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Wetaskiwin development fees increase in preparation of 2016 budget

Wetaskiwin city council approved the third and final reading of a bylaw that will increase and amend development and building permit fees.

In preparation for the 2016 final budget, Wetaskiwin city council approved the third and final reading of a bylaw that will increase and amend development and building permit fees.

In January of last year council approved a bylaw which established development, safety codes and engineering fees. As part of the 2016 budget process a review was conducted to see if the fees are covering the cost for providing these services and if they are competitive in the comparison with other communities.

“We did look at several fees when we were doing the review,” said development manager Lisa Novotny.

Amendments approved by council during it’s Jan. 11 meeting will lead to all building and development fees to be increased to a minimum of $75; increasing development permits on new single family homes and manufactured homes to $200; adding $0.10 to every $1,000 in construction value to development permit fees for commercial, industrial, institutional and multi-family projects over four suites; making the building permit fees for all new residential construction consistent by removing different fees for additional floors and attached garages; establishing a fee for new Area Structure Plan applications; and increase the cost per thousand dollars from $5.50 to $6.50 on commercial, institutional, industrial, assembly, sprinkler, commercial kitchen equipment, heating upgrades.

Notovny explained by keeping fees for new residences consistent it will be easier for administration.

“Right now an area structure plan comes in initially when we get those plans it takes a lot of staff time to review them and not just development but engineering, public works, fire. A multitude of departments are looking at them so we have established a separate fee for that,” she added.

The bylaw was previously discussed at another council meeting late last year but councillors could not move ahead to the third and final reading as Coun. Joe Branco’s vote did not make progressing unanimous.

Branco was not present at the Jan. 11 meeting.