Subscribe to this page to follow the progress of the project and to see how you can contribute to the development of the CIP by participating in consultations, surveys and providing your feedback.

The City of Clarence Rockland has retained Sierra Planning & Management to prepare a new Community Improvement Plan (CIP) to assist in supporting community revitalization, commercial development, and support for agricultural areas.

Through collaboration, the new CIP will provide evidence-based guidance on the most effective ways to stimulate economic development across a variety of sectors, property improvement, development, and redevelopment.

One of the key functions of any municipal economic development role is to ensure existing businesses across all industry sectors are supported and well positioned to maintain and grow their opportunities. The CIP is an integral part of the municipality’s economic development toolbox.

The 2017-2022 CIP supported businesses along the main commercial corridor along Laurier Street. The city provided 12 grants and invested $23,780 to support local business investments in the downtown commercial area revitalization. Projects supported ranged from façade improvements, energy efficiency improvements, landscaping, signage installation and permit application fees. 

The new CIP project will revisit the CIP Area boundary and lay out opportunities for the municipality to provide incentive-based programs as an economic development tool. Consultation with stakeholders and the public is the core part of the CIP project. 

What is a Community Improvement Plan (CIP)?

A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a tool available to municipalities under Section 28 of the Planning Act.  CIPs are vehicles for facilitating revitalization and redevelopment efforts in a defined area(s). To carry out CIPs, municipalities can establish grants, loans, and other programs to encourage private sector investment in development and renovation projects which seek to improve areas in accordance with local goals and priorities.

A CIP establishes an environment that facilitates support for existing business and can play a role in attracting new business. The City of Clarence-Rockland supports economic development and commercial and industrial growth among other key strategic priorities. Through the development of this CIP, key target areas will be reviewed and upgraded to ensure that the city is positioned to support a competitive business environment. 

How can a CIP help business and property owners?

Private property owners and businesses can take advantage of the financial incentive programs contained in CIPs to achieve a range of community improvement goals such as improving property façades and redeveloping property.  

Project Updates

Project Update

On December 11th, 2024, we will present the Draft Community Improvement Plan at the Council Regular Meeting. To receive future updates, subscribe to this page and/or follow the City’s Facebook Page. Visit the Meetings and minutes page for more information about the Council presentation details and important dates

Project Timeline

Summer-Fall 2023

Data Collection and Analysis

  • Background and policy review
  • Best Practice Review

Winter-Spring 2024

Stakeholder Engagement

  • Municipal and stakeholder discussions
  • Focus Groups
  • Visioning Sessions
  • Online Survey

Winter-Spring 2024

Drafting the CIP and Public Meeting

  • Identification of the program suite, crafting of program details, detailing the funding strategy and monitoring program.

Winter 2024

Public Meeting

  • Statutory Public Meeting per Section 17 Ontario Planning Act

Winter 2024 - Spring 2025

CIP Finalization

  • Plan finalization and identification of marketing strategies to best promote the new CIP
  • Submission of Final CIP for Council Adoption.
Notice of public meeting - January 15, 2025 
 

Pursuant to Section 28 of the Planning Act, R.S.O 1990, as amended

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THE CITY OF CLARENCE-ROCKLAND

 

TAKE NOTICE that on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, the Council of the City of Clarence-Rockland will hold a public meeting pursuant to Section 28 of the Planning Act to consider a By-law to adopt a Community Improvement Plan (CIP). The purpose of the Public Meeting is to provide the public with an opportunity to understand and comment on the proposed draft of the update to the city’s Community Improvement Plan.  A key map is provided for the priority areas, demonstrating that the CIP would apply to the entire Municipality of Clarence-Rockland. It is proposed that enactment of a By-law to adopt the Community Improvement Plan – CIP would occur on a date subsequent to the public meeting.

Purpose of the Community Improvement Plan

The city identified the need to update the existing CIP, that was developed in 2017, to better support the current needs of the municipality. The goal of this project was to identify community priority areas that would allow for and support development and revitalization. This program will be used to support commercial property improvements, attract new business, and encourage community change in a coordinated manner.

Key components of the CIP include:
•        Background information on the City of Clarence-Rockland CIP Update Project
•        Information on the legislative authority and policy framework for CIPs as per the Planning Act
•        A map of the CIP Priority Areas
•        The suite of various financial incentive programs
•        The CIP administration process and program eligibility criteria


Pursuant to the requirements of the Planning Act, this Plan must be adopted and implemented by way of by-law. The By-law will designate the entire City of Clarence-Rockland as a Community Improvement Project Area and adopt the updated City of Clarence-Rockland Community CIP.

Public Meeting

All interested parties are invited to attend the public meeting:

Date:           Wednesday, January 15, 2024

Time:          7:15 PM

Location:    Council Chambers, 415 Lemay Street, Clarence Creek ON K0A 1N0

 

Any person may attend the public meeting and make written or verbal representation either in support of or in opposition to the proposed by-law. Written submissions are invited and should be directed to the Clerk by email to administration@clarence-rockland.com  no later than 12:00 PM on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.  Written comments received prior to the meeting and submissions made at the public meeting will be considered by Council prior to the enactment of a Community Improvement Plan by-law.

Technical inquiries should be directed to Ali Riel, Manager of Economic Development and Tourism, at (613) 446-6022, ext. 2423, or ariel@clarence-rockland.com

A copy of the Draft Community Improvement Plan and related material is available for review on the City of Clarence-Rockland website: City of Clarence-Rockland – Community Improvement Plan – Dec 2024 

Appeals

If a person or public body would otherwise have an ability to appeal the decision of the Council of the City of Clarence-Rockland to the Ontario Land Tribunal but the person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the City of Clarence-Rockland before the proposed Community Improvement Plan is adopted and/or before the by-law is passed, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision.

If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting, or make written submissions to the City of Clarence-Rockland before the proposed Community Improvement Plan is adopted, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Land Tribunal unless, in the opinion of the Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party.

 

DATED AT the City of Clarence-Rockland this 16th day of December 2024.

Monique Ouellet, Municipal Clerk

 

Map of CIP area
Information and contact

Ali Riel, Economic Development Officer, City of Clarence-Rockland

Inquires can be directed by email to: ariel@clarence-rockland.com