14 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 20, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Developers get a break on development charges By Melanie Hennessey SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER After several hours of debate and many failed motions, regional council approved a new batch of development charges (DCs) last week for Halton and discounts for some of the fees. On Aug 13, council endorsed charging area-specific DCs -- staff had recommended region-wide -- that bring about double-digit percentage increases for most of the rates. It also supported giving DC discounts of about 30 per cent to manufacturing, office and warehouse developments. Mississauga-Oakville Bridge Centre Fall And The American Contract Bridge League ...8 weeks, $144.00 Bridge F B evenings 7:45, beginning September 15 Monday Lessons Wednesday afternoons 1:30, beginning September 17 F "R "P ...8 weeks, $144.00 OR EGINNERS th th OR USTY LAYERS Monday mornings 9:45, beginning September 15th Wednesday evenings 7:45, beginning September 17th BRIDGE GAMES FOR NEWER PLAYERS... Thursday mornings, 9:15 - ongoing weekly THE BRIDGE CENTRE OFFERS GAMES & LESSONS FOR PLAYERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS (See our website) Please call (905) 820-5728 www.raynerbridge.com The lost revenues from the new discount will add about $10 onto the typical tax bill. Combine that with the mandatory DC exemptions the Region must grant under the Province's Development Charges Act and the discretionary exemptions already made for things like agriculture uses and it equates to around $70 for the average household based on a $300,000 assessment. This is up from the $53.60 the typical homeowner has paid over the past several years to cover DC discounts. Local residents turned out in full force at a recent Region meeting to voice their dissatisfaction with how the discounts will affect their taxes. While only a small handful of citizens spoke at last week's meeting, both Kurt Koster of Burlingtongreen and Burlington resident Tom Muir urged council to defer the DCs by one month to hold further public meetings for residents on the issue. "The whole process has been dominated by the development industry," contended Koster, who said the request is also supported by Oakvillegreen. Commissioner of Corporate Services and Treasurer Jane MacCaskill said it's important for the process to proceed, since the current DC bylaw will expire in August and it's preferable to have the new bylaw passed before then. She said a public workshop and public meetings have been held on the issue, in addition to 14 stakeholder meetings. "We conducted the process openly and transparently," she emphasized. No councillors made a motion to delay the DCs. Oakville resident Brian Burton also spoke and claimed that Region staff was "beat up" and "overwhelmed" by developers' lobbying during the DC process. Halton CAO Pat Moyle defended his staff, saying that the finance department "can not be overwhelmed." "They are extremely professional, very competent and very diligent," he said. Council heard once again from the development community and local chambers of commerce. Lyn Townsend, representing the Halton Industrial Development Group, asked council to extend the 30 per cent discount to March 31, 2010. The discount is slated to be partially phased out by next April and then fully phased out in 2010. Both the Oakville and Milton chambers of commerce asked for the same extension. Townsend reiterated the development community's position that the high DCs will discourage businesses looking to set up shop in Halton. DCs are levied by municipalities to recover growth-related costs associated with things like roads, water and sewer infrastructure needed to service new development. The new DCs are expected to cover 78 per cent of development costs, or $56 million per year, leaving 22 per cent to be paid by the taxpayers, or $15 million. Currently the Region charges Haltonwide DCs for roads and general services and area-specific DCs for water and wastewater, with the latter fees being higher in Halton Urban Structure Plan (HUSP) areas where rapid development is taking place, like Milton, north Oakville and the Milton/Halton Hills 401 corridor. Now that the area-specific charges are continuing, the cost to develop a home in a HUSP area will go from $22,752 to $28,864 and from $13,677 in a non-HUSP area to $23,764. The price for a retail development in a HUSP area will rise from $12.09 per square foot to $14.79, while non-HUSP retail will pay $11.23 per square foot, up from the current $10.36. JAPANESE LESSONS Learn Japanese in a fun way! Japanese Government Certified Teacher Reasonable Rates, 4 years and Older 905-330-5698 tanoshiijapaneseschool@yahoo.co.jp