Weyburn city council amended their bylaw for the off-site development levy after consulting with developers and the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce, to enable more new development on properties that are already developed.
City manager Bob Smith explained the bylaw makes a “very small change from the old bylaw”, but it’s a change that should have a positive effect.
“In discussion with the chamber on behalf of developers and business owners, they asked council to look at infills, so they wouldn’t be subject to the development fees as they are set now,” said Smith.
In the amended bylaw, a previously developed site which is being redeveloped or expanded for an industrial or commercial use is exempted from payment of the off-site development levy, “providing the redevelopment has taken place a minimum of seven years after the initial construction or development had taken place.”
Coun. Rob Stephanson voted against amending the bylaw, saying, “I think everybody should pay their fair share of development,” adding he thinks the time element should be 10 years or longer rather than seven years as noted in the bylaw.
Coun. Winston Bailey did support the bylaw, saying, “I’ve seen too many businesses wanting to expand and grow, and this levy has been a hindrance and a thorn in their side.”
He pointed out that some lots could have a building on it generating taxes had this levy been changed to begin with.
Council heard in a report from the Environmental Resource Committee that there is recycling available for tin cans at Mryglod’s Steel, after some time ago a bin was removed from SARCAN due to the public putting wrong materials into the bin.
Sandra Mryglod told the committee that the public can bring their tin cans to the business; they wanted to put a bin beside the business on the boulevard, but the city won’t allow a bin to be placed on a boulevard unless it’s on private property.
With a curbside recycling program being researched by the committee, this may also provide a way for the public to recycle tin cans; also there is a collection bin out at the landfill.
Also, council approved issuing landfill coupons twice a year, only for the year 2015, in the spring and in the fall, to encourage more cleanup in backyards and in back alleys.
