Community Improvement Plans

Community Improvement Plan (CIP)

The Community Improvement Plan (CIP) supports local revitalization, beautification and economic development in the City of Belleville by providing grants for housing, downtown revitalization, façade improvement, and brownfield projects. The focus of the CIP is to:

Increase the supply of affordable rental units city-wide;
Increase the supply of rental units downtown;
Revitalize the downtown building stock; and,
Remediate and redevelop brownfield sites.

CIP funding is available to private property owners to help offset project costs that achieve the City’s community planning and development goals. Additional information can be found in the City’s Community Improvement Plan.

Community Improvement Plan Report - PDF

CIP Grant Programs

Affordable Rental Housing Programs

Program 3: Affordable Rental Housing T.I.E.R. - 100% Municipal Portion

New second units or new apartment buildings which result in the creation of affordable rental unit(s) are eligible to receive a Tax Increment Equivalent Rebate (T.I.E.R.).
- Grant Value: The municipal portion of tax increases which occur as a result of the development of affordable rental unit(s) for 10 years.

Program 6: Accessibility Top-Up Rebate

New legal second units or affordable rental units that are designed to be accessible for persons with disabilities are eligible for a rebate.
- Grant Value: Up to $2,500 per unit

Second Unit Programs

Program 3: Affordable Rental Housing T.I.E.R. – 100% Municipal Portion

New second units or new apartment buildings which result in the creation of affordable rental unit(s) are eligible to receive a Tax Increment Equivalent Rebate (T.I.E.R.).
- Grant Value: The municipal portion of tax increases which occur as a result of the development of affordable rental unit(s) for 10 years.

Program 4: Second Units in New Construction Housing Rebate

Home buyers who choose to include a second unit in the purchase of a newly constructed home (i.e., the home builder constructs the second unit while building the new house) are eligible to receive a rebate for a fixed amount of construction costs.
- Grant Value: Up to $2,500

Program 5: Second Units in Existing Housing Rebate

Existing owner occupied dwellings which are renovated to include a new legal second unit are eligible to receive a rebates related to design and construction costs.
- Grant Value: Up to $500 for the studies/drawings required for Building Permit AND up to $2,000 of a $30,000 construction project.

Program 6: Accessibility Top-Up Rebate

New legal second units or affordable rental units that are designed to be accessible for persons with disabilities are eligible for a rebate.
- Grant Value: Up to $2,500 per unit

Downtown Revitalization Programs

Program 8: Downtown Residential Above Commercial T.I.E.R. – 100% Municipal Portion

New buildings and upgrades to existing buildings which result in the creation of new residential unit(s) above commercial ground floors are eligible to receive a Tax Increment Equivalent Rebate (T.I.E.R.).
- Grant Value: The municipal portion of tax increases which occur as a result of the development of the residential unit(s) above a commercial use, for 10 years.

Program 9: Downtown Fire Retrofitting Rebate

Costs associated with retrofitting existing buildings Downtown to meet the Ontario Fire Code (O.Reg. 213/07) performance requirement are eligible for rebate.
- Grant Value: Up to $1,000

Façade Improvement Rebate Programs

Program 10: Façade Improvement Design Rebate

Commercial or institutional properties within the Downtown Façade Area which intend to undergo improvements to rehabilitate and improve the façades are eligible to receive a rebate for costs associated with design-related professional fees.
- Grant Value: Up to $3,000

Program 11: Façade Improvement Renovation Rebate

Commercial or institutional properties within the Downtown Façade Area which undergo improvements to rehabilitate and improve the façades are eligible to receive a rebate for costs associated with the renovation.
- Grant Value: 50% of the eligible costs with the overall grant value not exceeding $12,000

Program 12: Façade Improvement Renovation Rebate – Rear Façade

Commercial or institutional properties within the Downtown Façade Area which undergo improvements to rehabilitate and improve the façades which front the Moira River are eligible to receive a rebate for costs associated with the renovation.
- Grant Value: 50% of the eligible costs with the overall grant value not exceeding $10,000

Brownfield Programs

Program 13: Brownfield Environmental Site Assessment Rebate

Redevelopment and renovation of brownfield sites anywhere within the City of Belleville requiring a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment are eligible to receive a rebate for fees associated with that Phase II E.S.A. and the development of a Remediation Action Plan.
- Grant Value: Up to $25,000 per study or 50% of the cost of the E.S.A., whichever is less

Program 14: Brownfield T.I.E.R. – 50 % of Municipal Portion

Brownfield sites undergoing remediation within the Brownfield Priority Area are eligible for a rebate offsetting the increased tax associated with the change in property valuation following redevelopment (the incremental property tax increase).
- Grant Value: Up to 50% of the municipal portion of the incremental tax increase or total remediation costs, whichever is less

Program 17: Brownfield Environmental Remediation Tax Cancellation Assistance

Brownfield sites undergoing remediation within the Brownfield Priority Area are eligible for a cancellation of the property tax increase resulting from remediation and redevelopment.
- Grant Value: Limited to the increase in property tax over the established “base” tax

▢ Spring Intake Deadline - May 31^st ▢ Fall Intake Deadline - September 1^st

Applying to a Community Improvement Plan Grant Program

Step 1: Pre-consultation

Submit a completed pre-consultation form to planning@belleville.ca in order to meet with City Staff.

Everyone is welcome to have a pre-consultation meeting, however, façade improvement and second unit applications do not require a pre-consultation meeting. Contact planning@belleville.ca to determine if a pre-consultation is required.

Step 2: Application

Submission Requirements for Affordable Rental Housing, Downtown Revitalization and Brownfield Programs

Complete and submit the following CIP Intake From and corresponding program Checklist to planning@belleville.ca

Submission Requirements for Façade Improvement Rebate Program

Façade Improvement Rebate Application.

Step 3: Approval

City staff to evaluate application and supporting materials and may conduct a site visit. Applicants will be notified if their submission is complete and whether the application has been approved or denied.
For applications that are approved, a Financial Assistance Agreement will be prepared and executed.

Notes:

Any program commitments may be cancelled if work does not commence within six months of approval of an application of if a project is not undertaken or completed in accordance with the Financial Assistance Agreement.
Funding approval will lapse if a Notice of Completion is not issued within 12 months of the date of execution of the Financial Assistance Agreement.
City staff may grant an extension for community improvement works following receipt of a written request by the owner setting out the reasons for the extension and providing a new date of completion.
Should the applicant fall into default or any of the requirements of the incentive program or to the requirements established by the City, incentives may be delayed, reduced, or cancelled. Applicants may be required to repay benefits to the City.

Step 4: Project Completion and Payment

Upon project completion:
- The applicant must provide a statement with supporting invoices and proof of payment to the City.
- The work will be inspected by the City and, if approved, Notice of Completion will be issued and the financial assistance will be initiated.

Success Stories - Before and After

Façade Improvement Program • 302 Front Street

Scallywag Toys - Before and After Images

Façade Improvement Program • 384 Front Street

Flowers by Dustin's - Before and After Images

Façade Improvement Program • 212/214 Front Street

Tickets Plus - Before and After Images

Questions?

If you would like to provide comments/questions, you can do so by e-mail planning@belleville.ca.

Community Improvement Plans