The developers of the growing upscale facility are challenging 461-thousand dollars worth of development charges. They're taking both the city and county to task. Lawyers are expected to argue that they shouldn't have to pay the charges of 84 new units currently under construction because the infrastructure for the units was already in place. In a letter to council signed by the President and Vice-President of Oxford Gardens, Bill Van Haeren and Cliff Zaluski it states "Our position remains that as the former facility, owned by the County, housed approximately 230 residents, while including this new addition, Oxford Gardens will only house 184 residents, the municipal and comity services that currently exist and serve the facility will not see an increased usage burden, and as such there is no call for development charges for this addition." Mayor Pat Sobeski addressed the topic in this week's Heart FM webchat with the mayor, saying if they waive the charges, it could be precedent setting. "The owners are well respected in the community, it's a project building seniors apartments...but you have to come back to the nitty-gritty: we have to collect tax dollars. This is future tax dollars. If council was to just say 'fine, we'll waive the fee', then it pretty much puts the entire development charge by-law under great stress." On Thursday night, Woodstock City Council will hear the arguments during a planning act appeal. At that point, they'll have a chance to discuss the issue and make a decision, or defer. Sobeski admits if council decides to stand by the charges, they could be headed for an OMB hearing.
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