Development charges could drop in Amherstburg
New development charges bylaw on council's agenda Nov. 9
Posted By Ron Giofu/The Amherstburg Echo
Posted 1 month ago
AMHERSTBURG —Could development charges decrease in the Town of Amherstburg?
It appears that in certain categories, they just might.
Town council held a public meeting Oct. 19 where it was explained that a slow down in growth has contributed to a possible reduction in development charges from the fees contained in the current bylaw for full municipal services. However, lands outside the sanitary service area could see a “slight increase.”
According to the study and the development charges calculations contained within, it is recommended that the Town of Amherstburg charge $9,560 for a single detached dwelling with full municipal services. Apartments in the full municipal services area would see a charge of $8,570 and semi-detached, duplexes, townhouses and other dwellings would see a charge of $9.013.
Development charges outside the sanitary sewer service area could rise to $5,075.
The development charges study was completed by Monteith Brown Planning Consultants with a report that went before town council stating, “a study must be completed before a new development charges bylaw may be passed.”
Planning consultant Jean Monteith said the slow down in growth has impacted such things as sewage capacity thus helping to contribute to the proposed drop to development charges within the full municipal services area.
“If you have a slow down, it stretches out how long capacity is going to last,” said Monteith.
Monteith said development charges in Amherstburg are still amongst the lowest in Essex County.
“They’re lower than they were, literally from yesterday,” she said, noting that the town receiving “good grants” from the government is also a factor.
The town has to review its development charges bylaw every five years. Information from the Oct. 19 public meeting was received with the new bylaw to be placed on the Nov. 9 meeting agenda for town council’s consideration.
