Grand Bay-Westfield is doing away with frontage fees along Colonel Nase Boulevard.
The temporary move is aimed to drive development along the largely unoccupied corridor.
“I believe it’s going to be a catalytic decision,” Mayor Brittany Merrifield said in an interview.
Council approved amendments to three bylaws on July 11 to remove the frontage fee of $451.
Merrifield said frontage fees, also known as infrastructure fees, are a typical practice for municipalities.
“When developers build subdivisions, they’re responsible for infrastructure such as roads, sewerage lines, things of that nature,” said Merrifield.
“The issue is that the anticipated growth along that corridor hasn’t occurred for a number of different reasons.”
Land along Colonel Nase Boulevard has remained largely vacant since it opened a decade ago.
Merrifield said there has been a perception in the community that the fees were partly to blame.
“It was mostly a perception, but it’s important for us as a town to let developers, to let commercial builders know that we are absolutely in favour and supportive of commercial and residential growth in our area and this is one way to send that message,” she said.
Council voted to remove the fees for a three-year period. Merrifield said the decision will be reconsidered at that time.
