North Bay City Hall staff say development charges don’t inhibit growth. Chief financial officer Margaret Karpenko says it’s a misconception to believe the fees force people to build elsewhere. That’s one of several messages councillors heard Monday night as they get ready to set development fee rates for the next five years. Council can re-visit the issue at any time and bring rates down if it wants. It can also waive development charges for non-profit groups building homes. Other facts council heard were if developers aren’t charged the fee, then taxpayers will pay the full cost to prepare land for construction. Also the province tends to favour communities more favourably for grant applications if they have development fees.
