Brandon City Council To Discuss Development Charge Increases For Infrastructure Growth

As Brandon grows, the need for new municipal infrastructure becomes increasingly important. Development Charges (DC) provide one method to help fund the construction of essential off-site infrastructure to ensure the city can continue to grow over the next 20 years. The infrastructure supported by DCs include transportation, water, wastewater, and land drainage.

While developers are responsible for constructing on-site infrastructure within the boundaries of new neighbourhoods, the City is responsible for constructing the necessary off-site infrastructure. The City of Brandon uses DCs to fund off-site infrastructure costs for new development and redevelopment. This approach ensures a consistent distribution of costs in line with the City’s commitment to fairness and transparency.

DCs have been in place since 2019. As part of the original By-law No. 7175, a regular review of the rates is required. Over the last two years, the City of Brandon engaged Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. to support the City of Brandon in this process. The Development Charges Background Study is a comprehensive analysis of the future infrastructure needs and funding requirements to support the next 20 years of growth within the City of Brandon.

Currently, water and wastewater DCs are approved under the Public Utilities Board of Manitoba (PUB). It is estimated that the PUB approval process will take several months from the application submission date. Given this timeline, and to align capital infrastructure needs with updated DC rates, amendments to the original By-law No. 7175 will be carried out through two sequential by-laws:

• The first amendment, By-law No. 7397, includes updated rates for transportation and land drainage network infrastructure;

• The second amendment, By-law No. 7406, will address the remaining rates for water and wastewater treatment and network infrastructure, including wastewater sewers, watermains, and roads.

By-law No. 7397, which proposes an amendment to the original By-law No. 7175, was presented to the Council for its first reading on Nov. 4, 2024. By-law No. 7406 will follow for consideration on Nov. 18, 2024.

Public hearings for both By-law No. 7397 and By-law No. 7406 will be held on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Members of the public will be invited to present their views on either or both By-laws.

For more information, please visit brandon.ca/permits-applications/development-charges. City of Brandon Development Charges FAQs can be found on brandon.ca. Enquiries can be sent to LandDevelopment@brandon.ca.