It appears developers will soon be asked to help school districts pay for land needed for future school sites. The School Sites Acquisition Charge (SSAC) would require developers to pay an average of $605 per housing unit built which would go toward land acquisition by the local school district. The SSAC is similar to Development Cost Charges (DDC) collected by the city to help pay for additional infrastructure required due to the additional development. The City of Kelowna would collect the new charges and move them over to the school district.
William Wood, who helped put together the report presented to Kelowna Council Monday, says over the next 10 years school enrollment will increase and new schools will be required. "Basically many of the schools in Kelowna and in the Central Okanagan school district are operating over capacity and many more will be operating over capacity in a very short time," says Wood. "There is definitely some need for new space especially in some areas." Some of the areas identified include a new Westlake Road elementary school, replacement of Rutland Middle School, new Upper Mission elementary school, new Upper Mission middle school, new southwest Winfield elementary school new Glenmore secondary school, new university area elementary, new Upper Glenrosa elementary and new westside secondary school.
Wood estimates the cost of land acquisition at approximately $40.7 million. He says the SSAC charges would only pay for about 35% of the cost. However, he does caution that the province will not put funds towards land acquisition without the new policy in place.
All municipalities and regional districts must approve the new charge within a school district. In the case of School District 23 that would be Kelowna, Lake Country, West Kelowna, Peachland and the Regional District of Central Okanagan. After questioning from Kelowna council, Wood say a local government could delay but not stop the new process. Staff will prepare a draft resolution and bring it back to council, likely in time for next Monday's meeting.
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School Site Acquisition Charge Regulation
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Presentation at Aug. 12 RDCO Item 2.2 School District No. 23.pdf
http://regionaldistrict.com/boards_committees/board_agenda.aspx
William Wood, who helped put together the report presented to Kelowna Council Monday, says over the next 10 years school enrollment will increase and new schools will be required. "Basically many of the schools in Kelowna and in the Central Okanagan school district are operating over capacity and many more will be operating over capacity in a very short time," says Wood. "There is definitely some need for new space especially in some areas." Some of the areas identified include a new Westlake Road elementary school, replacement of Rutland Middle School, new Upper Mission elementary school, new Upper Mission middle school, new southwest Winfield elementary school new Glenmore secondary school, new university area elementary, new Upper Glenrosa elementary and new westside secondary school.
Wood estimates the cost of land acquisition at approximately $40.7 million. He says the SSAC charges would only pay for about 35% of the cost. However, he does caution that the province will not put funds towards land acquisition without the new policy in place.
All municipalities and regional districts must approve the new charge within a school district. In the case of School District 23 that would be Kelowna, Lake Country, West Kelowna, Peachland and the Regional District of Central Okanagan. After questioning from Kelowna council, Wood say a local government could delay but not stop the new process. Staff will prepare a draft resolution and bring it back to council, likely in time for next Monday's meeting.
------------
School Site Acquisition Charge Regulation
-----------
Presentation at Aug. 12 RDCO Item 2.2 School District No. 23.pdf
http://regionaldistrict.com/boards_committees/board_agenda.aspx
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