In its stated rush to “Build More Homes Faster”, the Ontario government this year made changes to the Province’s Development Charges Act, (DC Act) to reduce the amounts municipalities can levy against property developers as contributions for shared civic amenities.
Seems that thinking is contagious, and there’s a local case in point.
The former Playtex site in Arnprior, situated at 124 Fourth Avenue, is seeing partial redevelopment through the addition of four self-storage units.
Site Plan approval was received in 2021, and the Town has calculated what it maintains should be appropriate development charges on the basis of the DC Act in place at the time.
Owners Huntington Properties say, no- construction is only now about to begin, so please levy the Development Charges on the basis of the more liberalized act now in play.
The point in contention was the subject of the first Development Charges Hearing in local history, held Monday (August 28th) in Council Chambers.
Arnprior’s Chief Administrative Officer Robin Paquette stated the Town’s position.
Lawyer Geoff Howard spoke for Huntington Properties.
Councillor Lynn Cloutier says, in effect, “nice try”
Elected representatives voted unanimously in favour of the Town position- but it won’t end there; the matter is appealable to the Ontario Land Tribunal, and at stake is a DC assessment of over 207.5 thousand dollars, or an exemption therefrom.
By Rick Stow
