Whereas communities, especially in Metro Vancouver are challenged to enhance and deliver services and amenities including but not limited to affordable housing, community centres, park and fire service expansion to ever increasing populations; And whereas Development Cost Charges do not adequately address many of these items, as such guidelines were established by the provincial government under which municipalities could ask for Voluntary Contributions from development to provide a range of identified amenities, yet no accompanying legislation was established to support the guidelines; And whereas municipalities undergo extensive negotiations and processes to establish and secure commitment for these voluntary contributions from development, further encumbering and delaying the delivery of much needed housing stock across the affordability spectrum: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the provincial government work with municipalities and key stakeholders including the development industry to establish legislation under which the charging of Community Amenity Contributions is enforceable and inclusive of pre-established objectives and costs much in the manner of Development Cost Charges.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Ministry of Finance In 2018, the Province initiated the Development Approvals Process Review to address challenges and identify opportunities for improvement in the current development approvals process, and to support local governments in eliminating barriers to affordable housing and accelerate the construction of the homes people need in their communities. As a first step the Ministry of Municipal Affairs engaged a broad range of stakeholders including UBCM, local governments, the development industry and non-profit housing organizations to discuss the challenges of the current local government development approvals process in BC. Among the areas identified is development finance. The final report from this engagement was publicly shared at UBCM Convention 2019: https:news.gov.B.C..careleases2019MAH0139-001844 The Province recognizes that a review of development finance tools, including an evaluation of community amenity contributions, is a key component of improving the entire development approvals system. The Province will be looking at recommendations from the Development Approvals Process Review consultations as it considers next steps on development finance. Any work in this area will include engagement with UBCM and key stakeholders, as well as advice from the Development Finance Review Committee DFRC, which is chaired by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and includes representatives from local government and the development community.