County Releases Development Charges Background Study, Plans Public Meetings

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 below municipalities at the listed locations, dates and times:

• Amherstburg – May 6, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Council Chambers
• Kingsville – May 14, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Unico Community Centre, 37 Beech Street
• Leamington – May 15, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Council Chambers
• Essex – May 20, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Council Chambers
• LaSalle – May 27, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Council Chambers
• Lakeshore – June 3, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Council Chambers
• Tecumseh – June 10, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Council Chambers

For more information on the Development Charges initiative and timeline, please visit the project page at: www.countyofessex.ca/dci