Bruce County will begin collecting development charges next year, but they'll be phased in more gradually than initially proposed.
Council approved a by-law to establish Development Charges over the coming years, but only after a motion by Huron-Kinloss Mayor Don Murray to delay the full brunt of the charges until 2031.
Staff's report noted the gradual implementation of charges would result in an estimated $3.4 million being under-collected from developers, money the county would have to make up elsewhere.
Kindcardine Mayor Ken Craig said the gradual phase in seems unnecessary.
"I agree with the implementation of the development charge, but I don't think the extension is productive," he said. "I would suggest that someone who is coming to develop are not unfamiliar with development charges. I think the delay of it only adds to the pain that the Bruce County general levy is going through."
South Bruce Mayor Mark Goetz said the move will ease the shock faced by local developers.
"I would support the proposed change, especially in municipalities that don't have development charges currently," he said. "I understand and I hear Councillor Craig's comments about people that are developing are used to it. I can tell you some of the developers in my municipality are not used to it, so I would support Councillor Murray's proposal."
The by-law passed with a fee schedule of 25 per cent of the full development charge for 2024, 40 per cent in 2025, 55 per cent in 2026 and an additional 10 per cent each year after that.
An exemption was also passed for Northern Bruce Peninsula, allowing it to waive the charges for any building less than 1000 feet, which it says will encourage construction of more affordable housing options.
