sanitary sewer capacity studies or noise and vibration assessments. The value of the pre-submission process is to quickly provide the proponent with an understanding of the official application process which will streamline future Planning Act applications.

2. Economic Incentives and Revitalization Programs

Economic incentives often are the cornerstone to most Community Improvement Plans (CIP) and Business Improvement Area (BIA) incentives. They offer financial support to specific developments if they qualify under the conditions set. The focus of these incentives is to increase employment opportunities and boost economic vitality and variety within and around the neighbourhood.

To be eligible for certain grant programs or incentives, the applicant must demonstrate that specific conditions will be achieved. For example, the Business Development Grant Program requires the applicant to create a minimum of 50 new jobs (manufacturing sector) or more than 20 jobs in other targeted sectors.

Business Improvement Areas are areas that strive to boost local economic vitality while promoting the beautification of streetscapes and frontages within the neighbourhood. Tax varies depending on the assessment value of the property and the specifications of the BIAs (see Appendix A for more information).

Community Improvement Plans are initiatives targeted at local communities to promote various development efforts such as infill, revitalization, economic vitality, facade improvements, creation of new residential units and heritage conservation. CIPs often offer economic incentives to promote desired development outcomes (see Appendix A for more information). CIPs can be targeted at a small area of the city, or applied city-wide, as is the case with the Brownfield Redevelopment and the Economic Revitalization CIPs.

3. City-wide zoning updates

In the past 5 years the City of Windsor has undertaken a number of updates to the Zoning Bylaw that may already be accomplishing what a localized ‘Pink Zoning’ approach would seek to do in other jurisdictions. Examples of some of the updates that have been approved by Council include:

• Converted building height from storeys to metres for simple interpretation.

• The wording of various definitions was revised and refined, often a long descriptive list of services or activities was replaced with a short generic definition, which allows for more flexibility, especially as services, activities and technology evolve over time. Definitions for various undefined uses or terms were added, ensuring consistent application of the definition.

• Changed certain front yard depth and rear yard depth requirements from a percent of the lot depth or lot width to a fixed number to allow for consistent front yard and rear yard depths along a street block and to allow for better or efficient use of a parcel.