Guelph-Eramosa is revamping its cash-in-lieu of parkland bylaw.
“It’s become apparent that our existing … (bylaw) was proved to have never been updated or adjusted for inflation for 15 years,” CAO Ian Roger said at the March 20 council meeting.
Under the current bylaw the existing cash-in-lieu of parkland rate is $500 per residential lot.
Township staff pulled together cash-in-lieu rates of other area municipalities, including:
– Erin requires $3,000 per residential lot;
– Centre Wellington requires $1,505 per rural lot and $3,000 per urban residential lot;
– Woolwich requires $2,840 per rural lot and $860 to $1,985 per urban residential lot; and
– Guelph requires $1,000 to $1,800 per lot.
“You can see that in terms of those who still pay cash-in-lieu of, rather than using the appraisal method, we are considerably out of date for what the parkland is worth,” Roger said.
“The staff will also be doing a comprehensive update of the bylaw over 2017 because our bylaw doesn’t speak to the different types of development.”
He said that they may look at a square footage rate for smaller developments but use an appraisal option for larger developments.
“That provides the most current and accurate value of the kind that’s approved,” Roger said. Information will be brought back to council for a bylaw amendment.
In the meantime township staff has negotiated with Charleston Homes to up the cash-in-lieu of parkland rate for the Bonarrow subdivision to $1,000 from $500 per residential unit.
“It’s just because of the nature of where this particular subdivision is in the system. He’s putting soil in, he’s grading, he could be putting houses up tomorrow … so his business plan is built on $500,” Mayor Chris White explained.
Councillor Mark Bouwmeester pointed out that changing the cash-in-lieu of parkland rate for Bonarrow to $1,000 would generate an additional $105,000.
White said any new development will be considered under the new bylaw.
“It’s going to be more comprehensive; it’s going to be competitive-based,” White said.
Roger anticipates a new cash-in-lieu of parkland bylaw before the end of 2017.
