Essex Adopts New Development Charges By-law

Council for the Town of Essex formally adopted a new development charges by-law at a special meeting on Tuesday, August 27. The new by-law will help guide development and attract investment in the Town of Essex for the next five years.

Under the by-law, development charges for all commercial, institutional, and industrial developments will be waived in all areas of the municipality. Charges are also waived for the development of affordable housing and apartment rental housing throughout the Town. Charges for all residential development in Ward 4, the Harrow settlement area, will be waived until December 31, 2021 and increase by 25 per cent annually thereafter.

“The Town’s new development charge by-law strikes a balance of maintaining our competitiveness to attract investment while ensuring taxpayers do not bear the costs of servicing growth,” said Mayor Larry Snively. “As a Council, we recognized the lack of growth in the Harrow area, as well as the need for housing throughout our community, and this by-law will be part of a solution going forward.”

The by-law comes after several months of public meetings and discussions with stakeholders. The Town of Essex worked with Watson & Associates, a consulting firm which has worked on development charge by-laws with municipalities throughout Ontario.

Development charges are fees paid by new development to fund municipal infrastructure and services related to this growth. These improvements may include items such as sewer pipes, road improvements, and community facilities. Every five years, the municipality conducts a development charges background study to forecast the community’s future residential and non-residential growth to determine future municipal needs and costs.

The complete by-law, fee schedules, and maps are available at www.essex.ca/developmentcharges.

Members of the public or organizations may appeal the by-law to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal by filing with the Clerk of the Town of Essex by October 7, 2019. Appeals must explain the objection to the by-law and the reasons supporting the objection.