Water Fees Could Dry Up Greenhouse Construction in Chatham-Kent, Ontario
March 29, 2024 | 1 min to read
New development charges for water and wastewater services in Chatham-Kent have been approved despite opposition from the greenhouse sector. Starting at 21 cents per square foot, charges will escalate to 87 cents next year, reaching $4.34 by 2029, ultimately costing greenhouse builders $188,832 per acre. These charges are aimed at funding critical infrastructure needs in the future, and will be phased in over five years.
Despite pushback from the greenhouse industry, new development charges for water and wastewater services in Chatham-Kent have been approved.
Designed to pay for critical infrastructure needs in the future, the charges will be phased in over the next five years. Prior to March 25, the new development charge for water was 21 cents per square foot, meaning one acre of a new greenhouse cost the builder $9,147.
Next year, the charge rises to 87 cents; in 2026 it’s up to $2.17 per sq. foot, eventually landing on $4.34 per square foot in 2029. By then it will cost a greenhouse grower $188,832 to put up one acre of greenhouse.
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