After staying at the same rate for more than 10 years, the District of Squamish is finally updating its charges to developers for building in Squamish.
The local Development Cost Charges (DCC) bylaw is under a microscope. At the end of the examination, a new DCC bylaw will be put in place. The new bylaw will mean developers will face higher fees to put up new buildings.
The current bylaw dates back to 1990 and in a report to Squamish Council last month, the District of Squamish (DOS) director of community development, Mick Gottardi, reported that DCC bylaws are usually updated every two to five years. The last DCC update was in 1992.
"The District is long overdue for a DCC Bylaw amendment," Gottardi wrote in his report to council on the issue.
In March, council directed the district staff to update the DCC bylaw as soon as possible with the intent being to increase rates to a reasonable level. As well, council wanted the updated bylaw to add a development cost charge for parks.
Staff originally planned to complete the Official Community Plan (OCP) review and then follow shortly after with the DCC bylaw. The OCP review is behind schedule and the district staff decided to work on both projects at the same time.
DCCs are fees charged on new developments. The funds collected from DCCs provide money that is spent on infrastructure and parks in support of new development. By forcing developers to pay DCCs, the costs of building parks and installing things like roads, sewers, water systems and drainage systems can be equitably shared between local government and the developer.
According to Gottardi's report, there will be a public participation element to the update. To that end, the key stakeholders will be identified. The key stakeholders include the development industry, the building industry, realtors and public sector developers like the school board and the health authority.
"The draft bylaw should be reviewed with stakeholders in advance of first reading and then again prior to third reading of the bylaw," wrote Gottardi. "Following first reading, a public information meeting should be held. This may take the form of an open house or workshop."
Gottardi's work plan calls for first and second reading of the bylaw to take place late this month with a public information meeting following on Aug. 10. The bylaw adoption is estimated to take place in November.
