Town approves expanded, consolidated community improvement plan

Fort Erie councillors have approved a new community improvement plan (CIP) that consolidates three previous separate plans and includes some new downtown areas.

The new plan will also include a residential creation and intensification grant that was previously on the chopping block as staff looked to streamline the municipality’s CIP. Councillors previously deferred a decision to give staff time to make changes to the proposal, including reinstating the aforementioned grant and bringing the affordable housing CIP into the mix.

It passed with minimal discussion, with only Councillor Tom Lewis confirming funds previously earmarked for Crystal Beach were still available.

CIPs offer various incentives for businesses and property owners to undertake work on their buildings. Formerly in Fort Erie, separate core area CIPs encouraged property owners in downtown areas to improve things like facades, lighting, windows and doors or accessibility.

A brownfield CIP attempted to encourage rehabilitation of contaminated or potentially contaminated former employment lands.

And finally, an affordable housing CIP incentivized the creation and retention of affordable housing.

Now, those plans will all be wrapped into one, potentially making it easier for applicants and more efficient for staff.

The new CIP includes new core areas for Crystal Beach and the Gateway, joining existing areas in Bridgeburg, Ridgeway, Stevensville, and South End/Riverwalk. Lewis has previously said Crystal Beach is very excited to be included as a CIP core area.

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