By Gazette Staff
February 25th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Statements being issued by the Mayor that are at times conflicting.
TV Ontario has picked up the story.
Mayhem and confusion in the Mayor’s office.
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns
What people want is information that isn’t political spin and an opportunity to ask questions.
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns will be holding a Resident Information Session in City Hall on Saturday, the 28th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Ask your questions, Kearns more often than not knows what she is talking about.
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Keep us informed. Something is rotten here and it needs exposure. This strong Mayor stuff needs to go. The mayor is out of her depth here. Passing on more taxes to hard working and retired citizens is outright wrongheaded.
Here’s some copied DC overview from a 2024 DC Background study. to give some scope of what needs to estimated to estimate the developer share.
Read carefully as the copy and paste are not fully exactly pasted as original. It is possible to search internet for original if desired.
Development Charges are fees imposed by municipalities on development and
redevelopment to recover the municipality’s net growth-related capital costs of eligible services.
The DCA legislates the process to be undertaken by a municipality to impose
development charges.
The simplified process is as follows:
1. Prepare a DC background study which identifies:
A forecast of the amount, type and location of the anticipated development;
The average service levels provided by the city over the 15-year period
immediately preceding the preparation of the background study and
planned level of service for transit services over the 10-year forecast period;
The increased need for services attributable to the anticipated
development, identifying the capital projects to be undertaken to meet the
Page 3 of Report Number: F-04-24 need and a determination of the growth and non-growth components of the capital projects, including a forecast of transit ridership and assessment of capacity over the period;
and An examination of long-term capital, operating costs, and asset
management plan for the infrastructure required for each service to which
the DC by-law would relate.
All development of land within the area to which the by-law applied will increase the need for services.
Applies without regards to the services required or used by an individual development.DCs shall be imposed for the following categories to pay for for the increased capital costs required because of increased needs for services arising from development.
Water,
wastewater,
roads,
police,
services for seniors,
growth studies
Strategy/process/risk
The Study includes a historical view of the eligible infrastructure that has been in place
providing the City’s program and services, as well as a planned level of service view for
transit services over the 10-year forecast period. Based on that information and the
population and employment growth expected, the Study determines the DC rates that are
required to recover the costs of infrastructure arising from the increase in need for service
of new development to the extent permissible by the DCA.
It is important to note that any exemptions reduce the city’s ability to collect DC revenue
and puts greater pressure on the use of tax supported funds to ensure growth related
infrastructure is provided for in a timely manner.
Table 1: 2024 City of Burlington Development Charges – Full Calculated Rate
Full Calculated Rate
RESIDENTIAL
Single Family Dwelling $28,432
Apartments (2 Bedrooms+) $15,150
Apartments (1 bedroom) $11,455
Multiples (3 or more bedrooms) $22,557
Multiples (2 bedrooms or less) $16,244
Special Care $9,259
NON-RESIDENTIAL
(per square metre) $205.70
Subject to the legislative process in regard to Bill 185 proposed amendments to the DCA,
the Act currently requires that charges imposed under a new by-law be phased in over a
5-year period, as follows:
Year 1 – 80% of the maximum charge
Year 2 – 85% of the maximum charge
Year 3 – 90% of the maximum charge
Year 4 – 95% of the maximum charge
Year 5 to expiry – 100% of the maximum charge
Therefore, to provide an accurate comparison of the impact of the calculated charges,
Table 2 provides the full calculated rate, adjusted to the permitted Year 1 amount at 80%
of the maximum charge compared to the current rates as of April 1, 2024. The mandatory
phase-in is expected to represent $8.1 million (4% of forecast DC revenues) in lost DC
revenues during the first four years of the bylaw. This is based on the anticipated
development and underlying growth forecast assumptions included in the Study.
Page 6 of Report Number: F-04-24
Table 2: 2024 City of Burlington Development Charges – Year 1 Phase-In
Full Calculated Rate
Calculated Rate at 80% (Year 1)
Current Rate
April 1, 2024 Change
$
RESIDENTIAL
Single Family Dwelling $28,432 $22,746 $20,284 $2,462
Apartments (2 Bedrooms+) 15,150 12,120 10,316 1,804
Apartments (1 bedroom) 11,455 9,164 7,600 1,564
Multiples (3 or more
bedrooms) 22,557 18,046 14,604 3,442
Multiples (2 bedrooms or
less) 16,244 12,995 11,562 1,433
Special Care 9,259 7,407 6,523 884
NON-RESIDENTIAL (per sq.m.)
Retail $205.70 $164.56 $182.04 (17.48)
Non-Retail $103.18 61.38
Residential Development Charge
Table 3 highlights the residential large apartment (2 bedrooms +) dwelling DC by service comparing the Year 1 permitted rate (including mandatory phase-in) to the current rate as of April 1, 2024. As a result of the update, the DC for a residential large apartment (2
bedrooms +) dwelling unit that would be in effect June 1, 2024, is $12,120, a $1,804 increase (or 17.5%) from the current residential DC rate of $10,316.
Table 3: Residential Development Charges – Apartment (Bedroom 2+)
Service Residential per Apartment (2+ bedrooms)
Full Calculated Rate
Calculated Rate at 80%
(Year 1)
Current
April 1, 2024
$
Change
Transportation $10,585 $8,468 $5,213 $3,255
Storm Drainage 93 74 1,063 (988)
Fire Protection 1,086 869 110 759
Transit 862 690 420 270
Parks and
Recreation 2,388 1,910 3,011 (1,101)
Library 136 109 482 (373)
Studies 18 (18)
Total $15,150 $12,120 $10,316 $1,8
Better book BPAC as an overflow back up plan.
Will the session illuminate the money trail in terms of how much goes to each of the prescribed funding pockets, when is it actually spent and how the city tracks the inflows and outflows of the charges versus expenditures and where does it show up from a transparency perspective? As well, how does COB compare to other municipalities? Are Community Benefits a form of double dipping into the pockets of home buyers?
All residents should make the time to attend this Information Session.
Finally, some transparency.