DEVELOPMENT CHARGES - SHOW ME THE NUMBERS Part 3

October 5th, 2026

In Part 1, I asked: Who pays for growth?

In Part 2, I talked about the questions I believe a councillor should be asking when new development comes before Council.

Now let's look at the numbers.

As of May 24, 2026, the Town of Wasaga Beach's current town-wide development charges for residential development are:

🏠 Single or semi-detached: $39,769

🏘️ Rows and other multiples: $32,481

🏢 Apartments: $19,803

There is also an additional Beach Area wastewater development charge for properties within the designated Beach Area:

🏠 Single/semi-detached: $5,623

🏘️ Rows/other multiples: $4,592

🏢 Apartments: $2,800

So, for example, a single or semi-detached unit in the applicable Beach Area would have a combined Town development charge of $45,392, before considering any applicable exemptions, discounts or other arrangements.

But here's where I think we need to look beyond the headline number.

WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GO?

The Town's development charges are intended to recover a portion of growth-related capital costs for services including:

• Roads and related infrastructure• Water services• Wastewater services• Storm drainage• Parks• Indoor recreation• Fire and emergency services• Transit• Library services• Land acquisition• Development-related studies

That's a significant list.

And it brings us to the questions I believe residents deserve to have answered.

Is the money collected sufficient to pay for the infrastructure required by growth?

When will that infrastructure be needed?

When does the Town actually receive the development charges?

What happens when payment is deferred?

And if development-related infrastructure costs more than the development charges collected, who pays the difference?

Those are not anti-development questions.

They're taxpayer questions.

Wasaga Beach is experiencing significant development. We need to make sure that our infrastructure keeps pace — our roads, water and wastewater systems, stormwater management, parks, recreation and other municipal services.

And we need to think beyond the next development application.

THIS IS WHAT I WILL DO AS YOUR COUNCILLOR.

I will read the reports.

I will read the agreements.

I will read the contracts.

I will ask questions about the numbers, the timelines, the infrastructure requirements and who is responsible for paying for what.

And I will listen to you.

If a development is proposed in your neighbourhood, I want to hear what you're seeing and experiencing — traffic, drainage, flooding, tree loss, environmental concerns, road capacity, construction impacts or simply concerns about the pace and scale of change.

I don't believe residents should have to become experts in municipal planning just to have their concerns heard.

That's part of the job of your elected representative.

AI generated graphic poster

My job will be to do the homework, ask the questions and bring your concerns to the table.

Growth can be an opportunity for Wasaga Beach.

But let's make sure we're building a community that works — for the people who already live here, and for the people who will call Wasaga Beach home in the future.

Stay tuned for Development Charges — Part 4: Rental Housing, Discounts & Exemptions.

That's where things get even more interesting.

Thanks for listening!

ALDONA BARYSAS-OLEINIKAS

Candidate for Council — Town of Wasaga Beach