By Steph Troughton
contributor
In a 2013 industrial development cost survey of 18 municipalities conducted by the National Association of Properties the District of Maple Ridge ranked second lowest for total amount of development fees collected last year.
Mayor Ernie Daykin says the result was not surprising given that the district has always been diligent about regularly reviewing and quantifying its fees.
That shows Maple Ridge is “a welcoming community for new business.
“Our charges have to be reflective of the cost of doing business and they are,” Daykin said.
The City of Pitt Meadows ranked 10th lowest, an improvement from the 2011 survey where the ranking was reported to be 12th.
Pitt Meadows Mayor Deb Walters says her council was pleased and also not surprised with the results.
“It’s about where we thought it would be,” she says.
Developer feedback Pitt Meadows council has heard over the years has usually been positive, Walters adds.
“We hear that quite often – we’re easy to do business with.”
The City of Burnaby had the lowest ranking in the survey with a total fee collection of $184,209, and the City of Richmond was the highest with a total fee collection of $1,030,418.
Maple Ridge collected $239,679 and Pitt Meadows collected $418,051.
Fees accounted for in the survey include subdivision, building and development permits, development cost charges, sewer and water connections and rezoning fees.
The association conducts an annual survey, alternating between an office or industrial scenario to determine municipal costs and development approval timelines.