By-Law No. 6 of 2024 was deemed adopted by The Council of The Corporation of the City of Sarnia on February 14, 2024, pursuant to s. 284.11(4) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25.
The purpose of By-Law No. 6 of 2024 is to adopt the City of Sarnia Affordable Rental Housing Community Improvement Plan, in accordance with s.17 and s.28 of the Planning Act, RSO 1990, c P.13.
Purpose and Effect
A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a tool that allows the City to provide incentives in the form of financial assistance to property owners in defined areas to support community improvement or affordable housing efforts in these areas by facilitating partnerships with private sector property owners.
By-Law No. 6 of 2024 designates the entire City of Sarnia as a Community Improvement Project Area (CIPA) for the purposes of the Affordable Rental Housing Community Improvement Plan (AHCIP) and adopts the Affordable Rental Housing Community Improvement Plan (AHCIP).
The AHCIP will offer one (1) tax incentive equivalent grant program, four (4) general financial incentive grant programs and one (1) parking reduction program. The tax increment equivalent grant program and the general financial incentive programs will be offered city-wide. The parking reduction program will only apply to the Downtown, Mixed-Use I and Mixed-Use II Corridors Designations as defined by the City of Sarnia Official Plan. The parking reduction program proposes to reduce the parking requirements for purpose-built affordable rental housing with a minimum of 6 units and will be non-funded.
Public Comments
The Council of the City of Sarnia held one Public Meeting to receive comments from the Public. Amendments were made to the draft document throughout the process based on public consultation.
Appeal
Any individual, corporation or public body may appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) in respect of the By-Law by filling no later than 4:00 p.m. on the 15th day of March 2024, a notice of appeal with the Clerk of the City of Sarnia which must set out the reasons for the appeal and be accompanied by the prescribed fee payable to the Minister of Finance.
The appeal must also be accompanied by the completed OLT appeal form which is available from the Tribunal website available here: https://olt.gov.on.ca/forms-submissions/
Only individuals, corporations and public bodies may appeal a by-law to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). A notice of appeal may not be filed by an unincorporated association or group. However, a notice of appeal may be filed on behalf of an individual who is a member of the association or the group on its behalf.
No person or public body shall be added as a party to the hearing of the appeal unless, before the by- law was passed, the person or public body made oral submissions at a public meeting or written submissions to the council or, in the opinion of the Tribunal, there era reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party.
The proposed Community Improvement Plan is exempt from approval by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The decision of the Council of the City of Sarnia is final if a notice of appeal is not received on or before the last day for filing a notice of appeal.
Additional Information
A copy of the adopted City of Sarnia Affordable Rental Housing Community Improvement Plan can be found on the City of Sarnia website at https://www.speakupsarnia.ca/housingcip. A hard copy can also be viewed at City Hall, 255 Christina Street North, Sarnia, ON, N7T 7N2 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, by contacting the Planning Department at 519.332.0330 Ext. 3301 or planning@sarnia.ca to schedule a viewing appointment.
For more information, contact Eric Hyatt, Manager, Planning and Development Services, at 519.332.0527 Ext. 3285 or by email eric.hyatt@sarnia.
DATED AT THE CITY OF SARNIA, ONTARIO, this 24th day of February 2024.