City of New Westminster introduces new Development Cost Charges program to serve infrastructure needs of a growing community

New Westminster, BC – The City of New Westminster will introduce new “phased” development costs charges (DCC) rates on January 1, 2011 to respond to infrastructure needs of a growing community. Cities collect DCCs from new development to help pay for the utility, transportation and park investments needed to serve population and employment growth.

The City of New Westminster has collected DCCs on developments in the Queensborough area since 1995. In 2005, the City expanded the DCC program to include charges for mainland New Westminster. In 2007, the City initiated a comprehensive review of its DCC program to better reflect local infrastructure and park needs that were identified in recently completed Engineering and Parks plans. This review entailed extensive consultation with the community and development industry. Following consultation, the proposed DCC program was forwarded to the Province for their review and approval.

Earlier this week, New Westminster Council gave approval to implement the new DCC program for New Westminster. The new program responds to future infrastructure needs that will result from continued growth as more people choose to make The Royal City their home.

DCC rates are calculated by projecting the amount of infrastructure investment needed to support expected growth. The total cost of this infrastructure investment is divided by the expected amount of new floor space or developed land that will be added to the DCC area to calculate rates for each anticipated development.

For more information, please visit the City of New Westminster website at www.newwestcity.ca.

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Contact:
Jim Lowrie
Director of Engineering
604-527-4589 or jlowrie@newwestcity.ca