Affordable Housing Incentive Program (COC-01-2026) — full text

This is an automated transcription (OCR) of the captured official document — minor recognition errors are possible; the source document governs. Snapshot 0e54805c724a · verified 2026-06-04 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

## TOWN OF CORNWALL RESOLUTION   DATE: COMMITTEE: MOTION NUMBER: MOTION CARRIED MOTION LOST MOTION WITHDRAWN Moved by Councillor Seconded by Councillor January 28, 2026 Committee of Council COC- 01-2026 Affordable Housing Incentive Program v 5-0 Corey Frizzell Steven Campbell Whereas: A need for affordable housing has been identified in Canada, Prince Edward Island and the Town of Cornwall; And Whereas: The Government of Canada and the Government of Prince Edward Island have both developed Affordable Housing Strategies to address this need; And Whereas: The Town of Cornwall desired, and continues to desire, to be a part of the solution to this issue and had previously approved an Affordable Housing Incentive Program; Therefore, be it Resolved: That the Town of Cornwall Affordable Housing Incentive Program is continued as amended and presented and considered, at the Committee of Council meeting of January 21, 2026 and is attached to this resolution. ## Purpose The Affordable Housing Incentive Program is designed to stimulate the development of new affordable units in the Town of Cornwall. ## Authority The Affordable Housing Incentive Program has been authorized by a resolution of Council, PL -03-19, February 20, 2019. Council may terminate the program at any time by resolution. The program is a voluntary measure of the Town and affirms that housing is not a legislated responsibility under the Municipal Government Act of PEl. ## Affordable Housing Defined For the purpose of this program the Towns definition of affordable will match one of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC) definitions and this will be verified in writing by CMHC. ## Eligibility Criteria Applicants receiving financial support from affordable housing programs sponsored by the Province of PEl and/or the Government of Canada meeting the above definition are eligible. ## Program Incentives ## Property Tax Grants Grants providing municipal property tax relief up to a maximum of 10 years, applied to new affordable housing units. Grants may be equal to the receipted municipal portion of property tax on the affordable portion of the units. Payment of the grant shall be made within thirty days of presentation, to the town, of the annual property tax statement, along with a signed attestation from the owner that the units are still classified as affordable. ## Development Permit Fee Waivers The regular development permit fees regularly charged for new housing developments may be waived if the development meets the Eligibility Criteria. ## Accessibility Bonus All affordable housing projects meeting eligibility criteria within the boundaries of the Town of Cornwall will be considered. Bonus incentives may be offered for projects that have a minimum of 10% of the overall units as accessible units. Should enumerate a few bonus types to give some structure and direction to this section, suggest that they somehow be tied to accessibility. ## Town of Cornwall Affordable Housing Incentive Program January 2026 ## Project Evaluation Criteria Council will form an Evaluation Team with a mandate to evaluate prospective affordable housing developments. The Evaluation Team will be accountable to Town Council. Evaluation scoring criteria may include the following: - Number of affordable units - Ratio of affordable units to market units - Level of provincial/federal support - Needs assessment for affordable units in the Town. - Business case - Experience, project management leadership - Accessibility - Location, proximity to amenities, zoning, neighbourhood compatibility - Alignment with Official Plan - Scope (number of affordable units) - Project maturity (concept only to shovel-ready) - Estimated increase in property assessment - Impact on municipal services, electric, water, wastewater, roads etc. ## Program Wind-Down Prince Edward Island's Municipal Government Act (MGA) does not legislate housing responsibilities to municipalities. The Town of Cornwall's participation with affordable housing incentives therefore is designed to temporarily fortify, not replace, federal and provincial programs and action plans with the types of support best delivered at a local level. Public notice for wind-down of the program will be six months. ## Program Review This program is subject to periodic review as directed by Council.