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Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan

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The City of Sarnia has initiated the preparation of an affordable / attainable housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP). The Plan is intended to promote the development of affordable / attainable housing by assisting and stimulating the private sector through the use of financial incentives as authorized by the Planning Act. The CIP is a tool that supports the development of a range of housing options in the City and also supports the County of Lambton in the delivery of affordable housing.

What is a Community Improvement Plan?

Community Improvement Plans (CIP) are strategic financial investment tools used by communities to stimulate and support key community outcomes. These plans are designed to leverage targeted public capital investments through a suite of grant offerings, with the intent to encourage private investment in specific and defined community outcomes.

Study Area?

The study area for the CIP is city-wide, however, specific programs and incentives may be targeted to areas targeted for growth and intensification in the City's Official Plan.

Public Input Opportunities

Help us better understand the housing needs of the community by completing the short survey below before noon on March 30.

Further in-person engagement will be available during a Statutory Public Meeting later this year.

The City of Sarnia has initiated the preparation of an affordable / attainable housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP). The Plan is intended to promote the development of affordable / attainable housing by assisting and stimulating the private sector through the use of financial incentives as authorized by the Planning Act. The CIP is a tool that supports the development of a range of housing options in the City and also supports the County of Lambton in the delivery of affordable housing.

What is a Community Improvement Plan?

Community Improvement Plans (CIP) are strategic financial investment tools used by communities to stimulate and support key community outcomes. These plans are designed to leverage targeted public capital investments through a suite of grant offerings, with the intent to encourage private investment in specific and defined community outcomes.

Study Area?

The study area for the CIP is city-wide, however, specific programs and incentives may be targeted to areas targeted for growth and intensification in the City's Official Plan.

Public Input Opportunities

Help us better understand the housing needs of the community by completing the short survey below before noon on March 30.

Further in-person engagement will be available during a Statutory Public Meeting later this year.

  • Notice of Adoption

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    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 under 'Documents' on this page. 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.

    DATED AT THE CITY OF SARNIA, ONTARIO, this 24th day of February 2024.

  • CIP Public Meeting

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    Under Section 28 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P.13, as amended, the Corporation of the City of Sarnia will hold a Public Meeting on Monday, October 16th, 2023, at 1:00 pm in the Council Chambers to present and receive public input regarding a proposed Community Improvement Plan (CIP).

    The purpose of the Affordable Housing CIP is to offer incentives to non-profit and private sector groups and individual members of the public to develop new affordable rental housing units. It is intended to be an implementation tool that establishes incentives for delivering affordable rental housing units throughout the City.

    The AHCIP will:

    • Increase the supply of affordable housing units throughout the City;
    • Support the existing housing supply and the building of complete communities;
    • Encourage a continuum of affordable housing options, including a
    • diversity of housing units by size and number of bedrooms; and,
    • Promote the construction of affordable additional dwelling units.

    The entire City of Sarnia is identified as a Community Improvement Project Area; more incentive-specific areas are also proposed and are described within the plan.

    The purpose of this Public Meeting is to allow the public to comment on the proposed plan. The meeting is open to any person. You will have an opportunity to speak on the proposed CIP. Written comments are also acceptable. Any personal information may become part of the public record.

    How to Participate

    You are invited to view these meetings online at https://www.sarnia.ca/council-meetings/. You can also participate by submitting comments and/or speaking during the public meetings. You may submit comments by email to planning@sarnia.ca, mail to City of Sarnia, c/o Community Services Division, 255 Christina Street North, P.O. Box 3018, Sarnia ON N7T 7N2, or place them in the mail slot on the right-hand side of the Christina Street North entrance to City Hall.

    To ensure your comments are included in the City Council Agenda on any of the above, comments must be received by Noon, Friday, September 29, 2023.

    Speaking at the Public Meeting

    You may participate in the public meeting in person or virtually. If you wish to participate in the public meeting, we encourage you to pre-register with the Clerks Department by email to clerks@sarnia.ca or by phone at 519-332-0330 ext. 3320.

    Instructions for participating in the meeting virtually will be provided following registration and online at https://www.sarnia.ca/virtualsarnia/ under Public Meetings.

    Collection of Personal Information

    Please be aware that if you submit correspondence to the City of Sarnia regarding an application, your name and communications may become part of the record available to the public, pursuant to the Planning Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. For more information on this collection, please visit www.speakupsarnia.ca.

    If you wish to be notified of the decision of the Sarnia City Council on any of the above-noted applications, you must make a written request to:

    City of Sarnia

    c/o Community Services Division

    255 Christina Street North,

    P.O. Box 3018, Sarnia ON N7T 7N2

Page last updated: 20 Aug 2024, 10:37 PM