1. Dana McLean Development Coordinator
Community Improvement Plans Orientation Planning Advisory Committee February 19, 2019
Dana McLean Development Coordinator

2. Community Improvement Plans (CIP)
Section 28 of the Planning Act enables municipalities to create a CIP
Part IV Community Improvement Section 28(4) Community Improvement Plan
Renaissance Housing Rehabilitation Program
ByLaw 036, 2001 (Affordable Housing Renewal Based)
Brownfields CIP
ByLaw 002, 2005 (Environmental Clean up based)
Heart of the City CIP
ByLaw 170, 2005 (Rehabilitation/Bricks and Mortar based)
Acronym HOTC
A comprehensive study is completed on a 5 year basis, the first review completed in 2010
On going amendments to the CIP as required
Page

3. Cornwall Planning Programs Evaluation Group
Acronym CPPEG
Members
GM Dept of Planning Parks & Recreation
GM Dept of Financial Services
GM Dept of Infrastructure & Municipal Works
Division Manager Economic Development
Division Manager Planning
Municipal Assessor
Chair of PAC
Member of City Council
Members continued
Two Community Group representatives; appointed members of Le Village BIA/Renaissance Group and Downtown BIA/Heart of the City
One at large member from the Community; appointed from the Lay Appointments Committee
Non –Voting Member
Development Coordinator
Page

4. Application Process
CIP Program Funding is not ‘as a Right’, but based on a valid application, meeting or exceeding the specific plan objectives and evaluated by CPPEG/PAC and approved by Council
Eligibility, does not mean approval
CIP funding Approval does not mean automatic approval for all other Municipal requirements (Permits, Site Plan etc)
Page

5. CPPEG Meetings scheduled at the beginning of each month
Review applications for all 3 CIP’s, and make recommendations for approval or denial
Renaissance approvals by CPPEG go directly to Council for ByLaw, as the budget is approved
HOTC and Brownfield recommendations go to PAC for any discussion, then Council for a final decision and are not appealable once Council has decided
Page

6. Renaissance Housing Rehabilitation Program
Subject to Annual Budgetary Review
These principles and policies are a combination of City Official Plan policies and Renaissance Visioning findings
For owner occupied and income properties, matching funds up to $4,000 and $10,000 respectively
Any Property Standard issues relating to Health and Safety must be addressed
Grant monies will be secured through a forgivable loan for 5 years; forgiveness is earned at the end of the 4th and 5th year
History of the creation of the CIP
Groupe Renaissance – Chuck Charlebois
Page

7. Renaissance Policy Area
Page

8. Page

9. Brownfield definition
Brownfields are abandoned, vacant, derelict or underutilized commercial and industrial properties, where past actions have resulted in actual or perceived contamination. The City of Cornwall has a number of programs to help developers revitalize Brownfield sites.
Cornwall having an industrial legacy spanning over 100 years
Page

10. Brownfield CIP
Our Market faces the challenge of promoting development for Brownfields (usually in urban core areas) when an abundance of Greenfield development sites exist
The overall policy goal of the Brownfields Strategy is to offset the costs associated with remediation; that municipal assistance for any given site is that the combined use of incentives does not exceed the cost of rehabilitation
Rehabilitation incentive is the intended stimulus to redevelopment on surrounding lands, higher property taxation and the removal of potentially significant environmental liabilities are the principle public benefits from the Brownfield Strategy
In other words, realizing environmental cleanliness as established by Provincial Statute and making ready for redevelopment projects
We saw this occur, through the origin application by Smart Centres applying for rezoning of land on the west side of Brookdale, north of Tollgate – Walmart Super Store
Page

11. Brownfield Policy Area – ByLaw #2014-195
Page

12. Brownfield CIP Programs
Program 1 – City of Cornwall Brownfield Rehabilitation Grant (tax increment grant)
Program 2 – Environmental Site Assessment Grant ($15,000) and Project Design Study Grant ($7,500)
50% in matching funds up to the program maximums
Program 3 – Brownfield Property Tax Cancellation Assistance
Program 4 – Municipal Planning/Development Fees Grant -100%
Program 5 –Discretionary Municipal Tipping Fee Grant – 50%
Program 6 – Municipal Property Acquisition, Disposal and Marketing Program
Program 7 – Payment-In-Lieu of Parkland Dedication Grant – 100%
Brownfields Sites
Cowall Site – North American; Smart Centres
Pizza Hut
Guindon Glenoco
Miller Hughes
Dominion Place
Seaway Valley Health Clinic
Cotton Mill Lofts
Riverdale Terrace
Jack Haines
Shoppers Drug Mart – Harden
Back In Motion Physiotherapy
Rosemount Motor Sales (Mazda)
Goldmanco – Freshco
Smart Centres
Caisse Populaire
Pitt St Parking Lot – cinders and underground storage tanks (4)
Page

13. Brownfield Application
After
Before
2009
Brownfield Application
710 Cotton Mill St
Page

14. formerly Domtar Cowall Site
Smart Centres,
formerly Domtar Cowall Site
Our GIS system – Denis Lalonde and Kevin Pilon (wealth of information)
Construction of Ninth St W from Cumberland to Brookdale 1989 – new street, new storm sewer
Cumberland reconstruction from 9th to 7th 2006 – new storm sewer retained the combined sewer from 1964
Blue – water line
Green – Storm
Yellow - Combined
Page

15. Page

16. Heart of the City CIP
The Heart of the City initiative is a broad-based community rejuvenation plan which brings together the diversity of business, community and civic interests in the City to focus resources on the creation of a liveable and economically vibrant urban core for the City.
Policies of public investment in private properties to achieve broader benefits of improved downtown retail and commerce districts, facilitating the creation of additional, secondary uses in these districts, and improving the aesthetics and character of the downtown
Page

17. Overall HOTC CIP Policy Area
To establish the connectivity of the Downtown BIA and Le Village BIA
Supported by the Centretown Streetscape Revitalization Strategy
Includes the expanded Central Business District Zone, incorporating the Si Miller Arena site
Page

18. Priority Area Map
To establish the connectivity of the Downtown BIA and Le Village BIA
Supported by the Centretown Streetscape Revitalization Strategy
Includes the expanded Central Business District Zone, incorporating the Si Miller Arena site
A Strategic choice to promote renewal and rehabilitation in the traditional core areas of the City reflects greatest need to support private sector investment in the Downtown (including Le Village) of the City.
Areas outside the Priority mapping but still within the HOTC Policy Area remain eligible but are evaluated on a case-by-case basis
Page

19. HOTC CIP Programs
Program 1 – Heart of the City Rehabilitation & Redevelopment Grant (tax increment grant)
Program 2 – Building Restoration & Improvement Program ($12,000 forgivable & $18,000 interest free loan)
Program 3 – Project Design Grant $7,500
Program 4 – Facade Improvement Grant $10,000 and Sign Grant $2,000
Program 5 – Municipal Planning/Development Fees Grant – 100%
Program 6 – Discretionary Municipal Tipping Fees Grant – 50%
Program 7 – Parking and Landscape Enhancement Program - $25,000 interest free loan
Program 8 – Le Village Facade Improvement Grant Program - $10,000
Page

20. Page

21. After
Before
2010 Application
415 Montreal Rd
Page

22. The Future
Challenges to maintain momentum in private sector projects and associated private sector investment spin-off
Continue promotion of funding programs and monitoring the effectiveness of such programs in meeting fundamental community renewal/rehabilitation efforts
Council’s continued support
To ensure a growing networking link in the Brownfields movement
Periodic review of the CIP programs themselves, while gauging changing needs/trends within the core values/limitations of the funding mechanisms
Page

23. Thank You
Page