Central Frontenac Looks At Planning Fee Increases

Craig Bakay | May 10, 2023

The cost of new construction in Central Frontenac will likely be going up as Council received a presentation from Sonya Bolton, County of Frontenac manager of community planning and Dep. Clerk Cindy Deachman on proposed new planning fees at its regular meeting April 25 in Sharbot Lake.

“The purpose of this report is to outline the need to make changes to the fees charged for various planning applications,” the report said. “The fees associated with planning applications have not changed significantly in about 15 years (2008) and do not accurately reflect the costs associated with reviewing and processing the applications.

“Most planning applications propose changes that benefit one property of a property owner, such as a consent to create a new lot or a minor variance to put an addition on a dwelling. In these instances, the applicant/property owner should be responsible for covering the cost of processing their application. When the application fees do not accurately reflect the cost of processing planning applications, the remaining costs are covered by all taxpayers through the general levy.”

In 2022, revenue from planning applications was $36,650, the report said. Total expenses being billed in 2023 are $128,995.38. There was a total of 1,059 hours of planning work for Central Frontenac in 2022. Of that total, 754 hours (72 per cent) were dedicated to development planning, including 378 hours for planning inquiries and pre-application consultation. By taking 72 per cent of the 2023 billable rate, you can estimate that expenses related to planning applications is about $92,800.

For example, the current fee for an Official Plan Amendment is $2,200. The proposed new fee would be $2,800 with a proposed deposit of $2,000.

A zoning bylaw amendment would remain at $2,000 but there would be a proposed deposit of $1,000. In addition, there would be additional fees of $1,000 for a condition of a consent and a $2,500 fee after building without consent.

Minor variances would rise to $1,200 from the current $500 with new fees of $700 for accessory use on non-waterfront properties (shed, deck, detached garage, etc) and a fee of $1,700 for building without a permit.

Severances to create a new lot would rise to $1,200 from the current $550 and lot additions or easements would rise to $700 from the current $550. There would also be a new $300 charge for amendments to conditions.

However, fees for site plan controls would drop to $1,500 from $3,200 for minor applications and $2,500 from $3,200 for major applications (developments greater than 200 square meters in area.).

Bolton said that the fees for building without a permit represent additional work necessary, not a penalty for doing something wrong.

“You can’t impose a penalty through the fees process,” she said. “That would have to go through the bylaw process.”

“One of my concerns is that the increases are going very quickly, like more than $500,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “We don’t want to discourage development and I’m afraid if we jump things too quickly people are gonna go ‘well, they obviously don’t want us to be in their township.’

“So I think we really need to take some time with this.”

Council passed a motion to accept the report and have staff come back with a bylaw near the end of May for discussion on the actual numbers.

Council Meeting Time Change

A proposal to change meeting times to 6 p.m. from 4 p.m. went back to the drawing board so that staff could come back with actual expense increases expected from overtime and required dinner breaks associated with later meeting times.

In a report to Council, staff estimated there could be a financial impact of between $29,760 and $39,250 for Council meetings and $6,900 to $9,030 for committee of adjustment meetings.

Coun. Nicki Gowdy postulated that a later start for meetings would attract more attendance from the public and make it easier for people with jobs to run for Council.

“No,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “When we had meetings at 7 p.m. it was still mostly older people running and nobody from the public comes to a meeting unless there is something on the agenda that directly affects them.”

Road Renaming

Council passed a bylaw confirming the name Whisky Street for a small section of the road currently addressed as 14321 Road 38 and the change of name of a section of Alf Patterson Road south of the intersection with Alf Patterson Lane to Oak Bluffs Road.