PELEE ISLAND REVITALIZATION
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Draft Approved by Council: December 7, 2015
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PELEE ISLAND REVITALIZATION COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLANPhoto Courtesy of Mack Feltz Photography
18 | Page
PELEE ISLAND REVITALIZATION COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLANPELEE ISLAND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 What is a Community Improvement Plan (CIP)?
1.2 CIP Goals
1.3 CIP Objectives
1.4 CIP Process and Consultation
1.5 Other Related Studies
1.6 Economic Development Advisory Committee
1.7 Community Improvement Project Area
2.0 LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT
2.1 The Municipal Act
2.2 The Planning Act
2.3 Ontario Heritage Act
3.0 MUNICIPAL CONTEXT
3.1 Township Official Plan
3.1.1 Community Improvement
3.1.2 Official Plan Community Improvement
Policies
4.0 REVITALIZATION INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
4.1 Overview
4.1.1 The Incentive Program ‘Toolkit’
4.1.2 Revitalization Incentive Programs
(Figure 4.1.2)
4.1.3 Overview of Programs (Figure 4.1.3)
4.1.4 General Program Requirements
4.2 Façade Improvement Grant Program
4.2.1 Purpose
4.2.2 Program Description
4.2.3 Program Requirements
4.3 Study Grant Program
4.3.1 Purpose
4.3.2 Program Description
4.3.3 Program Requirements
4.4 Planning Approval, Building Permit and
Municipal Fee Grant Program
4.4.1 Purpose
4.4.2 Program Description
4.4.3 Program Requirements
4.5 Commercial Building Improvement Grant
Program
4.5.1 Purpose
4.5.2 Program Description
4.5.3 Program Requirements
4.6 Tax Increment Equivalent Grant Program
(TIEG)
4.6.1 Purpose
4.6.2 Program Description
4.6.2.1 Schedule of Grant payments under the
Tax Increment Equivalent Grant Program
4.6.3 Program Requirements
5.0 ELIGIBLE COST
5.1 Figure 5.1 – Eligible Costs defined by
Program
6.0 MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP STRATEGY:
PROPERTY ACQUISITION, DISPOSAL,
INVESTMENT AND IMPROVEMENT
6.1 Purpose of the Municipal Leadership
Strategy
6.2 Description of the Strategy
7.0 PUBLIC REALM STRATEGY
8.0 IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING
8.1 Initiating the Incentive Programs
8.2 Description of Monitoring Program
8.3 Program Adjustments
9.0 CONCLUSION
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix ‘A’ –Summary of Community Consultation – Community Economic Development - Business Retention and Expansion - Agricultural Survey Results
Appendix ‘B’ – By-law Number 38 of 2015 to designate a Community Improvement Project Area
Appendix ‘C’ – Map – Pelee Island Revitalization Community Improvement Project Area
Appendix ‘D’ – Township of Pelee Official Plan Community Improvement Policies
TOWNSHIP OF PELEE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 What is a Community Improvement Plan (CIP)?
The Ontario Planning Act allows municipalities to designate an area as a community improvement project area and prepare a community improvement plan (CIP) for that area if in the opinion of the Council, the improvement of that area “is desirable because of age, dilapidation, overcrowding, faulty arrangement, unsuitability of buildings or for any other environmental, social or community economic development reason.”
A CIP provides the framework for, and works in conjunction with, other municipal policy documents such as the official plan, zoning by-law, other reports and design guidelines to guide re-urbanization of a community improvement project area, including building rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, infill, intensification, and redevelopment.
Once a CIP containing appropriate enabling policies has been adopted and approved by a municipality, it allows that municipality to:
i) Acquire, hold, clear, grade or otherwise prepare land for community improvement;
ii) Construct, repair, rehabilitate or improve buildings on land acquired or held by it in conformity with the CIP;
iii) Sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any land and buildings acquired or held by it in conformity with the CIP;
iv) Make infrastructure and public space improvements; and
v) Make grants or loans, in conformity with the CIP, to registered owners, assessed owners and tenants of land and buildings within the community improvement project area, and to any person to whom such an owner or tenant has assigned the right to receive a grant or loan, to pay for the whole or any part of the eligible costs of the CIP.
A CIP provides a municipality with a strategic, comprehensive, coordinated and flexible approach to promoting the long-term improvement of an area in need of improvement.
While a CIP is an enabling plan that allows a municipal Council to offer the incentive programs and undertake the other initiatives specified in the CIP, the municipal Council is under no obligation to implement any of the incentive programs or other initiatives contained in the CIP.
The implementation of the incentive programs and other initiatives contained in the CIP is entirely at the discretion of Council.
1.2 CIP Goals
The CIP is an important tool for helping to achieve the Township’s vision and objectives for lands within the Pelee Island Revitalization Community Improvement Project Area.
The community improvement goals for the Project Area are grounded in the Township Official Plan and are intended to support the overall economic vitality of the Project Area.
The Township desires environmentally, culturally and economically sustainable, small-scale development that does not alter the fundamental character of the Island and that is in keeping with the Island’s unique heritage.
1.3 CIP Objectives
For each of the goals identified above, a number of specific and measurable objectives have been identified, which are identified in the table below.
1.4 CIP Process and Consultation
Consultation throughout the CIP process has been on-going, including information exchange and input from Council, Committees of Council, key stakeholders and the community. Three surveys relating to Community Economic Development were circulated as follows:
(a) Community Economic Development
(b) Agriculture Sector Survey
(c) Business Retention and Expansion
A summary of Survey Results are attached as Appendix “A”.
1.5 Other Related Studies
Over the last several years, there have been a number of studies undertaken by the Township to provide a starting point for the creation of a Community Economic Development Strategy for Pelee Island.
Pelee Island: A Community of Hope (2009)
This report was prepared as a collaborative effort between graduate students studying community economic development at the University of Guelph, and the community of Pelee Island. The report makes a number of primary conclusions namely:
1. Pelee Island has an abundance of cultural, social and environmental resources, as well as economic opportunities that remain largely untapped;
2. Community members have many creative ideas for capitalizing on these assets;
3. A strategic Plan is needed to turn ideas into actions.
The report notes that the general economy of the Island is affected by:
• A steadily declining population that threatens its future viability
• An economy that has not been diversified to its fullest potential, with only three sectors accounting for the majority of the economic output and livelihood opportunities;
• Untapped opportunities to increase the production and export of processed niche goods and services as a result of its close proximity to major markets;
• Significant leakage of capital and the associated loss of enterprise development opportunities due to the low number of local businesses producing and selling goods on the island;
• Underdeveloped communications technology and lack of high-speed internet, which inhibits web-based commerce and the participation of the community in the information economy;
• Very limited retail services (i.e. only a co-operative groceries outlet with limited hours of operation) relative to the number of visitors and seasonal residents;
• Difficulties maintaining and expanding municipal infrastructure and services due to a modest and declining municipal assessment base and overall financial condition;
The report does however recognize that the Township has the potential to develop a diverse range of agricultural products to meet the strong, current demand for secure, healthy and reliably supplied local foods.
The Township of Pelee enjoys a regionally, and internationally distinct identity that is naturally marketable to tourists; however, this report also very clearly identifies several challenges relating to Transportation and Tourism such as:
• Faces serious transportation issues, which have widespread economic and social repercussions, because of an inconsistent and unreliable ferry service;
• Is struggling to sustain the existing tourism businesses on the island and to encourage more business development as a result of transportation issues;
• Is weighted down with concerns of the ferry that energy is diverted from more positive efforts to improve life in the community;
• Although well situated within a five hour driving range of a large tourism corridor has underdeveloped recreational activities and tourist attractions, resulting in shorter stays by visitors (and subsequent losses in overnight, dining and other expenditures) and fewer return trips;
• Is restricted by an underdeveloped economic hub on the west dock that is characterized by vacant buildings, a lack of orientation signage and little to present this area as a welcoming and attractive gateway to the Island community.
Pelee Island Community Economic Development Report (2011)
This report was prepared as a collaborative effort between graduate students studying community economic development at the University of Guelph, and the community of Pelee Island. The report builds on an earlier report (noted above) which arrived at a number of important conclusions regarding the viability of the island community and makes a set of recommendations to help secure the economic future of the island.
Since the report was completed, a number of recommendations were adopted by the community including: the formation of a strategic planning committee, the initiation of a strategic plan, the formulation of a development vision for the community, the specification of a mission statement for the strategic development group, and the revitalization of the heritage centre.
In 2010, as part of the study, a Community Economic Development workshop was held to focus on the identification of priorities and practical projects that the community could initiate which would work toward the community’s shared vision. A series of interviews were also conducted with a cross-section of the community, including: business owners, residents, tourists and cottagers to gather additional input
The Community of Pelee Island has undergone significant change over the past few decades. Some of this change correlates with the changing face of rural Canada, an aging population, the transformation of the agricultural industry and economic downturn. The report emphasizes the overwhelming threat to Pelee Island’s community viability as the island’s severe transportation issues.
The report focuses on practical and strategic projects the community can undertake to revitalize the economy, grow tourism and re-build the community.
There are two main recommendations drawn in the report:
1. Adhere to a set of principles that sustain the environment and values of the community while doing no harm; and,
2. Focus limited community energies on achievable and actionable goals that will provide for the suture sustainability of the community.
The recommendations from the report include the following principles as key priorities:
(i) Inclusivity – remembering “We are all Islanders”
(ii) Continued Community Leadership – Pelee island Citizens have great knowledge and Insight
(iii) Working Together – the tremendous work that is to be done must be done together
(iv) Consider Sustainability – economic development is one dimension of sustainability, which also includes socio-cultural and environmental.
(v) Maintain Relationships – with the University of Guelph and find other collaborators, partners and allies.
1.6 Economic Development Advisory
Committee
In 2015, Township Council established and appointed an Economic Development Advisory Committee for the purpose of providing advice for enhancing the economic well-being of the community. The purpose of the Economic Development Advisory Committee is to:
Make recommendations to Council on matters that will foster and enhance a strong and stable economy consistent with the attributes of a sustainable community. The Committee will liaise with existing businesses and facilitate the development of new enterprises through support and provision of opportunities for new economic development growth to enhance the quality of life and prosperity in the community and to meet the needs of the future.
The committee’s mandate includes:
• To assist and support Council and staffwith their efforts to generate and sustain employment and business investment in the Township of Pelee and toassist and support Council and staff in order to meet the following objectives:
• Develop economic opportunities to aid in the growth and progress of Pelee as a desirable place to do business;
• Support the growth of a variety of businesses to encourage a sustainable business environment;
• Promote business retention and expansion to maintain the viability of the existing business core(s);
• Form sub-committees to deal with specific initiatives, and identify strategic solutions;
• Act as a sounding board in response to initiatives ofbusiness groups and associations in the community;
• Assist with various economic developmentprojects initiated by staff;
• Assist andadvise Council and staff in the development and implementation of an economic development plan and/or policy, including both long-term and short-term objectives thatis reviewed and updated annually;
• Assist in the drafting, implementation and marketing of community improvement planning initiatives including annual reporting on program(s) effectiveness;
• Identify existing local strengths and niches that provide competitive advantage to the Township
• Identify emerging economic conditions/new trends/niche markets that will assist in shaping the strategic plan for Economic Development;
• Propose programs for the enhancement of the image of the community and the development of other amenities and services related to economic development;
• Seek out and identifying opportunities to help the township achieve its social-economic development goals;
• Provide timely information regarding events and issues of importance occurringin and to the local business community;
• Provide leadership on partnershipand supporting partnership development;
• Identify any problems or issues the Township needs to deal with to assist localbusiness;
• Identify and report on competitiveness issues, policy and programs;
• Assist with the dissemination of information from the township to the localbusiness community, as required;