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The Renfrew Mercury Proudly serving the community
October 31, 2013 | 40 pages
InsideOttawaValley.com
Council ponders CIP to revitalize town
NEWS
Tax dollars eyed for private property improvements Lucy Hass Lucy.hass@metroland.com
A sweet success story. See pages 4 and 5
SPORTS
LUCY HASS/METROLAND
Purr-fect Halloween party Shannon St. Michael powers to records. See page 13
Emma Huckabone puts some purr-fect finishing touches on her Halloween craft at the Admaston-Bromley Public Library last Wednesday night during an open house marking Ontario Public Libraries Week. See page 6.
News – Are Renfrew taxpayers interested in helping to fund private development for the overall betterment of the town? Renfrew council hopes to learn just that as surveys are circulated in advance of a Nov. 25 decision on creation of a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for the town. Municipalities can’t use taxpayer dollars for incentives for private development and improvements without such designation. The survey asks people to rank seven local objectives and programs in order of importance: building façades, brownfields (undeveloped or previously-developed properties that may be contaminated), heritage buildings, energy efficiency standards, construction of residential units, accessibility and the rebating of planning application fees and building permit fees. Copies of the survey are available at the town hall, Chamber of Commerce office on Raglan Street or on the town website. The survey deadline is
Tuesday, Nov. 8 and council is scheduled to debate the findings at its Monday, Nov. 25 regular meeting. Elected officials and town staff aside, 12 people attended last week’s meeting, representing such groups as the local planning advisory committee, Renfrew Industrial Commission, Renfrew and Area Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement Area. In Renfrew’s Official Plan the entire town is designated as a CIP zone, unlike neighbouring Arnprior who earmarked only five specific areas for taxpayer loans or grants. During what was described as a “101 on Community Improvement Plans and financial incentives,” ministry planner John Macdonald and Municipal Act senior advisor Stephen Seller presented a 33-page report on CIPs. Renfrew and Area Chamber of Commerce president Rob Campbell noted the spinoff benefits of community improvement, an opinion shared by many in the room. “Development is contagious,” Macdonald agreed. He has three CIP drafts for other municipalities on his desk right now. CIPs require the use of town coffers, with a designated amount set aside each year and generally dispersed on a firstcome, first-served basis. See CIP SURVEY, page 3
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