out in grants with the remainder committed to projects. No funds remain from prior years. To date there are at least 3 property owners waiting in anticipation that funds will be approved in the 2014 to submit grants. Nineteen properties (many of them have multiple addresses) have received CIP grants. The grants have been for 25 facades, 12 building code, 12 building permits, 4 site plan fees and 6 reconstruction grants; some of these projects are still pending completion and grant payout. Summary 2013 Bowmanville CIP Grants Property Address Type of Grants Amount Scugog and King Street W. Site Plan'Control Fee $2,323 complete Double Dragon) 17-23 Temperance Street Facade, Building $8,000 ($3,000 max for Permit Building Permit); $5,000 based on estimate for brick painting 33 Division Street Chanterelle Reconstruction $10,000 max 48 Division Street (Octagon Facade (PSD-023-13 $10,000 max House) Heritage Alteration 17 King St. E Jake's Facade $10,000 max King St. E Sull 's) Facade $10,000 max Newcastle: The non-capital funding provided to date for implementation of the Newcastle CIP is $127,000. Over $114,000 has been paid out in grants, with the remaining funds committed. There are no funds remaining from prior years, the Newcastle CIP grants have been fully subscribed every year since the inception of the CIP. To date some 18 Properties have received CIP grants in the form of 13 facade improvements, 8 signage grants, 7 building code grants, 3 site plan control fee and 1 building permit fee. Many properties have been the benefactors of more than one type of grant. Summary 2013 Newcastle CIP Grants Property Address Type of Grants Amount Massey House Sin $2,000 max 14 North Street Sign $1,992.04 complete Newcastle Eye Care 487 King Avenue East Facade (PSD-039-13 $21,000 ($10,000 max for (Walbridge House) Heritage Alteration), Building Code and Facade, Building Code $1,000 building permit) Orono: The non-capital funding provided to date for implementation of the Orono CIP is $91,000. Over $56,000 has been paid out in grants. Currently, there is $12,000 earmarked for grants that are under discussion. In addition, funds were expended on the Orono 175th celebrations and the Orono Park 90th celebrations, brochures, hall rentals for meetings and sign refurbishment (totaling $15,000). There is approximately $20,000 remaining from prior years which covers the earmarked funds and provides funds for potential 2014 grants. To date some 16 properties have benefitted from the CIP grants in the form of 11 facade improvements, 16 signage grants and 2 building code grants. Some properties have received more than one type of grant. Summary 2013 Orono CIP Grants Property Address Type of Grants Amount 5304 Main Street Sign, Facade, Under discussion $12,000 Building Code ($2,000 max for Signage, $5,000 max for Facade, $5,000 max for Building Code 124 Church Street Building Code $5,000 complete Rebekkah Hall 5324 Main Street (Silly Sisters Signage $2,000 complete Antique Em orium 5314 Main Street Facade $2,386 complete Courtice: The non-capital funding provided to date for Courtice is $45,000. The funding to date 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. The remaining funding is earmarked for additional street tree planting along Highway 2 between Centrefield and Darlington Boulevard.