Clarington Council Reviews New Development Charge Framework

At the General Government Committee meeting on February 3, 2025, the imminent expiration of Clarington's Development Charge By-law, set for January 2026, was addressed. Jackie Hall of Hemson Consulting provided an insight into the forthcoming changes in growth-related capital frameworks.

The presentation highlighted the Development Charges (DCs), Community Benefit Charges (CBCs), and Parkland Acquisition, all outlined under Bill 23, known as the More Homes Built Faster Act. Amendments to the Development Charge Act (DCA) were explained, focusing on their relevance to the governance and services in Clarington, as emphasized by Hall.

The discussion also spanned the DC study process, featuring a forecast of development and employment trends up to the year 2051. Historical inventories of development rates and permissible maximum funding envelopes were presented to the committee.

Details on the municipal-wide capital program were shared, along with a comparison of proposed residential and non-residential rates against current figures. The session included an overview of the legislative framework and timelines for implementing community benefits charges projects.

Key input and clarifications were provided by Jackie Hall in response to queries from the committee members.