Council / Committee Meetings – Thursday, February 25, 2021

County Development Charges Workshop

Bruce County’s Corporate Services Committee participated in a Development Charges Workshop, as part of the County’s Development Charges Background Study. Development Charges recover the capital costs associated with residential and non-residential growth within a municipality. These capital costs are in addition to what costs would normally be constructed as part of a subdivision (i.e. internal roads, sewers, watermains, roads, sidewalks, streetlights, etc.). Municipalities are empowered to impose these charges via the Development Charges Act.

A Development Charges Background Study project was included in the 2021-2025 Budget and Forecast, and Watson and Associates Economists Ltd. (consultants) was retained to lead the development of the Background Study. Watson and Associates Economists Ltd. is also conducting the County’s Growth Study and it was determined to use the same firm in order to have consistent growth data for the Development Charges calculations. Growth costs are recovered to build new infrastructure supporting growth, pay down existing debt for past growth works, and avoid taxpayers paying for costs that serve growth.

The intent is to establish a reasonable amount of Development Charges for currently identified growth pressures and to provide capacity for studies that will identify and quantify other current and future growth pressures. The County intends to pursue a more graduated approach to implementing Development Charges. Over time, the County will update the Development Charges to be collected while taking into consideration the business climate, housing demand, the pressures on the County and residents which may be leading to imbalances, and a reflection of the Development Charges costs in comparison to the County’s neighbours, plus other considerations.

The consultants will be engaging with Council and the public in a number of meetings in 2021. The first Stakeholder Meeting was also held on Thursday, February 25. The next Stakeholder Meeting will take place on June 10, 2021. If approved, these will be the first Development Charges charged by Bruce County.

Discover more about Bruce County’s Development Charges Background Study.

This publication identifies highlights from recent Bruce County Council and Committee meetings. Bruce County’s Office of the CAO maintains complete agendas and minutes from all Council and Committee meetings, which can be reviewed at www.brucecounty.on.ca/government/agendas-and-minutes