Cranbrook's Development Cost Charges have been a topic of discusssion amongst citizens since the last municipal election. We wonder if 2011 will actually see a change to Cranbrook's DCC rate. In August we posted this article:
http://livablecranbrook.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-your-money-dcc-rates.html
Now this from Golden:
Potential Changes to the DCC Bylaw in Golden
By Kirk Verner - Golden Star
Published: December 22, 2010 8:00 AM
With the New Year approaching faster than a black bear to an unclean barbeque, the Town of Golden, its staff, and Town Council is busy working as most are preparing for the holiday season. With the first draft of the Zoning Bylaw currently being scrutinized by the public and with the passing to rewrite the Development Cost Charges (DCC) Bylaw, Town Hall is bustling.
There have been a lot of wagging tongues in town of late, the goings-on at Town Hall the target of much of the discussion; primarily, the revision of the nearly 10-year-old DCC Bylaw.
The purpose of the current DCC Bylaw, and likely the potentially revised version, is for the sole purpose of providing funds for the municipality to pay for the capital cost of providing, altering, or expanding sewage, water, drainage and highway facilities and for acquiring park land or any of them in order to serve, directly or indirectly, the development in respect of which the charges are imposed.
“DCC are not in place as a form of penalty or punishment. They are in place so that the costs of bringing services to new developments are covered by the developers themselves, and not by all taxpayers,” Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Golden, David Allen said.
The current DCC for a single-family dwelling in Golden is $1965; this cost seems diminutive when compared to the overall cost of constructing a residence. When compared to other communities in the Kootenays, Golden’s DCC are a bargain. Currently in Fernie, for the same type of residence, the DCC are $12,017. Even closer to home, in Invermere, the cost is $9480. All of a sudden, a couple thousand dollars doesn’t seem so steep.
“As the provincial information states, Golden is well below average with regards to DCC in British Columbia,” Allen declares.
The cost of reviewing and updating the DCC Bylaw does not come at a low price. In fact, the price tag hanging from the paperwork is just below $60,000. But, the town is making efforts to lower such a cost by utilizing all resources possible.
“We are actively applying for grants from the province of British Columbia in order to assist with some of the costs as pertained to the DCC Bylaw revision,” Allen added.
At the end of the day, the new DCC Bylaw will, in a sense, persuade developers to “go green”, or “go as green” as possible. For instance, if a developer follows LEED and LEED-ND design guidelines, there is the potential for DCC to be considerably lowered, or waved altogether. The possibilities to have such fees lowered or even waved are directly related to the passing of Bill 27 in 2008.
Bill 27, the Local Government (Green Communities) Statutes Amendment Act (2008), provides local governments with some additional powers to make changes in their communities, yet gives them the flexibility they require to adapt operations in ways that meet their unique needs and circumstances.
One of the key amendments focuses on local governments setting targets to reduce Green House Gas emissions within their communities, as well as developing policies and actions to achieve those targets in their Official Community Plans (OCP).
If townsfolk have an issue with the revising of the DCC Bylaw, or the Zoning Bylaw for that matter, they have to realize it is all taking place as an effort to reflect the town’s OCP; a plan that will carry Golden into the future as an innovative, progressive community.
As the process of revising a bylaw is not a 24-hour development, there is time for anyone interested or concerned to cast his or her voice into the Town Hall fishing pond before anything actually comes into fruition.
“Before the new Bylaw is adopted, there is a lengthy process involved. Residents and Council will be able to view the first draft of the bylaw and express their questions and concerns before any further steps are taken. If anyone in Golden would like to discuss this issue, or any other for that matter, the door at Town Hall is always open. Our knowledgeable staff is always available,” Allen concluded.
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