Summary
The Community Benefits Charges (CBC) is a new charge municipalities can leverage to recover growth-related costs that are not covered by Development charges (DCs). Community Benefits Charges enable the City to have the ability to apply a growth related charge across a broad range of high-density residential development, regardless of location and zoning permissions. Brampton aims to utilize CBC as a tool to help create complete communities within the intensification framework.
The Province released More Homes, More Choice: Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan in 2019. Bill 108 introduced the Community Benefits Charge (CBC), which is a new financing tool available to municipalities based on land value. The Province updated the Planning Act as part of the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020 (Bill 197) in order to implement the CBC. The CBC replaces the former Section 37 (density bonusing) provisions of the Planning Act. Brampton’s growth forecasts predict a population of 1.1 million by 2051. As the City’s greenfield areas build out, intensification in built-up areas is expected to continue, with a significant shift to high density residential development.
Applicability
The CBC, once established, can be applied to all eligible high density residential developments in Brampton, and is underpinned by a more transparent process to calculating growth related fees. The CBC cap has been set at 4% of land value. To implement the CBC, a strategy and by-law needs to be developed by the City.
The City has retained a consulting firm to undertake the Community Benefits Charge Assessment, Strategy and By-law for Brampton.
The City envisions the project scope to encompass two components as under:
- CBC Assessment
- CBC Strategy and By-Law
The following are the services identified by the City that may benefit from a CBC Fund
- Housing;
- Public Realm;
- Community Facilities;
- Active Transportation;
- Parks & Trails
- Parking
- Heritage Assets
- Administration
The CBC can apply only to residential developments with 5 or more stories and 10 or more units.
Certain types of development can be exempted from payment of the C.B.C. (i.e. long-term care homes, retirement homes, affordable housing and non-profit housing) in support of the City’s housing goals, and potential funding implications.
