Developers, real estate professionals, local business owners, and mayoral candidates have put forth a strong case against a proposed increase in local development charges.
Jul 29, 2026 •
Photo by Postmedia /File
Developers, real estate professionals, local business owners, and mayoral candidates have voiced their concerns about the suggested hike in local development charges.
This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Key figures in the construction industry addressed Norfolk Council on July 28 and cautioned that increasing fees by $25,000 for an average home would further damage an already struggling sector.
Only two newly-built homes have been sold within county borders over the last year, a pattern that developers fear will persist if Norfolk enforces charges meant to fund or upgrade infrastructure related to growth.
If Norfolk moves forward with these charges, it would align them with or even place them ahead of neighboring areas like Brantford and Brant County.
“The builders in this room can’t sell a home, and we’re going to add another $25,000 (to the price). Many of you have said, ‘my kids can’t afford a house’,” said builder Tom O’Hara.
“We’re trying to do anything so the kids can buy a home, and we throw another $25,000 at them; it’s not a healthy situation.” “To add $25k to each house is simply not going to work,” added Ike Keesmat, president of Haldimand Norfolk Home Builders Association This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Keesmat and O’Hara are members of the Development Industry Liaison Committee created by council for feedback on issues like development charges. However, they were not consulted before county staff began looking into raising these fees. “There needs to be a major change in the philosophy and the approach being used,” said John Vallee of G. Douglas Vallee Consulting Engineers, Architects and Planners. “You’ve got a committee that you formed to talk about these issues , and I have no idea why it’s never been on our agenda.” Vallee explained that these fees would lead to an additional $22 million burden on builders for a subdivision with 150 lots while a similar project in Tillsonburg would incur only $13.9 million. “This is one of the reasons Tillsonburg is one of the fastest growing economies in Canada,” Vallee told those present. “Imagine the uproar you’d see if you were planning to increase ice time at Talbot Gardens arena for minor hockey by 92 percent.” This has not loaded yet , but your article continues below. Peter Simcisko from Watson and Associates Economists LTD., which advises the county on this matter , stated that these charges align with projected population growth and housing demands for the next decade. Builder Sam Bunting countered this point by highlighting how drastically sales have fallen recently. “We are averaging 175 dwelling units over the past three years , which is roughly half of what our projected growth is over the next ten years ,” he noted. Adam Moulton , owner of Home Hardware Building Centre in Waterford along with other locations , emphasized that these charges would affect not just builders but also suppliers and businesses like his. “This is literally kicking someone when they’re down,” he added. “I’m working hard to promote growth in Norfolk County… people complain because there are costs at every stage,” said Kim Dziegiel who was formerly a county building official and now works as a consultant based out of Simcoe. “These people are already out of money by the time they get to building their projects.” The mayoral candidates Keith Milner and David Finch also voiced their opposition against any fee increases. Acknowledging feedback from attendees council instructed staff members to engage with their liaison committee. The county’s CAO Al Meneses reminded everyone present that costs associated with improving or adding infrastructure will remain regardless of any changes made to development fees. “That cost is still there; someone has to pay for all expenses related to supporting growth,” he said. “There’s always gonna be some cost tied up around facilitating expansion.” Share this article in your social network
Source link
“We’re trying to do anything so the kids can buy a home, and we throw another $25,000 at them; it’s not a healthy situation.” “To add $25k to each house is simply not going to work,” added Ike Keesmat, president of Haldimand Norfolk Home Builders Association This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Keesmat and O’Hara are members of the Development Industry Liaison Committee created by council for feedback on issues like development charges. However, they were not consulted before county staff began looking into raising these fees. “There needs to be a major change in the philosophy and the approach being used,” said John Vallee of G. Douglas Vallee Consulting Engineers, Architects and Planners. “You’ve got a committee that you formed to talk about these issues , and I have no idea why it’s never been on our agenda.” Vallee explained that these fees would lead to an additional $22 million burden on builders for a subdivision with 150 lots while a similar project in Tillsonburg would incur only $13.9 million. “This is one of the reasons Tillsonburg is one of the fastest growing economies in Canada,” Vallee told those present. “Imagine the uproar you’d see if you were planning to increase ice time at Talbot Gardens arena for minor hockey by 92 percent.” This has not loaded yet , but your article continues below. Peter Simcisko from Watson and Associates Economists LTD., which advises the county on this matter , stated that these charges align with projected population growth and housing demands for the next decade. Builder Sam Bunting countered this point by highlighting how drastically sales have fallen recently. “We are averaging 175 dwelling units over the past three years , which is roughly half of what our projected growth is over the next ten years ,” he noted. Adam Moulton , owner of Home Hardware Building Centre in Waterford along with other locations , emphasized that these charges would affect not just builders but also suppliers and businesses like his. “This is literally kicking someone when they’re down,” he added. “I’m working hard to promote growth in Norfolk County… people complain because there are costs at every stage,” said Kim Dziegiel who was formerly a county building official and now works as a consultant based out of Simcoe. “These people are already out of money by the time they get to building their projects.” The mayoral candidates Keith Milner and David Finch also voiced their opposition against any fee increases. Acknowledging feedback from attendees council instructed staff members to engage with their liaison committee. The county’s CAO Al Meneses reminded everyone present that costs associated with improving or adding infrastructure will remain regardless of any changes made to development fees. “That cost is still there; someone has to pay for all expenses related to supporting growth,” he said. “There’s always gonna be some cost tied up around facilitating expansion.” Share this article in your social network
Source link
