The Town of Goderich may be increasing its development charges.
CAO Larry McCabe says the development charges reflect the cost of infrastructure required to accommodate new growth over a five-year period. Goderich has moderate growth and the proposed development charges reflect that.
McCabe says the previous rate was 79 cents per square foot for commercial, and the residential charges was just under $300 for each residential unit. A study that looked at development charges in neighbouring municipalities recommended a charge of $2,700 for residential, and considerably higher for industrial and commercial.
McCabe says council decided to reduce those increases, and settled on $2,000 for residential to be phased in over the next two years. Industrial is $5 per square metre and commercial is just over four.
McCabe points out the goal is to recover new infrastructure costs without discouraging new development, and council feels the new charges are still very reasonable compared to those of other municipalities in the area. A final vote by council is needed before there is any change in the fee structure.
