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12 | 20 | 2014 VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 51
First-place Kings win another one SPORTS PAGE 11
COMMENT PAGE 8
Pan Am Games are a predictable fiasco
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Wellesley pulls off development charges bandaid
The christmas spirit alive and well in Conestogo
Council opts for large, all-at-once increase to levy applied to new homes that will be built in the township Scott Barber After nearly 15 years of stagnant development charge rates, the cost of building new homes is set to rise in Wellesley Township. Councillors meeting Tuesday evening rejected a staff proposal to phase in significant increases to residential development charges, instead passing a bylaw to apply all at once the maximum fees allowed by the province. While council was unanimous in its support of raising rates more than 500 per cent – to $7,666 from $1,296 for single- and semi-detached units – Ward 1 Coun. Shelley Wagner and Ward 2 Coun. Herb Neher each agreed with the staff’s recommendation of a phase-in period that would see a 50 per cent increase over the next two years. But Ward 4 Coun. Carl Smit, Ward 3 Coun. Peter
Conestogo Public School’s Christmas concert was the place to be on Dec. 17 with dance routines, a Christmas version of Taylor Swift’s “Shake it off,” and a visit from a much younger looking Santa Claus. [Whitney Neilson / the observer]
van der Maas and Mayor Joe Nowak disagreed. “I’d rather do it all at once,” Smit said. “They’re building $500,000 houses and we’re talking about a couple thousand dollars here. I think we’re better off just to get it done and over with.” “My understanding is that some of the fault lies with the township for not having reviewed this issue a long time ago,” Wagner countered. “I understand where the developers are coming from, and although it has been enjoyable for (them) for so long because there hasn’t been an increase in so long, but I think there is a benefit to splitting it up and saying, ‘yes, we were at fault because we didn’t implement it before,’ rather than just dropping it all on them at once.” Van der Maas, like Smit, is a newcomer to council development | 6
2014
$500
278
$
HOLIDAY BONUS† ON SELECT MODELS
LEASE PAYMENT FOR 39 MONTHS*
$2,729 DOWN* | 0.5% LEASE RATE*
WELL EQUIPPED FROM
26,476
$
* V
For the Subaru dealer nearest you, visit ontario.subarudealer.ca Ratings are awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) (www.iihs.org). To qualify for 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, plus a good or acceptable rating in the small overlap front test. †$500.00 Holiday Bonus included in all advertised monthly lease payments. *MSRP of 24,495 on 2014 XV Crosstrek (EX1 TP). Lease rate of 0.5% for 39 months. Monthly payment is $278 with $2,729 Studio down payment. Option to purchase at end of lease is $12,695 with $3,398 due on signing. Advertised pricing consists of MSRP plus charges for Freight/PDI ($1,650), Air Tax ($100), Tire Stewardship Levy ($27.15), OMVIC Fee ($5), Dealer Admin ($199). Revisions #1700 – 33 BLOOR ST EAST, TORONTO, ON, CANADA M4W 3T4 • T 416 925 9819 • F 416 921 4180 Freight/PDI charge includes a full tank of gas. Taxes, license, P40666_TSB1_December_DAA.indd 1 registration and insurance are extra. $0 security deposit. Dealers may sell or lease for less or may have to order or trade. Offers applicable on approved credit at participating dealers only. Lease 2014-12-02 5:26 PM based on a maximum of 20,000 km per year, with excess charged at $0.10/km. Leasing and financing programs available through Subaru Financial Services by TCCI. Other lease and finance rates and terms available; down payment or equivalent trade-in may be required. Vehicle shown solely for purposes of illustration, and may not be equipped exactly as shown. Offers available until December 31, 2014. See your local Subaru dealer for complete program details. 26 Manitou Drive, Kitchener, ON | Tel: (519) 894-2050 | www.geminimotors.com
NOTE TO PUB: Legal to be placed on
REV. # 2
Date: AD #: Client:
2014 Dec 1, 2 SUB OMD P40666_TSB1 SUBARU
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