Rural Streetscape Plan

Haldimand Rural Community
Improvement Plan (RCIP) &
Rural Streetscape Plan
OUTLINE OF RCIP DRAFT PROGRAM OPTIONS
September 26, 2012 – Public Open House

What is a CIP
A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is focused on private
ownership commercial and residential stock and is a tool
under the Planning Act to help facilitate revitalization efforts
in defined target areas.
To carry out community improvement plans, municipalities
can establish grant or loan programs to encourage private
sector investment in development efforts that seek to
improve and revitalize an area.

Consultation Summary
Some of the themes that emerged from key informant interviews,
focus groups, hamlet walkarounds, and site visits to selected
agricultural operations include the following:
• Building Code compliance
issues;
• Limited accommodations base;
• Issue with insufficient signage
and wayfinding;
• Expertise and funds required to
produce high-quality signs;
• Internet infrastructure weak in
certain areas;
• Rural servicing constraints;
• Economic pressures on smaller
farm operations (Smaller farms
being bought up by larger
operations);
• Existing population base
insufficient to sustain on-farm
retail – need to attract more
outside visitors;

Target Zones
1. Agricultural/Rural;
2. Rural-Hamlet;
3. Urban settlement area outside of the Downtown
Areas CIP. For this area, incentives need to be
carefully scoped in eligibility.

Proposed CIPA Boundary and Overview of Target Zones

Overview – Recommended CIP Programs
Incentive
Program
1. Façade,
Landscape and
Signage
Improvement
Grant
2. Planning Fees
& Building
Permit Grant
Description
Funding for external (façade) improvements,
landscape improvements and property signage
enhancements:
• Façade improvements of hamlet buildings.
• Design and placement of on-site signage for
value-added agricultural businesses.
• Landscape grant applicable to agricultural
buildings open to public.
• Specific types of use in urban area: commercial
roofed accommodation
Reduction of building permit and planning fees for:
• Value-added development of farms;
• Commercial development in hamlets;
• Commercial roofed accommodation in urban.
Applicability
• Agricultural/Rural (in
part)
• Rural-Hamlet
• Urban excluding
Downtown (scoped)
• Agricultural/Rural
• Rural-Hamlet
• Urban (excluding
Downtown)

Overview – Recommended CIP Programs
Incentive
Program
3. Development
Charge Grant
Description
• Reduction of development charge fees for
property owners interested in rehabilitating &
redeveloping sites.
• Note: DCs applicable only to net additional GFA;
• Needs to be scoped application or gradation of
DC equivalent grant to maintain intent to charge
DCs that incur growth-related costs.
Applicability
• Agricultural/Rural
• Rural-Hamlet
• Urban (excluding
Downtown)
4. Building
Restoration,
Renovation and
Improvement
Grant
• Funding to rehabilitate existing agricultural and
buildings in order to comply with the Building
and Fire Code when converting from agricultural
use to value-added activities;
• For Urban: only applies to commercial roofed
accommodation.
• Agricultural/Rural
• Rural-Hamlet
• Urban (excluding
Downtown)

Overview – Recommended CIP Programs
Incentive Program Description Applicability
5. Accommodations
Conversion,
Construction, and
Agricultural Value
Added Tax-Based
Grant
Tax Increment Grant to property owners who
want to revitalize and redevelop existing fixed
roof accommodation facilities (B&Bs, motels,
hotels, inns, cottage rentals) or who are
interested in the conversion and construction
of new accommodation facilities.
• Agricultural/Rural
• Rural-Hamlet
• Urban (excluding
Downtown)
6. Heritage Grant Grant program that is designed to promote the
preservation, restoration and/or enhancement
of heritage properties:
• Only applies for properties designated
under Part IV of Ontario Heritage Act.
• Agricultural/Rural
• Rural-Hamlet
• Urban (excluding
Downtown)

Best Practice
Examples of Rural CIPs Province-wide:
• County of Prince Edward (2011) Creative Rural Economy CIP; and
• Halton Hills (2010) Comprehensive CIP
Halton
Hills
Prince
Edward
County
Tax
Assist.
TIG
Study
Grant
Development
Charges Grant
Incentive Programs
Façade
Grant/Loan
Rehab &
Redevelopment
Grants/Loans
Misc. Fee
Grant

Thank you.
Jonathan Hack
Director, Sierra Planning & Management
T: (416) 363-4443 x20
jonhack@sierraplan.com