Feedback Wanted For Development Charge Background Study
The Town is in the process of updating its Development Charges By-law under the authority of the Development Charges Act, 1997. Development Charges help fund the capital costs to accommodate growth within the Town. The current by-law will expire on January 1, 2024, at 12:01am. A Development Charge Background Study must be completed, and new Development Charge By-laws must be adopted to allow development charges to be collected starting January 1, 2024.
The Town retained Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. to undertake the background study that will be used to develop rates featured in the new Development Charge By-laws that will be presented to Council on December 6, 2023, for adoption.
In Fall 2023 a focus group, consisting of developer representatives and Town staff, was formed. This group met to review topics covered in the Development Charge Background Study. Participants openly discussed views and opinions and sought common ground. The group’s feedback helped shape the early draft document that is now available to the wider public for comment.
As we work through the final phase of the study, feedback on the draft background study will be used to finalize the document for adoption by Council on December 6, 2023. A public meeting will also be held at the Town on November 8th at 7pm.
Download the Draft Development Charges Background Study.
Comments can be submitted to: Clayton Pereira, Manager of Budgets and Financial Planning/Deputy Treasurer at: clayton.pereira@townofws.ca