Downtown and the market
What we know
- The Township helps storefronts only with a loan. It lends up to $10,000, with no interest, from a $50,000 pool each year. Source: Community Improvement Plan, By-law 2017-56.
- Next door, Selwyn pays half of storefront work, up to $12,500. Source: Selwyn's plan, read 1 Oct 2026.
- Cavan Monaghan, to the west, runs 17 programs across the whole township. One gives grants for storefronts and signs. Source: Cavan Monaghan's plan, read 1 Oct 2026.
- Downtown, a home can go only on an upper floor. Each needs at least 42 to 84 square metres, and 2 parking spaces. Downtown gets no break. Source: Zoning By-law s.12.2.4 and s.3.24.
- Norwood's market ran five days in 2026. In the Township's survey, 83% wanted one. Source: Council minutes 10 Feb 2026; Report R12, 9 Mar 2021.
What I'll work to pass
- Finish the plan with grants, not just a loan. Start with a storefront grant like Selwyn's. Build toward five programs. One would help fit out a unit left empty six months. One would help build homes people can afford.
Who decides: Council alone. Source: Council action list, agenda 22 Sep 2026, p.29. - A written design standard for downtown: new buildings fit the village. The height limit stays.
Who decides: Council passes it, once the County's plan names downtown Norwood. - Let downtown add homes over shops. Fix the apartment size rules. Let a builder pay into a parking fund instead of paving.
Who decides: Council alone. - Stop rewarding empty storefronts. An empty shop pays only 70% of the full tax rate. Empty industrial space pays 65%. End that discount.
Who decides: County Council, where the mayor sits. Source: Council agenda 26 May 2026, p.68. - Count every storefront and upper floor downtown, and publish the list. It shows a business where to open. Shops and offices empty 90 days go on a registry. Owners file one short form a year. A fee covers one check by staff we already have. Homes, cottages and farms never go on the registry.
Who decides: Council alone. - Grow the Norwood Market. Run more market days with more vendors. Add a winter market, then go year-round if winter draws a crowd.
Who decides: Council, in the budget, with its business committee.