Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Town of New Tecumseth is writing to the province again, opposing Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act.
Councillors voted to write a second letter after reviewing a staff report showing the town will not be able to collect about $900,000 from it’s current development charge rates because of legislative changes.
The overall impact of Bill 23 over the next five to 10 years is expected to be at least $50 million.
Deputy Mayor Stephanie MacLellan questioned the province’s motive, and asked what would happen if the town cannot afford to grow at the expected pace.
“I think it has very little to do with the housing crisis and very much to do with their love of developers,” she said.
Senior planner Laura Brannon gave the committee an overview of how the municipality will be impacted by Bill 23. Her key findings included:
- Combination of the Development Charge (DC) rate freeze and discounted DC rates for a proposed rental unit development in New Tecumseth will result in a reduction of approximately $900,000 from current DC rates
- Updates will be required to various town by-laws including the zoning by-law and site plan by-law
- Heritage New Tecumseth advisory committee is considering the impacts of the changes to the Ontario Heritage Act
- Amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act have significant impact on the development process
“Many of the changes to the various Acts resulting from Bill 23 are significant and will fundamentally alter the way development approval processes are conducted, natural heritage resources are protected, how growth is coordinated on a regional scale, and how growth-related capital infrastructure is paid for and by whom,” Brannon wrote in a report to council. “The town continues to support the Provincial objective of increasing housing supply, however, staff remain concerned that Bill 23 as passed, introduces a variety of unintended consequences which could delay or obstruct the construction of additional housing supply at the scale.”
Council unanimously agreed to forward another letter to the province, voicing its opposition to changes.