Heather Wright/The Independent

Warwick Township is considering encouraging agri-tourism and new housing as part of its Community Improvement Plan.

Since 2019, the township has given out 22 grants totalling just under $200,000 to businesses for things like environmental studies, facade and structural improvements, making buildings more accessible and providing grants equal to taxes or to cover permit fees.

The township recently hired Jesse McPhail, an urban planner from REPUBLIC, to revise the Community Improvement Plan.

He told council recently it should consider providing financial incentives of up to $6,500 and cover 50 per cent of the permit fees for additional dwelling units on existing residential properties.

“These opportunities provide more affordable and more attainable housing options, particularly in the rental market,” McPhail told council Sept. 29. “This program would be really looking to target either supporting the creation of a brand new additional dwelling unit or the bringing up to code and legalization and improving of the safety of an existing additional dwelling unit that may not comply currently. 

“We want to encourage those folks where there may be some deficiencies, or they maybe didn’t obtain permits for those to get those as well… the goal with that would be to provide more diverse housing options than community.”

McPhail is also suggesting the township consider grants of up to $7,500 plus refunding 50 per cent of the building fees for new agri-tourism ventures.

“Those kind of on farm, diversified, home-based kind of businesses that,  the township wants to support, with respect to-agri tourism, like You-Pick farms or another example could be, I’ve seen goat yoga …in other municipalities. So, really trying to bring tourism out into the rural areas.”

McPhail also suggests an emphasis on making buildings in the community accessible.

The plan, he says, should continue to provide facade improvement grants. That was the most popular part of the original CIP. The new plan would not only provide grants for improving storefronts but also beautifying the lot.

McPhail is also suggesting township council lead some of the improvements “complimenting private developments” by investing in wayfaring signs, streetscape enhancements and parkland improvements. McPhail says the municipally-led suggestions are “not intended as a ‘to-do’ list or formal commitment, but rather a source of inspiration or catalogue of options for council to consider over the life of the CIP.” 

Council was expected to review the document Oct. 20.