Clarington council met last night and one of the items on the agenda was the current development charge bylaw review.  Their current development charge bylaw is set to expire on July 1, 2020, and the municipality is currently in the midst of creating a new bylaw.

The Durham Region Home Builders' Association submitted a letter to council yesterday encouraging them to take advantage of the provincial legislation tabled yesterday that allows the current bylaw to be extended for up to six months after the termination of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.  As the Act was extended yesterday until early May, the current DC bylaw could be extended until at least November.

DRHBA felt strongly that it was essential that council extend the bylaw, giving members time to thoroughly review the background study and technical appendix and provide important feedback.

We are pleased to share that council agreed with DRHBA's request, and last night passed a motion: That, in accordance with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support and Protection Act, 2020, which received Royal Assent on April 14, 2020, the Municipality's existing Development Charges By-Law (By-law 2015-035) shall remain in force until  such date as specified in the Act and therefore, staff be directed to schedule the statutory public meeting for a date after the lifting of the emergency declared under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act on March 17, 2020 with such meeting being advertised publicly.

Other motions in regards to the development charge bylaw that directed staff to continue their consultations with DRHBA members and builders in the community prior to finalizing the background study and bylaw; and to release the background study and bylaw at a date to be determined by the Director of Finance.

Members are encouraged to review the background study and the technical appendix, and send their comments to Stacey at s.hawkins@drhba.com.