WHEREAS the Local Government Act under section 9414 allows local governments to collect from an owner of land being subdivided monies in lieu of the provision of parkland, which is not to exceed 5 of the land value being proposed for subdivision; AND WHEREAS the funds taken for this purpose can only be utilized for the purchase of actual parkland and not for the improvement of parkland; AND WHEREAS monies collected in lieu of the provision of parkland are often better spent on parkland improvements such as landscaping, playground structures, etc., for new andor existing parks: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government through legislation allow local governments to utilize funds collected in lieu of parkland on subdivision approvals for parkland improvements not just for the purchase of parkland.
Ministry of Community, Sport Cultural Development Funds in lieu of parkland dedication are specifically for the acquisition of land only. This is to support a policy goal that up to 5 of all new development area is devoted to urban greenspace, which is critical to maintaining liveable and sustainable communities in BC. If some of this money is diverted to improvements for existing parks, there would be less money for parkland acquisition thus, defeating the purpose of the policy. The Province fully understands that there is more to a park than land. A park also requires improvements for public use and enjoyment e.g. trails, playgrounds, picnic tables, playing fields, and parking. However, acquiring improvements is not the purpose of parkland acquisition levy. The parkland acquisition provisions are designed to ensure that sufficient green space is available for public development and use. Because developing improvements on these lands benefits the wider community, the cost of such improvements should be shared by all property owners not just developers. Widening the scope of section 510 revised, RSBC 2015 of the Local Government Act has been reviewed in the past by the Development Finance Review Committee DFRC, which is chaired by the Ministry and includes representatives from local government, the Province, and the development community. The DFRC concluded that local governments have other revenue tools to finance the acquisition of park improvements, and therefore they decided against expanding the parkland dedication to a wider range of services. Local governments have a number of revenue and development tools at their disposal. Some of the revenue tools available to local governments are set out in the following documents: Development Finance Choices Guide: http:www.cd.gov.bc.calgdintergovrelationslibrarydevelopmentfinanceschoi… Parkland Acquisition Best Practices Guide: http:www.cd.gov.bc.calgdintergovrelationslibraryParklandAcquisitionBPG…