— Town can now get land for local parks from developers —
(OSOYOOS TIMES — Dec. 13, 2006) —
By Julie TurnerrnOsoyoos Times
A policy waived by the Town nearly a decade ago was reinstated by Council December 4, now giving the Town the option of obtaining up to five per cent of the land proposed for a subdivision to develop parks.
Councillor Allan Carswell called the move important, adding that since it had waived the policy (on January 20, 1997) the Town of Osoyoos has created a total of 1,278 lots through the subdivision process.
If you take a mere five per cent of that, our share of that would have been about 65 lots that we would own in town, he said.
Carswell noted many of those lots would not have been suitable as parks, but said if sold today would have been a boon to the town.
If you take the average price of land right now for a lot, that comes out to a staggering $3.8 million in land value that would have been generated to the Town of Osoyoos in 10 years.rnThe parkland acquisition option, allowable under the Local Government Act, states a local government can require that five per cent of a subdivision be dedicated to parkland, that cash in lieu of parkland could be obtained, or that a contribution to a park in another location could be made.
The policy gives Council the option to create small, regional parks or to take cash in lieu.
Mayor John Slater said Council had collected in 10 years probably over $1 million in Development Cost Charges, using 1996 figures.
This will give Council the option of either taking some land in a larger subdivision or cash in lieu, or development cost charges for parks. I think it's a better tool to manage our parklands.
Osoyoos Now President Michael Ryan said the citizens' group is pleased to finally see Council reinstate its right to obtain for park purposes, up to five per cent of the land proposed for a subdivision or cash in lieu of land, adding Osoyoos Now had previously suggested that Council ask for land for parks. rnNow we know that this provincially legislated right to require such lands was voluntarily given up by the Council nearly 10 years ago! While celebrating its return, we have to ask why elected officials would give up such a right and why did it take so long to get it back?
