TOWN SEEKS MORE FEEDBACK ON BACKGROUND STUDY

Parry Sound council granted members of the public more time to review its Development Charges Background Study and provide consultation before the final development charges bylaw is passed on May 2.

CONTEXT

Town council was met with opposition to its proposed development charges bylaw at a public meeting on March 7.

The meeting followed the release of the development charges background study on Dec. 28, 2022.

Although the town allowed more than 21 days to provide input, many attendees said they had only learned about the bylaw recently. Various presentations to council requested more time to review the

lengthy study. BACKGROUND STUDY

Andrew Grunda of Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. explained development charges follow an established practice in Ontario where development pays for the costs associated with growth and the increased need for service would not be funded by existing taxpayers.

The study anticipated the permanent and seasonal population of the town to reach approximately 9,515 by mid-2042, which would put an increased need for services such as water, wastewater, roads, fire, ambulance, court services as well as parks and recreations.

WHY INTRODUCE DEVELOPMENT CHARGES?

"I think we can all agree that we need more homes and more employment opportunities," said Parry Sound's chief administrative officer Clayton Harris.

In his report, Harris highlighted the district's population has increased by 7.4 per cent since 2016. To meet the growth projections, revenue is needed, but the question became how the town would pay for the infrastructure required.

One option would be to fund it through the town's property tax rate; however, it was noted ratepayers already pay a significantly higher rate than neighbouring municipalities.

The town also could incur debt; however, Harris said Parry Sound was constrained as to how much it can borrow by provincial legislation.

"And we do need that borrowing money capacity to make sure that the infrastructure that's currently in place in the town can be maintained," said Harris.

The chief administrative officer noted the town has not had development charges in more than 20 years, yet the area's growth has lingered compared to communities that have them in place.

"It raises the question, how much, if at all, does development charges impact or stall growth because we've been lagging behind for years."

DEVASTATING AFFECTS

Resident Vanessa Backman told council that many people may not have been aware of how devastating the implications will be.

"If this passed, many people will not be able to survive or thrive in the town of Parry Sound," said Backman.

She proceeded to read a letter from Harry Hassall of Hassall Holdings Corporation in hopes more people will provide input.

"It is our view that this charge will limit or even eliminate both business and residential growth at a time Parry Sound needs to present itself as the most desirable and affordable place to build," she read.

TOPOGRAPHY

Jon Morton, chief operating officer for Greystone Project Management, explained the charges would pose another hurdle for developers to climb on top of already difficult terrain to develop.

He said Parry Sound has been attractive because no development charges offset the typical larger cost of dealing with granite or contaminated lands, which are common in the area.

Although the intention of collecting the fees may have been to encourage growth, Morton argued the proposal was doing the exact opposite and urging prospective projects to look elsewhere.