Ottawa – On Thursday, January 14, the City’s Planning Committee approved a framework for a community benefits charge by-law, to enable the City to collect fees that would fund community-oriented projects.
Under Section 37 of the Planning Act, the City can sometimes negotiate a financial contribution from a developer in exchange for approving greater density than local regulations permit. The City can then use those revenues to pay for projects that benefit the surrounding community.
In September 2022, provincial legislation will end the City’s ability to collect those revenues. Instead, municipalities will be able to enact a community benefits charge by-law to collect fees and fund a range of community services required as a result of new growth.
The new by-law would detail the charges that would be levied on new developments or redevelopments. The Committee-approved framework includes a process to define the types of growth-related capital projects that would benefit from the new fees.
Recommendations from the Planning Committee meeting will rise to Council on Wednesday, January 27.
