View - The Municipality of Lambton Shores

Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. 5.
4. OUR PERSPECTIVES ON THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ASSIGNMENT
4.1 Terms of Reference
In our view, the Corporation of the Municipality of Lambton Shores will benefit by retaining a consultant
for this project with:
extensive experience in DC studies in all types of municipalities, including rural, urban and
rural/urban mixes;
a wide range of development charge implementation experience throughout the province, who
can bring to the assignment alternative approaches to issues, and with experience in working with
a number of stakeholders including Council, municipal staff, the development industry and the
general public;
a thorough knowledge of the development charge legislation, and access to legal interpretations
prepared by a wide range of municipal law firms (through our work association with many
municipalities);
a commitment to keeping its clients informed on development charge matters through continuing
research, information gathering, indexing and rate comparison information and assistance in
meeting notification deadlines, etc.;
extensive experience in the calculation of development charges for water, sanitary sewer, storm
water management and transportation infrastructure and specialized knowledge of the issues
related to delivery of these services. Development charges for water, sanitary sewer and storm
water management services may be applicable on an area-specific basis (within the service area)
rather than on a uniform Municipal-wide basis;
extensive experience in the structuring of front-end agreements and alternative cost recovery
mechanisms, such as part 12 of the new Municipal Act;
an ability to communicate, in understandable terms, to Council and the public, the sometimes
complicated technical aspects of the calculation and the legislation.
With respect to specific requirements for this assignment, we would provide the following general
observations and comments:
1. Prepare a detailed development charges background study, by-law and implementation policy
resulting in reasonable development charges for the Municipality;
2. Attend the statutory and required public meeting(s) as part of the assignment and be available to
the Municipality as an expert witness (based on a separate contract), in the event of an appeal;
3. Give appropriate consideration to all of the matters addressed by the Development Charges Act,
1997, including:
growth projections (anticipated development);
Municipal-wide vs. area-specific charges for particular services;
the capital servicing requirements of the anticipated growth;
the 10 year level of service cap and deductions for benefit to existing, post planning period
capacity, excess capacity, grants and other contributions, statutory 10%, etc.;
cost allocations between residential and non-residential development and within those
classes;
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