Belleville requests feedback on Community Improvement Plan incentive programs

The City of Belleville is updating its existing Housing, Downtown Revitalization and Brownfield Redevelopment Community Improvement Plan (CIP). The project will introduce new and revised financial incentive programs focused on the following key areas:

• Housing: Belleville is addressing rising housing costs and demands, as the City’s population continues to grow. With support from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), we are introducing new incentives to encourage the development of “missing middle” (e.g. duplexes, triplexes, low-rise apartments), other multi-unit buildings (e.g. apartments) and affordable housing units.
• Downtown Revitalization: We are reviewing and updating the incentive programs to help keep our downtown core vibrant. This includes looking at popular downtown revitalization programs, like the façade and sign grants, to ensure that they align with current trends and continue to support our local businesses and property owners in enhancing downtown Belleville’s beauty, appeal, heritage character and location on the Moira River.
• Brownfield Redevelopment: We are updating the incentives for redeveloping brownfield sites (i.e. underutilized properties that may have potential environmental contamination) to better support their renewal, particularly for new housing projects, waterfront and downtown revitalization.

Survey questions

Take the survey here

Housing

If the City was to provide an incentive for the development of missing middle housing (e.g. duplexes, triplexes, townhouses), which criteria would be most important to evaluate? (select up to four)

• Affordability of the units
• Location of the development (e.g. near transit, services, jobs)
• Building design (building’s shape, size, layout, materials used, aesthetics, etc.)
• Dwelling type (duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses)
• Type of tenure (ownership vs. rental)
• Number of units in the development
• Number of bedrooms in the unit
• Inclusion of family-sized units (3-bedroom units or larger)
• Whether the project is replacing a previously affordable unit
• Level of accessibility/barrier-free design
• Ability to clean up contaminated, underused or derelict sites
• Other (please specify)

If the City was to provide an incentive for the development of affordable housing, which criteria would be most important to evaluate? (select up to four)

• Type of households served (e.g. low-income families, seniors, persons with disabilities, newcomers)
• Location of the development (e.g. near transit, near where I work, near community centres)
• Type of tenure (ownership vs. rental)
• Total number of affordable units created
• Inclusion of family-sized units (e.g. three bedrooms or larger)
• Building and site design quality
• Level of accessibility/barrier-free design
• Whether the development includes supportive housing components (e.g. on-site, wrap-around services)

Which combination of criteria would most effectively accelerate missing middle housing (e.g. duplexes, townhomes)? (select one)

• Zoning updates: Permitting the desired range and forms of housing in specific zones
• Tiered rebates: Higher incentives for ≥15% affordable units
• Land cost offsets: Municipal land leasing at nominal rates
• Infrastructure prioritization: Sewer/water upgrades in target zones to support additional buildings
• Flexible parkland conveyance requirements: Such as removing requirements for either Cash-in-Lieu of Parkland or parkland dedication through CIP funding

Downtown Revitalization

Approximately how often do you visit the downtown core? (select one)

• Daily
• A few times weekly
• Once weekly
• Once monthly
• A few times annually
• Almost never/never

Which projects should receive priority for downtown incentives? (Select up to four)

• Activated ground floors with commercial uses (e.g. a restaurant or café in a new mixed-use development)
• Upper-floor residential conversions or additions above commercial space
• Climate change resilience and mitigation features (e.g. flood- and fire-proofing features)
• Heritage restoration and preservationFaçade and signage improvements
• Public realm upgrades (patios, lighting, art)
• Accessibility enhancements and compliance
• Waterfront improvements (e.g. pedestrianization, greenspace, patios, access to the rear of commercial units)
• Projects that solve the problem of large-scale contaminated land (brownfields) in the designated Urban Area

What should be the urgent focus of revitalization funds? (select one)

• Increased housing density in core areas
• Commercial occupancy
• Heritage resilienceIncreased housing density in core areas
• Reducing/removing environmental contamination
• Other (please specify)

Demographics

What is your age?

• Under 18
• 18-24
• 25-34
• 35-44
• 45-54
• 55-64
• 65-74
• 75+

Please select any that apply to you:

• I am a resident of Belleville
• I attend school in Belleville
• I am employed in Belleville
• I own and/or operate a business in Belleville
• I am a developer or landlord in Belleville
• I work for/volunteer with a non-for-profit or non-government organization in Belleville
• I regularly shop in BellevilleI regularly spend my leisure time in Belleville
• Other (please specify)
• None of the above

How can we promote the CIP to engage residents, businesses, and developers more effectively?

Please share any additional comments, concerns, or suggestions with us!