Montreal Road Community Improvement Plan

Staff Report

BY-LAW NO. 2019-213 to designate a part of the area covered by the Official Plan for the City of Ottawa as the Montréal Road Community Improvement Plan Project Area

BY-LAW NO. 2019-224, a by-law of the City of Ottawa to adopt the Montréal Road Community Improvement Plan. This by-law includes program details.

Eligibility Checklist, a checklist provided solely as general guidance about the eligibility requirements of the Montreal Road Community Improvement Plan (CIP).

The plan permits the City to provide financial incentives to property owners that will encourage urban renewal, promote the development of cultural assets, support businesses including not-for-profits and cultural organizations, contribute to making the city an attractive and business-friendly environment and encourage investment and expansion. Such a program in Vanier will help to attract new businesses and support existing businesses and nurture economic growth.

Because the plan promotes revitalization and improvements to quality and variety of market offerings, eligible projects must contribute to a desirable community fabric. Applicants will be required to provide evidence that their project addresses an identified market need.

The plan offers Tax Increment Equivalent Grants for eligible projects. These grants are calculated on the basis of the increase in the property’s contribution to municipal property taxes, resulting from the value created through redevelopment. The City reimburses property owners a percentage of the increment in the municipal property tax each year for a defined period of up to 10 years, once taxes are paid each year, and all other accounts with the City are in good standing.

How does the Montréal CIP Plan work?

The goal of the Plan is to provide a Tax Increment Equivalent Grant for eligible property owners to invest in redevelopment of lands and/or buildings that are underutilized, idled, or in need of repair or renovation.

The Montreal Road CIP has a variety of focus areas and approaches. While promoting revitalization of the businesses and commercial properties and stimulating business activity and job creation would be the principal priority. In addition, there are other considerations, including improving pedestrian friendliness, accessibility, stimulating cultural assets, assisting Social Enterprise and stimulating development of Affordable Housing.

Montréal Road CIP Program Details:

• Financial incentive in the form of a Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG) to property owners
• Annual TIEG: equal to 75 per cent of municipal tax increase attributable to the redevelopment

Unique aspects of Quartier Vanier Zone (North River Road to St. Laurent)

• Three (3) additional CIP programs offering supplementary benefits offered in this area if the development provides one or more of the following:
  1. Affordable Housing Development Supplementary Benefit
     • Minimum of 10 new residential dwelling units of which 30 per cent are Affordable Housing
  2. Support for Cultural Activities and Artists Supplementary Benefit
     • Minimum of 300 m2 of space dedicated to arts and cultural activities
  3. Support for Social Enterprises Supplementary Benefit
     • Minimum of 300 square meters of space dedicated to social enterprise(s)
• Annual TIEG: increases to 100 per cent of municipal tax increase attributable to the redevelopment

Application considerations

• Maximum grant over 10-year period is $5,000,000; not to exceed 50 per cent of redevelopment cost
• Development projects require a minimum increase of $50,000 in property tax assessment valuation.
• As the purpose of the Montreal Road CIP is to address deficiencies in the investment levels of businesses throughout Montreal Road in terms of market offerings and job creation, commercial uses that do not contribute to a desirable community fabric are not eligible for the incentive financing of this program.

Excluded uses include:

• Video arcades
• Adult novelty stores, services and/or adult entertainment
• Warehousing and storage facilities
• Bingo parlour or other gaming facilities
• Industrial uses, including those, which, by their nature, generate noise, fumes, odours, and are hazardous or obnoxious
• Wholesale operation
• Cross-dock facilities
• Body rub establishment
• Correction facilities
• Corrections residences
• Emergency shelters

For more information on this program, including the complete eligibility criteria, or to obtain application forms please contact:

Chris Cope, Economic Development Officer
Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON K1P 1J1
613-580-2424, ext. 28991
Email: chris.cope@ottawa.ca