The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is getting some blowback for moving too fast with its new development charges and not doing enough consultation around the matter before approving them.
Sharon Mellow who wants to build a home on her property in east Chatham told CK News Today that she was caught off guard with the sudden charges and found out too late about the appeal process, which she was interested in.
Mellow said the new development charges are ill timed and will be a big deterrent to build in the community.
"We are coming off a pandemic. We had job losses, mental health struggles and we're just coming out of this. People are just getting back to work and this is not the kind of thing to tack on right after a pandemic," said Mellow.
Councillor Steve Pinsonneault agrees and said the development charges are not going to be good for business and will cripple the new housing market.
Mellow said she is getting vague answers from the municipality and feels like she's being put off with the civic election approaching.
"Do we all have a responsibility for the infrastructure? Absolutely, yes! Are there other ways to go about it? Yes. And it wasn't transparent, it was voted on and implemented. There was no grace period of six months," Mellow said.
Chatham-Kent's General Manager of Community Development Bruce McAllister said if the charges are reduced or repealed, those who paid them will get reimbursed the calculated amount at a later date after the 90 day consultation period is finished.
The Chatham-Kent Homebuilders' Association also wrote council to relay their displeasure about the minimal consultation process and the extra expense the new charges will cost. They said they are not against development charges and only want to have them implemented in a thoughtful manner for the new home buyer.
There are at least six appellants against the new development charges.
The new development charges were approved in August and Chatham-Kent is now seeking feedback on them. Single detached homes now carry an additional $17,316 fee imposed at the time a building permit is issued.