Guelph-Eramosa council has approved a new bylaw that will increase township development charges by up to 37 per cent.
Council approved the new bylaw on Oct. 21 after receiving a report two weeks prior from Gary Scandlan of Watson and Associates Economists Ltd., the firm hired by the township to complete its development charges study
Development charges are per-unit fees paid by developers constructing new homes and non-residential buildings.
They can be used by host municipalities to cover capital costs associated with projects ranging from parks and recreation facilities and roads to water and sewer services.
The new bylaw includes the following changes:
– increasing the development charge for single and semi-detached homes by 37% (from $5,184 to $7,082) in rural areas, and by 11% (from $18,690 to $20,818) in Rockwood;
– charges for two-plus bedroom apartment to increase by 37% (from $2,954 to $4,035) in rural areas and by 10% (from $10,781 to $11,861) in Rockwood;
– upping bachelor and one bedroom apartments by 35% (from $2,029 to $2,731) in rural areas, and by 8% (from $7,430 to $8,030) in Rockwood;
– increasing “other multiple” dwelling units 37% (from $3,803 to $5,191) in rural areas, and by 11% (from $13,791 to $15,258) in Rockwood; and
– non-residential will go from a single charge of $9.46 per square foot of floor space for buildings in Rockwood to $6.96/ft2 for Rockwood and $1.13/ft2 in rural areas.
