Council moved to establish the final development charges document for by-law decision on May 5th:
-For a single detached dwelling: Township-wide services are $3,000.00, for Wastewater is $1,500.00 and for Water is $1,000.00.
-For non-residential uses (per sq. ft.): Township-wide services are $0.50, for Wastewater is $1.00 and for Water is $0.50.
-That Places of Worship and Bona Fide Farm Uses/Buildings be included as discretionary exemptions.
“Developments are essentially a one-time fee that applies to new developments. It does not apply to your home unless you are adding a unit.” Burton said. “It’s based on the type of services available at your provinces.”
He said that options presented at the Council meeting the previous week were a straight 50% rate on all services, or a 50% on wastewater and 75% on all other services.
They said that the Township sits “comparably equal to or less than the averages in the County”.
For a rural home with its own well and septic system, for example, it would simply pay the $3000 for township services.
Mandatory exemptions include universities and secondary family dwelling units, and the staff can include discretionary exemptions such as places of worship and bona fide farm buildings, used solely for farming.
CAO said that without Development Charges, the cost is paid by the water system. “It never fully pays for itself.” he said. “The future of the Water tower will be paid for by development charges.”
Councillor Mackay asked if the charges were same Township wide, and Burton confirmed it was.
Councillor Nicholson praised this as a way to “keep the costs lower”, though he said he might prefer “higher development charges.”
Councill McLaughlin asked if the money from the charges would be added to reserves or kept seperate.
Treasurer Crozier said they would be “kept separate” and accounted for on their own.
“If we’d done this at the start, we wouldn’t be in this place where all our lines will need to be replaced, and we’d have those funds.” McLaughlin said in praise of the development charges.
The motion was carried.
