City staff say council could have a "substantial update" on progress toward a new off-site levy bylaw sometime this summer following extensive analysis with stakeholders.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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City staff say they have been digging deep into feedback as they prepare to deliver findings to councillors on the off-site levy bylaw as early as the second quarter of 2026.
The city has been actively reviewing and updating the off-site levy bylaw’s methodology, framework and rates since 2022, which is used as a mechanism to cover the costs from developers for infrastructure including roads, water and sewer for new developments.
City committee members heard Thursday “extensive analysis” has been made on upcoming proposed projects with stakeholders following an advisory committee meeting Nov. 24.
“We’ve been doing some extensive analysis on those projects,” John Popoff, director of planning of development services, said during a development and infrastructure committee meeting. “We really did a deep dive internally in terms of what we have and what may be needed and it’s looking very promising.”
Popoff says city staff may be able to provide councillors a substantial update on progress made on the new bylaw policy in the second quarter of the year, ahead of the fourth-quarter deadline sought by council last September.
“I think the project is moving along faster than anticipated so I’m just going to say that I’m confident that it’s not going to take years, but likely this year, we’ll have most of it substantially complete.” said Popoff, who says consultation work still need to be completed with finance staff.
“They’re very busy right now, so that and a few other constraints may push us to the end of Q1 before we check back with a substantial update on it, but we’re working closely and I think we have made most of the progress.”
The off-site levy bylaw was a key issue heading into the 2025 municipal election as several candidates offered opinions on how off-site levies could be leveraged to attract more development.
Earlier this week, the federal Build Communities Strong Fund announced a new $51-billion investment into major infrastructure projects like hospitals, universities, roads, water and transit systems in an effort to stimulate housing construction.
However, Alberta Municipalities, which represents 264 municipalities across the province including Medicine Hat, says the funding requires off-site levy discounts be offered to developers, which it says would undermine the financial mechanism used as a tool to help pay and facilitate growth in the community as they relocate some of the cost from taxpayers back on to the developer.
