The Penetanguishene community is invited to provide input into a proposed Community Improvement Plan.
A virtual public meeting is planned for next Wednesday at 7 p.m. to look at the Community Improvement Plan, which is aimed at the town's historic downtown. Last November, a kickoff meeting was held on the project starting with a brief introduction and walkabout of the main street.
The purpose of the plan is to provide a long-term strategy that will facilitate the ongoing enhancement and revitalization of the town. This plan presents specific goals and objectives to guide revitalization in the town in an appropriate and contextual manner through a series of financial-incentive programs that will promote private property improvement in a manner that contributes to the identified vision.
The plan will focus on the downtown and periphery commercial and mixed-use areas. It includes policies to guide the establishment and refinement of the Community Improvement Project Area. The areas of focus within this plan include properties that fall within two land-use designations identified in the town's official plan. That includes the downtown and waterfront area land-se designation as well as the mixed-use and commercial land-use designation.
Through public input, council may also consider including financial incentive programs through which money can be made available to encourage revitalization and improvements in the study area. This plan proposes a range of financial incentives, including grant and loan programs, which would need to be funded by council. This gives council flexibility and enables it to fund or activate any of the programs based on availability of funds or other priorities.
Some goals to be achieved include reducing commercial vacancy rates, through the provision of incentives (such as building-code incentives) that may represent a barrier to securing tenants. Another goal is to create sidewalk cafés and other semi-public streetscape elements that support a more vibrant lifestyle. Another goal involves providing incentives to encourage additional housing opportunities in downtown Penetanguishene to support local businesses.
There are multiple ways for the public to weigh in on the plan. Written submissions can be mailed to council using this information: Town Clerk, c/o the Town of Penetanguishene at P.O. Box 5009, 10 rue Robert St. West/ouest, Penetanguishene, Ontario, L9M 2G2. Submissions can be sent either in hard copy or in electronic format using the town's fax number: (705) 549-3743 or via email to town clerk Stacey Cooper at [email protected].
Submissions must be forwarded no later than noon this Friday. Cooper can lso be contacted to find out how residents can participate in the virtual meeting.
Any other correspondence will be provided to members of council up until the meeting date. Individuals making oral submissions at the public meeting are requested to submit a written outline of the submission to the town clerk. All submissions should include the full name and address of the presenter.
