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Bracebridge Implements a Series of Development Incentives

BRACEBRIDGE, ON – In order to encourage strong economic growth and sustainable development, the Town of Bracebridge has implemented a series of development incentives to promote new investments in the community.

A primary incentive being implemented by the Town is the elimination of all non-residential development charge (DC) fees. Other incentives being made available by the Town include:

• a freeze on 2015 building permit fees to their 2014 rates;

• façade, sign and building improvement grants and interest-free loans through its Community

Improvement Plan; and

• rebates of municipal property taxes for significant increases in assessment due to development.

Municipal revenues obtained from Development Charges assist in the Town’s financing of capital projects required to meet the increased need for municipal services as a result of growth and the development/redevelopment of land. The Town will use other revenue sources to offset the loss of DC revenue associated with any new developments. All Development Charges By-laws have an expiry date of five years in accordance with the Development Charges Act (DCA) and must be reviewed every five years in order to ensure the charges are relevant. The By-law approved by Council on July 3rd will remain in effect until July 3, 2019.

In a similar fashion, the District of Muskoka has approved reduced rates for their Development Charges to assist with the attraction of new investment to Muskoka. Effective July 14, 2014, the District of Muskoka non-residential rate has been set at $16.47/m2. This is a significant reduction from their previous rate of $32.83/m2. Below is a table illustrating some of the most common development charge rates.

Fee Category

Bracebridge 2009 DC By-law

Bracebridge 2014 DC By-law

District 2009 DC By-law

District 2014 DC By-law

Singles/Semis

$4,762

$3,572

$18,940

$9,332

Apartments - 2 or More Bedrooms

$3,235

$2,426

$12,500

$6,250

Non - Residential $14.63/m2 $0.00/m2

$32.83/m2 $16.47/m2

In addition to the statutory exemptions from Development Charges provided for in the Development Charge Act (DCA), the Town of Bracebridge has also approved several measures to promote the community’s economic and environmental sustainability and the overall prosperity of the Town including the provision of DCA exemptions for:

• Affordable housing projects in Town. The Town is committed to promoting the development of a

wide variety of housing options that are affordable for residents;

• All development in the area of the Downtown BIA. The Town recognizes the importance of the downtown core to the community’s overall vibrancy and the new Development Charges By-law supports investment and growth in the downtown and

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• Development of expanded college and university facilities in Bracebridge. Having both Nipissing

University and Georgian College in Bracebridge is a tremendous benefit for the Town and the Town is committed to working with both institutions in the future.

The elimination of non-residential DC rates is just the latest addition to development incentives in the Town of Bracebridge. The Town of Bracebridge has a wide variety of financial incentive programs available to both business and property owners alike. These incentive programs are governed by a Community Improvement Plan established by Town Council. The different programs offer grants and/or interest free loans and are designed to address key community improvement initiatives throughout various parts of Bracebridge. The plan includes a broad spectrum of programs that may be implemented in key commercial, industrial, business mixed-use and tourist areas of the community.

A brief description of the various programs is found below:

Tax Increment Grant Program

This program offers grants to property owners whose municipal property taxes have increased as the result of a minimum of $100,000 increase in the assessed value of the property. Grants may be equal to up to 100% of the municipal portion of the tax increase in year one, decreasing by 10% in the each of the following years for a 10 year period. Following the completion of an approved development, and payment of the lower tier municipal taxes by the property owner, a grant is provided that is equivalent to all or a portion of the tax increment.

The value of the grant will be determined by the Town upon review of Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) assessment.

Façade Improvement Grant/Loan Program

The Façade Improvement Grant/Loan Program offers grants and loans for improvements to the façades of existing commercial or mixed-use buildings located in the Central Business District (also defined as the Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA)).

The Town provides 50% of the cost of approved façade improvement project up to a maximum municipal contribution of $10,000. The municipal contribution will consist of 50% interest-free loan and 50% grant.

Building Improvement Grant/Loan Program

The Building Improvement Grant/Loan Program offers grants and loans for improvements to existing heritage or older commercial or mixed-use buildings located in the Central Business District (also defined as the Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA)).

The Town provides 50% of the cost of approved building improvement project up to a maximum municipal contribution of $10,000. The municipal contribution will consist of 50% interest-free loan and 50% grant.

Eligible building improvements will include (but not be limited to) the following, as determined by the Town:

• Structural repairs;

• Interior restoration and design;

• Repair/replacement/installation of building infrastructure, such as roofing, windows, and doors;

• Repair/replacement/installation of plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and fire protection systems;

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• Weatherproofing;

• Improvements to accessibility for people with disabilities; and

• Any other improvements that may bring a building up to code, or address health, safety, or risk

management issues.

Housing Rehabilitation Grant/Loan Program

The Housing Rehabilitation and Conversion Grant/Loan Program offers grants and loans to property owners for the rehabilitation of existing upper floor/rear building residential units, or the conversion of existing commercial/residential/mixed-use building space to residential units within the Central Business District and Mixed-Use areas.

The program will stimulate the rehabilitation of residential units, promote the reuse of buildings, and increase the range of uses and number of affordable housing units/people in the downtown core.

The Town provides 50% of the construction cost, up to a maximum of $6,000 per unit. The municipal contribution will consist of 50% interest-free loan and 50% grant. Applicants will be reimbursed for the rehabilitation or conversion of a maximum of 2 units.

Signage Improvement Grant Program

The Signage Improvement Grant Program offers grants to property owners or tenants for improvements to the signage of existing commercial, institutional, or mixed-use buildings within the Central Business District, the District Shopping Area (“the Flats), SmartCentres lands, and mixed-use areas.

The Town will benefit from signage improvements to private properties, which will promote a design that is generally consistent with the community image and brand that has been identified as part of Town’s rebranding exercise.

The Town provides 50% of the cost of signage improvement or replacement in the form of a grant up to a maximum municipal contribution of $2,000. For buildings with multiple street addresses, storefronts, or rear/side walls that are visible from a public street or public space, or fronts onto a laneway or parking lot, the maximum combined signage improvement will be a $4,000 grant.

2015 Building Permit Fees

The Town has frozen 2015 building permit fees at 2014 levels to assist in promoting new construction.

To assist those looking for industrial land, the Town, in conjunction with a local business, is finalizing the development of the new Canyon Court Business Park making available twenty-two fully serviced and competitively priced lots ranging in size from 0.8 to 8.5 acres. These “shovel-ready” lots are fully serviced with electrical power, gas, sanitary and storm sewers and fibre-optics to accommodate any proposed development.

The Town of Bracebridge has also streamlined its site plan approval process to assist new investors in navigating the municipal approval process. Site plan applications can be approved in as little as 3 weeks. To increase the fast tracking of the development approval process, building permit applications can be submitted concurrently with the site plan application.

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For further information contact:

Cheryl Kelley, Director of Planning and Development Phone: 705-645-6319 Ext. 253 Email: ckelley@bracebridge.ca

Randy Mattice, Manager of Economic Development Phone: 705-645-6319 Ext. 282 Email: rmattice@bracebridge.ca

About Bracebridge – The Town of Bracebridge is located in the Heart of Muskoka, the epitome of Canada’s Cottage Country. With a population in excess of 16,000 permanent residents that doubles during the summer months, the community has a diversified economy that is highlighted by strong construction, hospitality and professional sectors. Bracebridge is the steward of the cottage country brand and is teaching the world the power of living the Muskoka lifestyle in its spirit, the arts, food, home and recreation. The Town is positioned on the 45th parallel, halfway between the Equator and the North Pole, and is recognized as Santa’s summer home.