Maple Ridge adopts amenity cost charges bylaw for growth-related facilities

The City of Maple Ridge has adopted an Amenity Cost Charges bylaw intended to help fund community facilities needed for population and employment growth. The new charges will take effect Jan. 1, 2027 and will initially focus on recreation amenities.

Amenity Cost Charges, or ACCs, are authorized under provincial legislation and let municipalities recover part of the capital costs of eligible amenities not covered by Development Cost Charges. The city said the program will be phased in over four years, beginning with a larger city-funded share of eligible growth-related costs and moving toward higher developer-paid rates over time.

Projects already under construction, along with some applications already in progress, may qualify for exemptions under transition provisions in the Local Government Act and the bylaw. ACCs cannot fund operating, maintenance, renewal or replacement costs, or items already eligible for Development Cost Charges.

Council included three proposed Recreation Ready projects in the ACC program: the Hammond Aquatics and Recreation Centre, Hammond Multi-Use Community Park and Albion Twin-Rink Arena Expansion. The proposed funding approach identifies 40 per cent of construction costs as growth-related and eligible for ACC funding, with the other 60 per cent to come from other sources.

The bylaw also provides lower ACC rates for some affordable and non-market housing classes. The city consulted the development industry and public after first reading in May, held an open house June 17, and adopted the bylaw July 28. More information is available at MapleRidge.ca/AmenityCostCharges.