Q&A

Development cost charge bylaws must be reviewed periodically to ensure consistency with development, and to accurately reflect construction costs.

The last update of the Parks DCC rate was completed in 2016. Since then, the following changes have taken place:

• Official Community Plan Update – completed 2018
• Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update – completed 2019 (endorsed by Council in 2020)

The District is now revisiting its Parks DCC rate to reflect these changes.

Cost are levied to help pay for the costs of acquiring and developing parks to meet the needs and impacts of growth within the community.

1. Applicants for subdivision approval to create single-family development sites.
2. Applicants for building permits to construct multi-family, commercial, industrial or institutional development.

The existing DCC bylaw is based on 20 years of Growth at 3.1% per year from 2016 to 2035. The recently adopted Official Community Plan is also based on 3.1% growth per year as one of its projected rates. In order to align with these two documents, the Parks DCC analysis draws on the same projections as the Existing 2016 DCC background report.

For more information refer to Section 4.0 in the Parks Development Cost Charge Bylaw Background Report

Please refer to Section 6.0 in the Parks Development Cost Charge Bylaw Background Report covers rates.

Parks DCC’s can be levied for:

• Parkland acquisition; and
• Park improvements, generally limited to fencing, landscaping, drainage, irrigation, washrooms, changing rooms, playgrounds and playing field equipment.

Parkland and improvement needs must be related to growth. By legislation, Parks DCC’s cannot be used to pay for:

• Operation and maintenance of District parks;
• New or upgraded works needed only for the existing population;
• New facilities, such as recreation buildings, fire halls, police stations or libraries;
• Park improvements that are considered to serve more specialized user groups, such as sports courts, skateboard parks, bike parks, dog parks, artificial turf fields, baseball diamonds and dugouts; and
• Vehicle parking areas in District parks.

Parks DCC’s will be used to acquire and develop active park types in the following classifications:

• Destination Parks (examples include Beasley Park, Jack Seaton Park and Swalwell Park)
• Developed Beach Parks (examples include Coral Beach Park and Pioneer Park)
• Developed Neighbourhood Parks (examples include Apex Park and Dewar Park)  

Parks DCC’s will not be used for:

• Greenspace and Natural Area Parks
• Trail Corridors and Linear Parks

The District currently provides parks developed for active recreation purposes at a rate of 2.3 hectares / 1,000 population. The new Parks DCC program aims to maintain this rate as Lake Country continues to grow. This totals 20 hectares over 15 years based on growth projections.