Certainty is on the way for developers anxious to move ahead with construction projects in Squamish.
The District of 樱桃视频development cost charges (DCC) bylaw received third reading Tuesday (June 14) after the bylaw was revised following second reading.
The need for the revision became apparent while the bylaw was sitting in the office of the inspector of municipalities. According to DOS staff, concerns were raised about how high the DCC charges would be for industrial lands. The concerns were raised after the conclusion of a public consultation process.
The original bylaw included undevelopable lands in the calculation of the DCC. The revised version of the bylaw excludes undevelopable lands and that ultimately means the amount of the DCCs charged for industrial land will be more reasonable.
Along with making changes to the calculation of DCCs on industrial land, the revised version reduces the charges on construction of new secondary suites. Staff described the changes for secondary suite construction as housekeeping changes to capture the original intent of Council and staff.
Mayor Ian Sutherland said it isn't unusual for changes like these to take place while a bylaw is with the inspector of municipalities.
"It is actually quite common," said Sutherland. "They look at it and make suggestions for improvements and you fix it from there."
The revised version of the bylaw was given unanimous third reading by members of DOS Council."It comes across as being a more fair and consistent set of DCCs," said Sutherland.
The mayor said the new set of DCCs would increase costs for some types of development, but decrease costs for others.
"Our staff did a very good job on the DCCs and we had great feedback from the developers and the people who are directly affected by it," said Sutherland. "We have a bylaw that will work very well for the community and a bylaw that will work very well for investors in the community."
Local developer Wilf Dowad isn't as supportive of the bylaw.
"There's so many things that are charging more money now that it is just making it exorbitant for the average person to get into the market," said Dowad.
He pointed out that lots are becoming more expensive and land registry office fees doubled in the last few years.
"It is not fair because a lot of people just don't have that kind of money," said Dowad.
The inspector of municipalities will have another look at the revised bylaw and once he approves the new version, Council can adopt the bylaw and bring it into effect. DOS staff said they hope to have the new DCC bylaw in place by the end of this month.
Sutherland is optimistic the timeline can be achieved.
DCCs are paid by developers to help the DOS offset the cost of building infrastructure to service the construction.
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