Belleville has decided to apply for the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build & Development Charge Reduction Program.
Council discussed the application during a special council meeting on Monday.
The Development Charge Reduction Program is a plan to reduce building costs for developers by reducing development charges and replacing them with federal funding. A municipality that successfully applies to the program commits to slashing development fees by 50% or more, with the program instead funding critical projects to support housing development. Eligible projects can be funded up to 90% through the program. The federal government is providing 8.8 billion dollars through the program to municipalities over the next 10 years.
Councillor Paul Carr was opposed to making an application. He said the development charges were key to ensuring all municipal services can grow to serve new developments.
“I know that the Premier has taken shots in the dark to try to come at housing affordability from many angles, and some of the legislation has fallen up short time and time again,” said Councillor Carr. “So development charges now seems to be the new target.”
Councillor Sean Kelly was in favour of the motion, saying that Belleville is predicted to see the most population growth in the region in the coming years.
“So we’ve got our work ahead of us,” said Councillor Kelly. “We have to be ready for people are moving to our community, we know that. We see that all the time. Our population now is reported to be 61-62,000 people. We know it, we’re a retirement destination, so we have to have homes for people to come.”
After debating, council called a recorded vote. Ultimately council voted 7 to 2 to approve applying for the program. Councillors Carr and Brown voted against the motion.
