Brownfield Redevelopment Community Improvement Plan

Applications are currently closed for the Brownfield Redevelopment CIP.

The City’s Community Improvement Plan, including the Brownfield Redevelopment CIP and Downtown CIP, is currently under review. Contact the Economic Development Office at [email protected] for more information.

Brownfield Redevelopment Community Improvement Plan Update

Brownfield Redevelopment Community Improvement Plan
The Brownfield Redevelopment CIP consists of a number of financial incentive programs that are intended to stimulate private sector investment in the reuse and redevelopment of brownfield sites and partially offset the costs associated with the site assessment and remediation.

The City’s first Brownfield Redevelopment CIP was approved in 2004 and established the following financial incentives:

  • Environmental Study Grant (ESG) program
  • Tax Increment-Based Grant (TIBG) program
  • Tax Assistance (TA) programs

A review of the CIP beginning in 2010 resulted in a new CIP that was adopted in 2012. The 2012 CIP added detail and clarification to the existing programs but did not change them fundamentally.

Meetings

Information Meeting – February 12, 2018

At this council meeting, staff reported on the performance of the Brownfield Redevelopment Community Improvement Plan (CIP), Downtown Guelph CIP and Heritage Redevelopment Reserve Program and provided initial direction on updates to the CIPs. No decisions were made.

Powerpoint presentation

Staff Report: Downtown, Brownfield and Heritage Grant Performance Monitoring: 2010-2017 and Potential CIP Review Directions

Attachment 2: Brownfield Redevelopment CIP Performance: 2012-2017

Statutory Public Meeting – April 9, 2018

City Council will hold a public meeting to consider proposed changes to the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) and to receive Council and public feedback on the changes. This will be a statutory public meeting under the Planning Act and no decisions will be made. Once the feedback is reviewed and all issues are addressed, another report with a recommendation will be considered at a future meeting of Council.

The Brownfield Redevelopment CIP update proposes:

  • minor changes to the CIP to assist in administration;
  • to allow for Development Charge (DC) late payments on Brownfield sites to be reimbursed by the Tax Increment Based Grant program.  This will better assist development proponents to achieve CIP objectives with no negative financial implications to the City;
  • to extend the CIP programs for another five years with minor modifications described in the proposed plan; and
  • to update policy context section of the plan to reflect changes since the CIP was approved in 2012.

Staff Report: Brownfield Redevelopment CIP Update

Attachment 2: Proposed Amendment #1 to the Brownfield Redevelopment CIP

Attachment 3: Brownfield Redevelopment CIP showing proposed changes

Decision Meeting – July 9, 2018

City Council will be asked to make a decision to approve Amendment #1 to the Brownfield Redevelopment Community Improvement Plan (CIP).

The Brownfield Redevelopment CIP update proposes to amend the CIP to:

  • make minor changes to the CIP to assist in administration of the grant programs;
  • increase the Environmental Study Grant maximum from $15,000 to $30,000 per study;
  • adjust the application timing requirements for the Environmental Study Grant program;
  • extend the timeframe for the CIP programs for another five years; and
  • update the policy context section of the plan to reflect changes since the CIP was approved in 2012.

Although not part of the CIP, the report provides a framework for staff to negotiate Development Charges (DC) late payments agreement on brownfield sites to be reimbursed by the Tax Increment Based Grant program;

Financial incentives

The Brownfield Redevelopment Community Improvement Plan consists of a number of financial incentive programs that are intended to stimulate private sector investment in the reuse and redevelopment of brownfield sites and partially offset the costs associated with the site assessment and remediation.

The incentive programs contained in this Community Improvement Plan (CIP) can be used individually or together by an applicant, but in no case can two or more programs be used to pay for the same eligible cost, i.e., double dipping is not permitted. Also, the total of all grants, loans, and tax assistance provided in respect of the particular property for which an applicant is making application under the programs contained in the Community Improvement Plan, shall not exceed the eligible costs of the improvements to that property under all applicable Community Improvement Plans.

Summary of Incentive Programs

Environmental Study Grant

  • Grant equivalent to 50% of the cost of a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, designated substances and hazardous materials survey, remedial work plan or risk assessment
  • Maximum of two studies per property/project
  • Maximum total grant of $30,000 per property/project

Tax Assistance

  • Offset site investigation and remediation by cancelling municipal property taxes and education property taxes for up to three years
  • Cancellation of education property taxes is subject to approval by the Minister of Finance

Tax Increment Based Grant

  • Offset site investigation and remediation costs, and LEED® costs using a grant equivalent to 80% of the municipal property tax increase created by the project for up to 10 years after the project completion

Although not part of the CIP the City can negotiate Development Charges (DC) late payments agreement on brownfield sites to be reimbursed by the Tax Increment Based Grant program so that all or part DCs aren’t paid out of pocket.”

Incentive Program forms

Tax Assistance and Tax Increment Based Grants

Tax Assistance and Tax Increment Based Grant applications

Tax Assistance (TA) program administration

Tax Increment Based Grant (TIBG) program administration

Environmental Study Grants

Environmental Study Grant application

Environmental Study Grant (ESG) program administration

For more information

Planning Services
519-837-5616
[email protected]