Moving on ... affordable rental housing

[TMBOkanagan]

Microsuites are not eligible for a tax incentive. However, they do not have to pay Development Cost Charges on any suite under 30m2 as governed by the Local Government Act. So they do save about $15,000 per unit in DCC's (but not taxes).

[Piecemaker]

Perhaps the building of new townhouses on Nickel and Findlay is a way of improving the neighbourhood. If it's rental units of market value, we can hope it will attract young families. Houses nearly as old as I am that haven't had a repair this century tend to attract those none of us would want to live beside.

[Queen K]

Microsuites are not eligible for a tax incentive. However, they do not have to pay Development Cost Charges on any suite under 30m2 as governed by the Local Government Act. So they do save about $15,000 per unit in DCC's (but not taxes).

And Development Cost Charges go to what exactly? Infrastructure changes? Sewer? Power?

How is it right to say that a microsuite, on the basis that is small, can circumvent the charges even though ALL of those things will be needed anyways?

I think this is a sham foisted on the taxpayers of Kelowna who are carrying expenses for developers who are profiting off of the "micro" suite plan.

[TMBOkanagan]

Microsuites are not eligible for a tax incentive. However, they do not have to pay Development Cost Charges on any suite under 30m2 as governed by the Local Government Act. So they do save about $15,000 per unit in DCC's (but not taxes).

And Development Cost Charges go to what exactly? Infrastructure changes? Sewer? Power?

How is it right to say that a microsuite, on the basis that is small, can circumvent the charges even though ALL of those things will be needed anyways?

I think this is a sham foisted on the taxpayers of Kelowna who are carrying expenses for developers who are profiting off of the "micro" suite plan.

It's governed by the Local Government Act (aka the Province). Therefore, no, it's not a sham on the taxpayers of Kelowna. If you'd like to learn more - this is a great resource: http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/finance/d ... harges.htm

[khutchi]

It's governed by the Local Government Act (aka the Province). Therefore, no, it's not a sham on the taxpayers of Kelowna. If you'd like to learn more - this is a great resource: http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/finance/d ... harges.htm

Well..... Kelowna taxpayers would be on the hook for forgone DCC levies regardless of what level of government sets the ordinance. The reason it's not a sham is that society benefits from a balanced housing spectrum more than the money we forgoe... or so is the former provincial governments thinking.

[Queen K]

Same services are needed regardless of floorspace usage/size, I say the developers are laughing all the way to the bank.
Perhaps "sham" was an incorrect word usage.

And Khutchi, the way you but it, "balanced housing spectrum" makes more sense to all for microsuites, but I believe they should not get such a large cut. Perhaps half of that.

[LANDM]

It's governed by the Local Government Act (aka the Province). Therefore, no, it's not a sham on the taxpayers of Kelowna. If you'd like to learn more - this is a great resource: http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/finance/d ... harges.htm

While the Act referenced does create the guildelines under which the municipalities should operate with regards to DCC's, it is up to the individual municipalities or regional districts to create their own DCC levels and how to apply them. The province merely makes the allowance for it to happen.