Strategic Direction Report

The Town of Caledon has undertaken a review and update to the 2009 Bolton Community Improvement Plan. The overall objective of this Project is to develop a contemporary and relevant strategy that identifies an updated direction for municipal led initiatives and establishes appropriate financial incentive programs that will continue to facilitate private sector investment and revitalization within Bolton. The Project is being undertake in two phases over a six month work plan. It was formally launched in August 2021 and concludes in 2022.

The Strategic Directions Report and Project Area Analysis has been prepared under Phase 1 of the Project. Phase 2 of the Project will include preparing an updated Community Improvement Plan and Community Improvement Project Area. These updated documents will then be presented to Council for adoption following a Statutory Public Meeting.

The following provides and Executive Summary of the Strategic Directions Report.

The findings of this Report offers the following strategic recommendations to inform an updated revitalization strategy:

A total of nine financial incentive programs are proposed. Six of the existing eight financial incentive program are recommended to be carried forward, while three new programs are identified.

The proposed new programs being explored are:

• Flood Mitigation and Protection: Offers incentives to offset costs associated with undertaking background study or heightened design, engineering and/or construction considerations to mitigate and protect against flooding from the Humber River for mixed-use and commercial buildings.
• Privately Owned Public Space: Offers incentives to eligible applicants to facilitate revitalization and physical improvements to the appearance or function of privately owned property that is publicly accessible and regularly used as such.
• Sidewalk Café and Patio Program: Offers incentives to eligible applicants to facilitate the installation of sidewalk cafes and patios to enhance activation of the streetscape.

An updated municipal leadership strategy is proposed. It reflects key recommended programs and initiatives that may be undertaken by the Town to further facilitate the revitalization vision, goals, and objectives of Bolton. New municipal leadership strategy actions that are recommended include:

• Celebrate Success: Formally celebrate “stories of success” to promote the CIP and to recognize local champions who have undertaken exemplary community improvement works.
• Climate Change Action: Recognize the Town’s commitment to climate change adaptation, mitigation, and resilience by meaningfully advancing the guiding principles through the CIP.
• Improve Local and Regional Transportation: Consider improving multi-modal transportation infrastructure and connections within Bolton itself, as well as with other communities of the Town and the Region.
• Collaborate with Partners: The long-term success of the CIP will necessarily require ongoing collaboration with key partners from both the public and private sector, as well as both locally and across jurisdictions
• Review Relevant Studies: Consider undertaking new or additional studies where warranted or deemed appropriate to augment the revitalization objectives of an updated CIP.
• Programming: Focus of facilitating and organizing public gatherings and events within the downtown core to contribute to the ongoing revitalization efforts of Bolton.

The Report also establishes the following observations and additional general recommendations:

• The Town has undertaken numerous studies and plans since 2009, and there is a need to revisit the 2009 Community Improvement Plan within the current land use planning context;
• Overall, the implementation policies of the 2009 Community Improvement Plan have functioned well for administrators of the Plan and are generally consistent with more contemporary practice. Only scoped refinements to these policies are recommended;
• There is no apparent need to replicate or reiterate the guidelines that are already available and provide supplemental design guidance based on current urban design best practice within the Town; and
• The existing Community Improvement Project Area is generally recommended to be carried forward, subject to refinement as an outcome of the engagement and consultation program of this Project.

This Report may be revisited and subsequently finalized at Project conclusion.

The full Strategic Directions Report Summary is available under “Documents” in the right sidebar.

If you have any questions or comments please forward to Sandra Dolson, Sandra.dolson@caledon.ca