Madawaska Valley council is urging Renfrew County to not bring in development charges for local builders.
These charges are fees that builders of homes and businesses pay to help cover rising infrastructure needs that come with population growth, such as upgrades to highways.
Madawaska Valley considered bringing in these charges last winter, but council ultimately voted down the idea on grounds that the charges would prohibit growth at a time when new housing is needed.
But Renfrew County is considering bringing in its own development charge policy. One option being considered is to have the policy apply county-wide; another is to only have it apply to municipalities along Highway 17.
A report, written by Madawaska Valley CAO Suzanne Klatt and tabled at the Oct. 3 council meeting, outlines several concerns that Madawaska Valley councillors have expressed.
The report, which will be sent to Renfrew County council, notes that “it would be difficult to explain to residents of Madawaska Valley … that they would be paying for highway improvements in other areas of the County.”
Klatt also wrote that Madawaska Valley councillors are not supportive of either option. “Council did put forth a third option, which is not implementing a County [development charge] at this time,” the report says.