This policy is flawed in…

Commentaire

This policy is flawed in many ways, I will comment on several.
The entire discussion of reducing development fees is very disturbing. No where is it discussed just how municipalities can recoup the lost fees. Build inferior roads? Dig open sewers? Only allow people to use water on alternate days? All of the infrastructure that is needed for a new development actually COSTS MONEY. Who knew...? Reducing development fees means there is less money for the infrastructure, and at some point, probably in the near future, the money available for supporting the new developments will dry up, and the only way to continue with this development is to raise property taxes. I, for one, resent having my property taxes go up because of some sprawling development in the next village over. Development should pay for itself.
Another question is what will developers do with the money they don't have to pay in fees? It would be nice if the savings were passed on to the home buyers, but there does not seem to be any sort of requirement for that, and I don't believe it would ever happen.
All of this is framed in the guise of "building homes faster". Shouldn't we be building homes, and better yet, COMMUNITIES BETTER, not faster. We are in a climate emergency which will possibly overwhelm our children and grandchildren's futures. We need proper planning to build resilient communities where car use is reduced and people can get around for shopping, work and recreation more easily on public transportation.