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Agmor‘ All Wax-It-Dry‘ Car Gel 39-2857 0 See In-Store for Specific Models ln-stock Inventory Coke Soft Bring: 2 Litre Bottles ‘ SAVE 55% :22» SALE $299 SALE $999 ass. ‘9” 3mg; 70 /o 76-. Yardworks 100’ Heavy Duty Garden Hose ° Carrying bag included Beach Toys, ‘11 Piece Set SAVE $60 $149” nae. ’59” l The Town of Whitchurch-Stoufl'ville will ‘ pick the pockets of commercial developers three times in the upcoming year, as council i has opted to phase-in its development charge increase. The commercial/ retail development charge will go from its current rate of $6.05 to $9.68 per square foot when phased-in._ “We were hoping to avoid any increase in the develobment charge," said Robert Howe of Goodmans LLP on behalf of the Stoufiville Developers Group. “lfit’s not possible to avoid, then we need to the impact.” On Sept. 1, commercial/retail developers will have to pay a development charge of $6.59 per square foot. Orf Maréh 1, that rate will go to $8.19 a square foot and on Sept. 1, 2010, the full rate of.$9.68 will take efiect. This new rate will put Whitchurch- New to Whitchurch-Stouflville’s develop- Stouflvifle second only to Richmond Hill for ment charge bylaw is a partial exemption GTA commercial/retail development charg- from the commercial/retail rate for major es. ofice space buildings, which are defined as “I'm not scared of being No. 1 in DCs,” said 20,000 square feet or more. “I'm not scared of being No. 1 in DCs.” said Mayor Wayne Emmerson. The residential development charge has also increased. However, the new rate will not be phased in. As of Sept. 1, a single detached home will have a development charge of $11,929. which is up from $10,573. 0 BY SANDRA BOLAN sbolan@yrmg.com Design revisions have almost doubled the projected cost of the second phase of the Park Drive extension through Stouffville Memorial Council budgeted approximately $2.6 mil- lion for this portion of the project, but when bids were received last month, they ranged from $4.6 to $5.6 million. The new section of Park Drive will start at the intersection of Park and Burkholder Street, wind south and connect to the portion of Park located just north of Hoover Park Drive, next to the Whitchurchâ€"Stouffville Public Library/ Lebovic Leisure Centre. ’ GROWTH: Council agrees to phase in hike The two softball diamonds that back onto DY mld'lune- homes on Thicketwood Boulevard will be removed to make way for the road. New dia- 9 monds will open in Bethesda Park. The recycling depot is also coming down. Phase two of Park Drive’s extension includes: The outdoor pool will not be affected. _-__A__ __ -J:__ “This budget figure was prepared primarily based on the design concept approved in the Class EA completed in 2003," wrote Tom Parry. director of engineering and capital projects for Whitchurch-Stouffville. “Since that time, the detailed design requirements have changed, introducing’ some cost increases," which include additional road length, enhanced landscaping and a storm‘sewer extension. "lb help bridge the gap between the actual cost and what was budgeted, some of the work will be removed or deferred, which will bring the total cost of the project to $3.4 million. Higher charges scare developers, not mayor “We have no chbice as a council to make “The development Charge update. current- Park road costs soaring BY SANDRA BOLAN sbolan@yrmg.com the DCs what they need to be to provide the services we need for our residents," said Councillor Clyde Smith. While the commercial/ retail and residenâ€" tial development charges are on the rise, the town's industrial rate will go down from $4.69 to $3.20 per square foot. Like the commer- cial increase, the industrial decrease will be phased-in during a one-year period. The tbwn’s existing rate, indexed to 2009, of $6.32 per square foot of gross floor space will be applied. “Some of the businesses we'd like to attract do come in the form of office buildings," said Dave Cash, the municipality's CAO. All rate Changes take effect Sept. 1. ly under review, includes funding for the Park Drive extension in the amount of $3,493,215,” wrote Mr. Parry. Marâ€"King Construction Company was awarded the contract with their bid of $4.6 million and has decided to remain with the project despite the changes. This is the second and last phase in the Park Drive extension project. Last year, Hoover Park Drive north to the Lebovic Leisure Cen- tre entrance was complete. Construction of Park Drive is expected to start in mid-August, with the road completed to base asphalt by the end of November. The final grading and landscaping of the site will be done in the spring of 2010 and completed by midâ€"lune. - a centre median - decorative street lamps - a combination sidewalk/bike path integrated with Memorial Park - landscaping adjacent to the rear of the lots fronting onto Thicketwood Boulevard - parking lot improvements to deter drivers from using it as a thoroughfare to Main Street ° skateboard park will be relocated to the east to accommodate parking lot improvements ‘We have no choice as a council to make the 00s what they need to be to provide the services we need for our residents! Councillor Clyde Smith, Town of Whitchurch-Stoufli/ille