Belleville City Council heard a report regarding changes to development charges at its meeting on Monday.
Consultants with Watson Associates Economics Limited presented a study on what future development charges should be for the next 10 years at council’s meeting on Monday, suggesting they be lower for residential dwellings but higher for non-residential ones.
For new single-family and semi-detached homes, the development charge in Belleville’s urban area totals just over $32,000 per unit.
The proposal calls for a charge of $28,300 on those homes going forward, 12 percent lower.
Some local business, manufacturing, and development leaders spoke at the meeting on Monday.
They warned higher non‑residential fees could delay or redirect major investments and cost the city long‑term jobs and tax revenue.
Written feedback on the proposed by-law on development charges can be submitted online until August 24th.
A new development charges bylaw is expected to come forward in early to mid‑September.
