Amended Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan

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Overview

The intent of the Amended Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan is to stimulate and support growth in local industries, businesses, and tourism. The program offers incentives for property owners to upgrade and enhance existing structures and encourage infill and mixed-use development. In addition, the program leverages the opportunities anticipated as a result of the LRT Stage 2 extension by encouraging the rehabilitation of lands and buildings and/or stimulating new development on previously occupied sites. 

Broadening of commercial activity will create new opportunities for Orléans residents to work and shop within their own community and foster enhanced prosperity. 

A distinctive difference in character exists between the potential opportunities in the diverse office, industrial and commercial areas in Orléans, including the older urban "arterial commercial” identity of St. Joseph Boulevard and the “big box” experience along Innes Road.
 
With this potential in mind and wishing to deliver new revitalization and improvement strategies for the Orléans area, the Amended Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan defines specific revitalization goals and objectives for three distinct segments in Orléans to achieve objectives unique to each area. Each of these program elements has its own financial incentives.
 
The Amended Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan provides a financial incentive in the form of a Tax Increment Equivalent Grant to property owners with qualified development and redevelopment projects in the Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan Project Area. These Tax Increment Equivalent Grants will be funded through the municipal property tax increase associated with the improvement.
 
The program assumes that development would not occur 'but for' the incentive made to the property owner. Grants will be paid only after site development is completed, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation has reassessed the property and the first year of taxes at the new assessment have been paid in full.

Development Incentive Grant Program Elements

The Orléans Integrated Community Improvement Plan consists of three distinct and separate programs; the St. Joseph Boulevard Main Street Program, the Employment Creation Incentive Program, and the Pedestrian Friendly Streets Program. 

The three programs can be accessed individually or together by an applicant. However, the maximum accumulated grant from all programs may not exceed the lesser of $5 million or 50 per cent of eligible project costs, excluding all taxes, for one program applicant. Grants will extend up to a 10-year period after project completion.

The Amended Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan may be combined with any other Community Improvement Plan program, including the Brownfields Redevelopment Program, Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan, and Heritage Community Improvement Plan to encourage the creation of new affordable housing units. The total aggregate grant would still not exceed the lessor of $5 million or 50 per cent of eligible project costs.

The amount of redevelopment work undertaken on the subject property and/or buildings must result in a minimum increase of $250,000 in the assessed value of the property as determined through post-construction reassessment by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

1. St. Joseph Boulevard Main Street Program 

The goal of the St. Joseph Boulevard Main Street Program is to stimulate private investment in property renewal and redevelopment and to attract new employment to the area. The program encourages buildings to be constructed adjacent to the street and supports a more vibrant “main street” experience. The program also promotes land use intensification, supports the establishment of mixed-use development, and improves site and built-form aesthetics. 

Other goals include: 

  • To reinforce St. Joseph Boulevard as a central focus area for the community. 
  • To strengthen the St. Joseph Boulevard area as a live / work / play destination. 
  • To encourage a range of higher-density housing types including affordable housing units. 
  • To provide employment opportunities through intensification of commercial and office uses. 
  • To encourage infill and mixed-use development. 
  • To assist in achieving improved building architecture, site design and site landscaping. 
  • To provide for an attractive, safe, and pedestrian friendly environment. 
  • To encourage and assist in environmentally friendly design including energy efficiency.

The property must be located within the Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan Project Area, in the portion of St. Joseph Boulevard between Youville Drive and Prestone Drive, indicated as the “St. Joseph Boulevard Main Street Program.” 

1.1 St. Joseph Boulevard Main Street Program Development Incentive Grant

The City will reimburse approved applicants in the form of an annual Tax Increment Equivalent Grant equal to 50 per cent of the increased municipal property tax increment for the property resulting from the project up to a combined maximum cumulative grant not greater than the lesser of $5 million or 50 per cent of eligible project costs. The Tax Increment Equivalent Grant increases to 75 per cent of the increased municipal property tax increment attributable to the project if it includes a minimum of ten new residential units, up to a combined maximum cumulative grant not greater than the lesser $5 million or 50 per cent of eligible project costs. The grant is paid annually following post-construction property reassessment by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation and payment of property taxes in the new amount.

2. Employment Creation Incentive Program 

The goal of the Employment Creation Incentive Program is to stimulate private investment in property renewal and redevelopment and to attract new employment to the area. The program also promotes land use intensification and supports the establishment of mixed-use development. 

The project must be a redevelopment or replacement of an existing building and is not a greenfield development. 
Eligible renewal and redevelopment projects must generate a minimum of 20 new permanent full-time jobs. Added jobs must be the result of new businesses locating in the area and/or expansions of existing businesses. A relocation of existing employment will not satisfy program criteria. 

2.1  Employment Creation Incentive Program Development Incentive Grant 

The City will reimburse approved applicants in the form of an annual Tax Increment Equivalent Grant equal to 50 per cent of the increased municipal property tax increment for the property resulting from the project up to a combined maximum cumulative grant not greater than the lesser $5 million or 50 per cent of eligible project costs. The grant is paid annually following post-construction property reassessment by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation and payment of property taxes in the new amount.

3. Pedestrian Friendly Streets Program

A key objective of the Amended Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan Pedestrian Friendly Streets Program is to foster vibrant activity along the area’s main streets and pedestrian/cyclist thoroughfares including those streets that provide access to the four new LRT stations.
 
Healthy streets should be conducive to walking, cycling, browsing, and lingering and represent an efficient way to explore the goods and services available in the area. These streets must be highly walkable and present a wide variety of sidewalk-oriented uses. Newly constructed streets built under the City’s “Complete Streets” policy offer safe paths for biking or walking, but to ensure healthy vibrant streets, it will be necessary to enhance the experience along the route.
 
With a view to creating healthier main streets with pedestrian/cyclist friendly thoroughfares and to encourage an eclectic mix of businesses in Orléans, the Pedestrian Friendly Streets Program provides an incentive for property owners contemplating redevelopment to consider orienting their buildings to face the street and include only active uses on the ground floor along the sidewalk. 

The project must be a redevelopment or replacement of an existing building and is not a greenfield development.
 
The amount of redevelopment work undertaken on the property and/or buildings must result in a minimum increase of $250 thousand in the assessed value of the property as determined through post-construction reassessment by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

The property must be located within the Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan Project Area.

Eligible redevelopment projects must be for properties having four or more floors.

All ground floor rental space in the redeveloped property must be exclusively comprised of sidewalk-oriented ground floor active uses. Active uses shall promote a vibrant pedestrian environment on the ground floor and may include, but not be limited to shops, small businesses, markets, cafes, arts workshops, retail establishments, restaurants, catering establishments, bars and brewpubs, arts and craft studios, performance space, wineries, and personal service establishments. 

3.1 Pedestrian Friendly Streets Program Development Incentive Grant 

The City will reimburse approved applicants in the form of an annual Tax Increment Equivalent Grant equal to equal to 15 per cent of the increased municipal property tax increment for the entire building directly attributable to the redevelopment, to a maximum of the lesser of $50 dollars per square foot of ground floor area; or $250 thousand. The grant is paid annually following post-construction property reassessment by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation and payment of property taxes in the new amount.
 

Eligibility checklist

Disclaimer:

The information set forth in this checklist is provided solely as general guidance about the eligibility requirements of the Amended Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan. It is not intended to constitute or replace the relevant By-laws and program documents. No information contained in this checklist, or any oral or written communication, should be relied upon as a representation or warranty as to any matter related to the Amended Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan and no liability shall attach to any person or entity as a result of such information. This checklist is indicative only. Complete information is contained in By-laws No. 2024 -173 and 2021-284 and associated program documents.

  • All submissions under the Amended Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan Development Incentive Grant Program are for redevelopment (not greenfield development).
  • The property is located within the defined boundaries of the Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan Project Area as described in By-law 2021-284.
  • The proposed work includes one or more of the following:
    • An addition of building space to an existing building;
    • Construction of a new building, where a previous building has been located;
    • Interior building fit-up;
    • Significant alterations to an existing building resulting in improved marketability of the rental premises and a corresponding increase in assessed value;
    • Exterior façade improvements facing a public road right-of-way; and
    • Site works including landscaping and signage.
  • The improvements made to buildings and/or land will be made pursuant to a building permit where required, and/or other required permits, and be constructed in accordance with the Ontario Building Code where applicable.
  • Proposed works and associated improvements to buildings and/or land approved under the incentive programs shall conform to all relevant codes, policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines, including applicable municipal by-laws, Official Plan policies and zoning requirements and approvals.
  • The proposed work to be undertaken on the property and/or buildings is expected to result in a minimum increase of $250 thousand in the assessed value of the property.
  • It can be demonstrated that the project would not otherwise have proceeded in the absence of the incentive.
  • In the case of applications to the “Employment Creation Incentive Program”, the project will result in a minimum of 20 new permanent full-time jobs. Added jobs must be the result of new businesses to the area and/or expansions of existing businesses. A relocation of existing employment will not satisfy program criteria.
  • The applicant shall be required to include, as part of any Amended Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan application, an independent tax study by a qualified consultant, having an Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute designation or an AIMA (Associate) or MIMA (Accredited) designation from the Institute of Municipal Assessors, which provides an estimate of the anticipated increased property assessment increment.
  • Commercial uses that do not contribute to a desirable community fabric will not be eligible for an incentive under the Amended Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan program. Uses not eligible for Community Improvement Plan incentives include videogame arcades, bingo parlours and other gaming facilities, adult novelty stores and/or adult entertainment, industrial uses, which, by their nature, generate noise, fumes, odours, and are hazardous or obnoxious, body rub establishments, correctional facilities, corrections residences, payday loan establishments, emergency shelters, pawnshops, and cash-for-goods places, or short-term loan offices.
  • Auto-oriented uses or development forms that depend on motor vehicle access for their primary function (automobile service stations, gas stations, body shops, automobile rental establishments, auto wreckers, automobile dealerships or showrooms, drive-through facilities, surface parking lots, warehousing, and storage facilities etc.) will not be eligible for Community Improvement Plan incentives.
  • The property is an area that is already serviced or may be serviced with major roads, transit and piped sewer and water services.
  • Projects must demonstrate consistency with the policy intent of Section 5.3 of the Orléans Secondary Plan;
  • Projects must demonstrate consistency with the policy context applicable to the development location with respect to density, built form, proposed uses and site design in keeping with the intent of Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Plan, or any applicable Secondary Plan, Community Design Plan, or Area-Specific Policy.
  • The owner’s financial account with the City of Ottawa is in good standing (including taxes, water, fines, and all other accounts due).