By Greg Layson
Essex Council on Monday night unanimously — and without question or discussion — approved the adoption of a by-law regulating development charges.
The matter was almost a formality given that Council voted to receive the 2024 Development Charges Background Study in August, which outlined the changes of fees.
Development Charges, paid for by developers, pay for new highways and roads, public works, fire and police services, parks and recreation services, library services, bylaw enforcement, and all administration services.
Under the approved by-law, residential rates for single-detached units are set to increase 70 percent to $19,971, according to the study and proposal by Watson and Associates Economists Ltd.
Non-residential development charges are projected to fall significantly, down to 62 cents per square foot versus the current $2.33.
The by-law does include the removal of some previously recognized discretionary exemptions.
The following have been removed from the bylaw: the development of apartment rental housing from the municipal-wide charges only; industrial development and industrial expansion of more than 50 percent of the existing gross floor area; new commercial development; and the phased in residential for Ward 4.
Exemptions for places of worship, cemeteries or burial grounds, hospitals, and non-residential farm buildings for bona fide farm use remain.
Director of Corporate Services, Kate Giurissevich said the exemptions and rates are “what we see with all our local comparators.”
She said all questions developers had “have been addressed and responded to” and those questions and responses are still available for public viewing on the Town’s website, essex.ca.