Council approves new off-site levy rates

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

After months of working on a bylaw to bring off-site levy rates up to date, town council approved the proposed 2015 rates – a 10 per cent increase from when the levies were last updated in 2010.
The off-site levy rates, a requirement for developers to pay for costs as a result of their development, were last updated to reflect the 2011 rates.
While off-site levy rates are difficult to compare between municipalities, due to varying projects and pricing, Werner Fisher, director of planning and development for the Town of Strathmore, said Strathmore’s rates are still among the lowest.
“I believe that our rates are definitely, based on what I’ve seen, at the lower end,” said Fisher. “Our general assessment is 96,000 per hectare. The increase of the rates, the actual off-site levy rate is going up 10 per cent. A 10 per cent increase since 2010 is, I don’t think unreasonable.”
Strathmore collects levies for transportation, sewer and water, and storm water management. Over the last six months, the town’s planning department, director of public works and Allnorth Engineering prepared the bylaw, which was proposed during town council’s regular council meeting on Aug. 5.
“It sounds to me like the directors have done their due diligence and it seems we’re on the lower end, we’re still going to have developers come in so I support this,” said Councillor Brad Walls.
According to town staff, developers did show concern in regards to the off-site levy project list. Contained on that list are: the master servicing study for the transportation plan; the master servicing study for the storm water management plan; the completion of a functional design of George Freeman Trail; and proposed water transmission project, storm water project, and widening of George Freeman Trail bridge.
“Most developers are concerned that we are continuing to move those projects ahead quickly as they need that information in their developments,” said Strathmore’s Director of Engineering Gord Elenko.
“So those are projects that are on the off-site levy project list and developers are keen on getting those projects moved forward so they can include that information into their current projects.”
The Town of Strathmore enlisted Allnorth Engineering to review, update, and justify the capital projects and new proposed capital projects listed in the previous bylaw 11-04. Through existing financial information and technical documents, the town was able to identify the infrastructure required for the future and the approximate cost for a 20-year time period, when the population is estimated to reach 29,381.
The new off-site levy rates came into effect immediately on Aug. 5, and the Bylaw 15-17 will be made available on the town’s website.