The County of Essex has released a Development Charges Background Study and is planning public information sessions as it continues exploring the feasibility of implementing development charges to help pay for growth-related services.
The study assesses the growth-related costs of County-wide services including library, land ambulance, long-term care, roads and waste diversion. The study includes:
- A forecast of the amount, type and location of future development;
- The average services levels provided by the County over the 15-year period immediately preceding the preparation of the background study;
- Capital cost calculations for each of the eligible development charge related services;
- An examination of the long-term capital and operating costs for infrastructure required to service the forecasted development; and
- The asset management plan to demonstrate that all assets included in the study are financially sustainable over the full life cycle.
The County of Essex is considering the adoption of development charges to pay for the growth-related expansion of the services it provides. The intent of development charges is to ensure that growth pays for growth so that infrastructure costs arising from increasing population and employment are not borne by existing residents and businesses through property taxes.
Development charges are applied by local municipalities in Essex County but they have never been applied by the County of Essex itself. A 2009 background study for the County of Essex Official Plan recommended the County consider development charges as a method to ensure that developers bore the costs of growth-related needs in the region, rather than burdening residents with the expense.
The County of Essex is hosting public information meetings on this development charges initiatives in each of the seven local municipalities.
Meetings will take place in the Council Chambers of the below municipalities at the listed dates and times:
- Amherstburg – May 6, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Kingsville – May 14, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Essex – May 20, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- LaSalle – May 27, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Lakeshore – June 3, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tecumseh: TBD
- Leamington TBD
For more information on the Development Charges initiative and timeline, please visit the project page at: www.countyofessex.ca/dci
Finally, a common sense approach to financing development overflow costs. I would like to question who these houses are for; what the rush is; the environmental impact on our communities and why we are not, after consultations, bringing this issue to a vote by the people?