Today and moving forward, the City has a new tool to achieve mending these gaps, replacing Section 37 and allowing the City to collect funds for Ward projects through new development approvals.
As infill continues to dominate downtown, we have had few tools in our toolbox to help address growing needs and current infrastructure shortfalls in our communities as more and more residents move in. Things like sidewalks, affordable housing, community spaces, cycling infrastructure – typically, these needs can either be addressed directly on the site that is in the question of development or if it met a certain threshold of height and unit count, a bylaw, Section 37 was triggered, and the developer paid a certain amount as a community benefit contribution.
However, achieving these missing links, these cycling infrastructure projects or community spaces through negotiations varied between developers and projects. And differed in size and scope. And in the case of Section 37 – it rarely was triggered.
Council approved the new Bylaw, Community Benefits Charge (CBC) Strategy, Policy and By-law with the intent to collect financial support for community-oriented projects.
The CBC is based on the principle that growth pays for growth. The charge aims to create more certainty and predictability for developers regarding charges associated with density bonusing while funding prioritized projects within the City to meet the complete community objectives in the new Official Plan as it relates to 15 minute neighbourhoods.
The charge only applies to the development or redevelopment of residential and mixed-use buildings that are five or more storeys in height and add 10 or more residential units.
Important to note that this CBC charge does not conflict with the City’s Parkland Dedication Bylaw, which requires revenue to be collected in place of parkland, and is separate from Development Charges.
New projects citywide will collect this charge where a building of five storeys or more that adds ten or more units is developed.
The revenue projection associated with the CBC is approximately $3.5 million a year – $35 million in the entire 10-year time horizon of the report (2022-2031).
For Ward 12, I was disappointed to see that my exhaustive list of needs for our communities was not listed – after inquiring with staff, the requirements are an issue of lack of costed items – which I rectified at Planning Committee before Council adopted the new Strategy.
Staff will review my list (shared below) and cost out these projects as a steppingstone for some of the long-awaited improvements and requests I have received from residents, community associations and businesses improvements areas.
I am happy our Ward list will live on and be considered as new developments continue to come into our communities. There are many needs that I have highlighted in our neighbourhoods that I look forward to seeing implemented through a variety of City priorities. The CBC allows for a range of improvements to be funded through new developments.
Here is the list I provided for Ward 12 priorities