Community Improvement Plan

In spring of 2019 a pause was placed on the City's Community Improvement Plan (CIP) in order to undertake a full review of the CIP in terms of program focus, alignment with strategic plan objectives, long-term sustainability and maximizing value.

Since 2004, the uptake in CIP programs and project approvals granted by the City has been significant and successful in supporting community renewal. Long-term administration and implementation of approvals, however, have been problematic and renewal objectives and strategies have been evolving.

The CIP has reached a juncture where project eligibility and criteria are being revisited, re-defined and re-aligned to ensure the overall intent of CIP is maintained, and to have regard for evolving community renewal objectives and strategies. Community engagement will be a critical part of this process.

CIP Review Public Information Session 

As part of the Community Improvement Plan review, the City is hosting a public information session. City staff will be presenting background on the current CIP programs, issues and concerns identified to date, and preliminary future concepts / revisions to the CIP. The meeting will also be an opportunity for the development industry, stakeholders and general public to provide comments, questions and their future visions for the CIP.

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 18

Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Council Chambers (third floor) of City Hall, 50 Church St.

2015 Community Improvement Plan

The 2015 Community Improvement Plan, approved Nov. 17, 2014, offered five municipal financial incentive programs to the private sector to stimulate new investment in community renewal.

The financial incentive programs are intended to offset a portion of costs incurred by property owners in undertaking redevelopment projects, brownfield remediation projects, facade improvement projects, and residential/office conversion projects.

Guidelines for each of the programs, which set out plan details, eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, complete application requirements and process, are as follows:

• Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Program - for redevelopment projects.
• Brownfield Tax Increment Finance (BTIF) Program - for redevelopment projects with soil remediation.
• Brownfield Tax Assistance (BTA) Program - for remediation of contaminated soils.
• Facade Improvement (FIP) Program - building facade, store front enhancements.
• Residential / Office Conversion (ROC) Program - conversion of small, unused vacant space for new residential dwelling units or leasable office space.

Project Contacts