To establish a fixed amount for cash-in-lieu of parkland dedication for Residential Units within a Multi Residential Building
Whereas on June 27, 2011, the Council of the Town of Richmond Hill adopted Bylaw 70-11, a bylaw which established a fixed amount payable per proposed dwelling unit of $10,000.00, in lieu of a conveyance of land for parkland dedication; and
Whereas Bylaw 70-11 was repealed and replaced by Bylaw 58-13 (the “Current Parkland Dedication Bylaw”) by the Council of the Town of Richmond Hill on May 2, 2013; and
Whereas the Town of Richmond Hill Bylaw 58-13 currently positions (some 5 ½ years after its introduction) the Town of Richmond Hill as the highest parkland dedication standard rate on a cost per unit basis (or cost per person) as compared to other 905 municipalities; and
Whereas the number of units where Development Charges have been collected since 2014 by the Town of Richmond Hill represents 10% of the development charges (971 of 9560) collected when compared to Markham and Vaughan when our population represents 23.5% of the three lower York Region Municipalities; and
Whereas the current Parkland Dedication Bylaw and rates proposed to be charged by the Town has deterred the construction of new Residential Units within new Multi Residential Buildings from proceeding within the Town’s planned intensification corridors and acts as a significant disincentive for higher density developments, including those that have already been approved; and
Whereas an amendment to the Current Parkland Dedication Bylaw is required in order to support the Town’s intensification strategy and housing affordability objectives;
Now therefore, the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Richmond Hill enacts as follows:
Bylaw 58-13 is hereby further amended as follows:
- That the following be added to section 10 of Bylaw 58-13 after the first sentence:
“Notwithstanding the preceding, for the period commencing December 1, 2018 through to December 31, 2021, or in the case of an party submitting a development application during the period of December 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021 and who submit a complete building permit applications by December 31, 2024, the value of land shall be calculated at a rate of: 1 hectare of land for every 500 units to a maximum of $10,000.00 per Multi Residential Dwelling Unit to be located within a Multi-Residential Building; and, 1 hectare of land for every 500 units to a maximum of $11,500.00 per unit in stacked and town-house developments.”