North Bay home builders concerned about development charges

January 27, 2012

North Bay home builders concerned about development charges

NOCN staff writer

North Bay home builders will be expected to pay $7,375 in development fees for a single or semi-detached home following a city council decision in May, representing a 1.9 per cent increase from the previous level.

The increase, representing the general consumer price index, is lower than a 3.9 per cent increase, based on the construction price index.

Rick Miller, representing the North Bay and District Home Builders Association, says the association doesn’t oppose the 1.9 per cent increase, but expressed concern that if development fees rise too much, the city risks driving new construction into surrounding communities.

“Development charges are one of our most difficult costs to explain to customers,” Miller said in a story reported in the North Bay Nugget.

Deputy mayor Peter Chirico said the city is aware of the consequences of raising fees too much. He said many neighbouring communities don’t have the same level of services and infrastructure. “We heard their concerns and we listened to the development community.”

Chirico is quoted a saying a 2009 study showed the city could have hiked development fees to $11,774 in five years – but this would be too much for the local development community, so opted for a target of 79 per cent of that figure over five years.

Sudbury architects recall achievements

January 26, 2012

Sudbury architects recall achievements

NOCN staff writer

Long-established Sudbury architects Oryst Sawchuk and Arthur Peach traveled to Ottawa for the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) convention in May and reminisced about their successes and memories at a lunch with Sudbury Living managing editor Vicki Gilhula and Mark Buckshon, president of the Construction News and Report Group of Companies, which publishes Northern Ontario Construction News (NOCN).

The three Sudbury residents, whom Buckshon met by accident, all knew former NOCN associate publisher Lynne Reynolds, both for her support of development issues while a Sudbury city councillor and because she has contributed freelance articles to Northern Living magazine.

The Sawchuk Peach Associates practice has operated since 1957, built on a relationship when the two then-young founding partners attended architecture school at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg in the mid-50s.

The architects say their most satisfying projects have included work on the municipal bus terminal. They’ve experienced ups and downs, boom and bust, and the challenge of operating a small practice – keeping in touch with their community while working on challenging and innovative projects.

“The firm has undertaken a wide range of projects for both government and private clients: official plans; secondary plans and zoning by-laws; development plans and community studies; institutional, educational, apartment housing, commercial and mixed use development; project planning and analysis; subdivision design, and other aspects of urban and community planning and development,” the Sawchuk Peach website says.

“While the firm has prepared studies for areas throughout Ontario and outside the province, it is Sudbury based. Its principals and associates fully appreciate the particular community development problems associated with northern Ontario, the resource based economy and the pre-cambrian shield.

“Architecture and planning serve to solve community problems and help achieve a better living and working environment. While both require technical expertise, they also require an understanding of the social, economic and cultural characteristics of the community. For effective implementation, the planning and design process must be integrated with decision making to assure appropriate action.”