Proposed Development Cost Charge bylaw updates back in front of city council

Revelstoke city councillors will have a chance to discuss a background report on the proposed development cost charge bylaw for the first time at Tuesday’s regular council meeting.

The 90-page background report prepared by McElhanney Consulting includes a review of the projects, costs, growth rates and the structure of the bylaw. Click here to read a copy of the report.

City staff are recommending council give first reading to the DCC bylaw and that the proposed bylaw and background report be shared with the public. Staff are also recommending public input be received until Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018.

Both city councillors and stakeholders have previously argued that the process so far has lacked communication and has not allowed for enough input from stakeholders and other members of the public. In a report, director of engineering Mike Thomas said based on feedback staff are recommending the two-week communication period to inform the public and developers of the proposed bylaw prior to further readings and submission to the province for approval.

City council had recommended phasing in the bylaw with existing rates in effect until June 1, 2019. Thomas said in the report that under provincial process a bylaw grace period can be used to set the effective date in the future.

“What this means, is the existing bylaw will remain in effect until May 31, 2018. In-stream applications are covered under the Local Government Act and are based on bylaw ‘adoption’ date,” said Thomas.

City staff have also recommended a special council meeting to discuss the DCC bylaw be scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 3 p.m.

Council will discuss the DCC background report as well as the other staff recommendations at the regular council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 14.

For background on the city’s DCC bylaw update process see our previous stories here.