Muskoka Lakes Community Improvement Plan for Bala and Port Carling Launch

Join the Community Improvement Plan’s public workshops to discuss opportunities for change and challenges to consider. This is the first step for the team to begin to identify possible projects and funding programs to ensure the health and vitality of Bala and Port Carling.

Bala Community Workshop

Date – Tuesday, March 9th, 2021

Time –1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Location – Zoom

Port Carling Community Workshop

Date – Tuesday, March 9th, 2021

Time –3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Location – Zoom

About the Bala & Port Carling CIP

The Township of Muskoka Lakes is undertaking a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for the communities of Port Carling and Bala. The Township’s new Economic Development Strategy recognizes downtown enhancement as a key priority for the growth of the local economy. One of the key functions of the Township’s economic development role is to ensure existing businesses are supported and well positioned to maintain and grow their employment opportunities and support a competitive business environment.

The purpose of the CIP will be to identify community priority areas/projects for revitalization, allowing the Township to direct capital project investments in a strategic manner. A CIP identifies improvements for the public realm – streets, parks and other public spaces and identifies financial incentive programs (grants and loans) and eligible works to encourage the private sector to revitalize and or develop their properties.

The CIP will include:

• a review and update to current streetscape plans,
• identification of target projects,
• design guidelines to direct public realm improvements and development in the private realm,
• incentive programs, and,
• marketing tools.

What is a Community Improvement Plan?

It’s a planning tool used to support strategic community investment priorities.

How does a Community Improvement Plan stimulate investment?

It identifies improvements for the public realm – streets, parks and other public spaces and identifies financial incentive programs (grants and loans) and eligible works to encourage the private sector to revitalize and or develop their properties.

What happens after improvements and programs are identified?

Once the Community Improvement Plan is prepared, Council must adopt Official Plan policies and a by-law to designate the boundaries of the community improvement project areas.

How does this relate to the Official Plan Review currently underway?

New planning policies to encourage revitalization or redevelopment that may be identified through the Community Improvement Plan process will be shared with the team completing the Official Plan Review.

For more information about the CIP see the Township's project engagement page.