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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-003-16 Planning Services Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Municipal Clerk at 905-623-3379 ext. 2102. Report To: Planning and Development Committee Date of Meeting: January 11, 2016 Report Number: PSD-003-16 �, , File Numbers: PLN 37.1.1, 37.2.1, 37.3.1, 37.4.1 By-law Number: N/A Report Subject: Community Improvement Annual Report for 2015 Recommendations: 1. That Report PSD-003-16 be received; 2. That Staff be authorized to commence a review of the Bowmanville, Newcastle and Orono Community Improvement programs with respect to their effectiveness, the area of coverage and potential improvements to effectively implement the overriding objective of ongoing revitalization of historic downtown areas; and 3. That all interested parties listed in Report PSD-003-16 and any delegations be advised of Council's decision. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-003-16 Page 2 Report Overview The Bowmanville, Orono, and Newcastle grant programs under the Community Improvement Plan's continue to be an effective incentive for renewal of the downtowns. The Municipality has contributed $814,000 to community improvement grants and projects in the 4 urban area over the past 10 years ago. This year's grant funding for Newcastle was committed in the first half of the year. There is a growing concern amongst the Community Improvement Plan liaison groups regarding accessibility of older buildings and the costs of providing accessible services. 1. Background Council adopted Community Improvement Plans for Bowmanville and Orono in 2005, and Newcastle in 2008. The Courtice Community Improvement Study has been initiated; however, funding have been provided for the past 7 years for civic space (streetscape) improvements. The Community Improvement Plan's allow the Municipality to provide incentives to business and property owners within a specific geographical area and specific grant programs in each community according to its Plan. The business and property owners of the different Community Improvement Plan areas are notified via the municipal website, pre-consultations, counter inquiries and through word of mouth of the program. The three historic downtown Community Improvement Plans 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. The liaison groups provide feedback to staff on the effectiveness of the current grant programs and identify issues and concerns of business and property owners that have used or are looking to use the grant programs. 2. Community Improvement Initiatives 2.1. Grant Program There are general grant program rules applicable to all three Community Improvement Plan's. There are specific grants tailored to each downtown. The grant programs have been tailored to meet the specific opportunities and challenges of the different downtown areas. Grant funds are committed at the outset of a project and typically carry over to a subsequent year while the work is being completed. Grants are not released until the works are completed, inspected, the contractor paid and permits finalized. To be eligible, property owners must be current with their property tax payments. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-003-16 Page 3 2.2. Community Improvement Updates (Attachment 1) Orono— Three applications were received in 2015 and are underway and have or are nearing completion. Limited funds remain from previous years for Orono. Bowmanville —Two applications were received and work if being finalized on these grants. Funds are available for carry over. Newcastle —Two applications were received in 2015. All funding has been earmarked for this and previous years, some grants have yet to be finalized and paid out. Courtice - The Community Improvement funds for Courtice are intended to improve the streetscape and the public realm. Banners and banner pole hardware installation occurred in 2015. 2.3. Community Improvement Funding To date the Municipality has provided funding of$758,000 for grants in the 3 downtowns. Community Improvement Plan grant monies are matched by the property owners or merchants on a 3:1 or 2:1 basis depending on the grant, some construction projects greatly exceed this ratio. Direct public benefit is realized from the increased municipal and private investments in the form of signage, building code upgrades (for example - accessibility) and fagade improvements for aging buildings in our central business areas. In many cases the grants are a very minor portion of the overall redevelopment and or reconstruction plan worth many thousands of dollars. It is conservatively estimated that the impact of providing grants has spurred well over $3 million in investment. In many cases, the Community Improvement Plan funds provide the necessary incentive to prompt an owner or merchant to invest in refreshing their store front and interior. 2.4. Accessibilitv An area of concern that the Community Improvement Plan liaison groups have identified to staff in the past two years is the issue of accessibility. There is a growing concern amongst business and property owners regarding accessibility requirements and the physical works required to make existing buildings accessible. Many of the individual businesses have limited square footage in which they operate and are not currently accessible. With the implementation of accessibility legislation and a desire to allow all patrons to have entry into downtown businesses, merchants are looking for assistance. There is a concern that alterations are cost prohibitive or eliminate valuable floor space. Currently, these types of costs are considered under the Building Code grant; however the building code grant is not specifically targeted to accessibility projects and has had limited but highly successful uptake for accessibility purposes. It is anticipated that there will be more demand for accessibility projects and related grants in all of the downtowns in the coming years. The liaison groups have expressed the need for additional funding for this type of project and suggested a grant specifically targeted to accessibility projects. In addition, merchants are interested in receiving assistance to determine how to make the necessary accommodations. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-003-16 Page 4 At the December 2"d meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee, the Committee having had a presentation regarding the improvements that have occurred to date for accessibility as part of the building code grants passed the following resolution: Whereas the Clarington Accessibility Advisory Committee recognizes the need to assist local businesses to make their establishments more accessible; Now therefore be it resolved that the Clarington Accessibility Advisory Committee recommend to Council that the Community Improvement Plans (CIPs) program be specifically targeted on accessibility related improvements; and That Council increase the budget for the CIPs to include these improvements. 2.5. Community Improvement Program Renewal 2015 was the tenth year of the Bowmanville and Orono Community Improvement Plans, Newcastle is in its eighth year. While Clarington's Plans did not include sunset clauses as part of our best management practices review more recent plans include sunset clauses and provisions for review on 5 and 10 year anniversaries. It is appropriate, at this point in time, to review the plans and grant programs to determine if there are modifications that could be made to focus the improvements on specific elements, such as accessibility or ensuring the second story residential units are upgraded for occupancy. Both of these items receive little attention but are integral to the usability and vibrancy of the downtowns. During 2016 staff will be reviewing our programs, looking to other municipalities and assisting the Clarington Board of Trade with the Business Retention and Expansion Study; plus preparing with our consultant the Courtice Community Improvement Plan. As a result of these tasks, modifications may be recommended for the existing Community Improvement Plans and grant programs with an anticipated completion in 2017. 3. Concurrence This report has been reviewed by the Accessibility Co-ordinator. 4. Conclusion There has been good response to the limited grant programs and Community Improvement Plan initiatives. There is ongoing demand for grants especially in Bowmanville and Newcastle, often funding is allocated in the first half of the year. Property and business owners are pleased with the grant programs and the services provided by the Municipality. There is a growing concern over changes that property owners or merchants will have to make in the coming years to make buildings more accessible. Staff will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the program and make recommendations for changes. A review of the three existing plans will be undertaken to determine if modifications are necessary. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-003-16 Page 5 5. Strategic Plan Application The recommendations contained in this report conform to the Strategic Plan's priority to "Facilitate the creation of jobs, attraction of new businesses and expansion of existing businesses". Jrn-�� Submitted by: Reviewed by: vi . Crome, MCIP, RPP Franklin Wu, Director of Planning Services Chief Administrative Officer Staff Contact: Brandon Weiler, Planner, 905-623-3379 ext. 2424 or bweiler _clarington.net Attachment 1: Community Improvement Plan Summary Report 2015 The following is a list of the 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 Accessibility Advisory Committee c/o Jeanette Whynot BW/FL/sg/df Attachment 1 to Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-003-16 Community Improvement Plan Summary Report 2015 Bowmanville: The non-capital funding provided to date for implementation of the Bowmanville Community Improvement Plan is $492,000. Just over$405,000 has been paid out in grants and 30,000 is committed and works are being finalized. There is funding of$57,000 available from prior years and a request in the 2016 budget for another $44,000. Twenty-five properties (many of them have multiple addresses) have received Community Improvement Plan grants. The grants have been for 32 facades, 13 building code, 13 building permits, 5 site plan fees and 6 reconstruction grants. 58 King Street West a 'IN .t!a 58 King Street West (Bowmanville Sports Shop) received a facade improvement grant in 2015 to replace the ground floor windows and to update the appearance of the fagade to compliment upgrades done on 56 King Street West. The work was completed in the summer of 2015. 47-55 King Street West if Y 47-55 King Street West received a fagade improvement grant to undertake repairs to the accenting brickwork on the second floor of the building which was completed in the spring of 2015. Newcastle: The non-capital funding provided to date for implementation of the Newcastle Community Improvement Plan is $174,000. Over $148,000 has been paid out in grants, with the remaining funds committed. The Newcastle CIP grants have been fully subscribed every year. Some projects are still pending completion such as the Walbridge House and Busters. The 2016 budget request is for $34,000. To date some 22 Properties have received Community Improvement Project grants in the form of 18 facade improvements, 9 signage grants, 7 building code grants (most related to accessibility), 3 site plan control fee and 1 building permit fee. Many properties have been the benefactors of more than one type of grant. 4 and 10 King Avenue East :w 4 h 4 and 10 King Street received a fapade grant for masonry repairs and for painting and lighting upgrades to the exterior of the building which were completed in the summer of 2015. 45 King Avenue West ■ 45 King Avenue West (formerly Buster's) has been approved for a facade improvement grant. The owner recently removed the siding and stucco that covered majority of the building revealing the original brick. Future plans will see the brick restored as part of the overall fagade improvements. Orono: The non-capital funding provided to date for implementation of the Orono Community Improvement Plan is $92,000. Over $65,000 has been paid out in grants. Currently, there is $10,000 earmarked for grants that are underway. In addition, funds were expended on the Orono 175th celebrations and the Orono Park 90th celebrations, brochures, hall rentals for meetings and refurbishment and replacement of the Sidney Rutherford Walk signs. There is approximately $2,000 remaining from prior years funds for potential 2016 grants and a request for $5,000 in the 2016 budget. To date some 21 properties have benefitted from the Community Improvement Project grants in the form of 13 facade improvements, 18 signage grants, 2 building code grants and an infill grant. Some properties have received more than one type of grant. 5310 Main Street - 1 sa� 5310 Main Street "received was approved for a.fagade grant to undertake window and door replacements that were completed in the fall of 2015. 5331 Main Street 5331 Main Street received a signage grant for the new Orono General Store sign that was installed in the fall of 2015. Courtice: The non-capital funding provided to date for Courtice is $56,000. 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 limited implementation of banners along Highway 2 from Centrefield to Townline Road. There is almost $20,000 remaining from prior years and a 2016 budget request of$5,000. Five proposals were received in response to the call for proposals for the Courtice Community Improvement Plan. The three highest scoring consulting teams were interviewed on December 14th and the Purchasing Division report on the results of the process was on the general Government Committee agenda of January 4, 2016 for award of the proposal call.