Council cut the cost of creating new places of worship, cemeteries and burial sites on Monday evening, eliminating the need for them to provide parkland or cash-in-lieu when building.
The move, explains a staff report, is intended to “ensure that parkland dedication costs do not inhibit the growth of other community assets that help improve the lives and diversity of Guelph residents that may be needed in the future as the city continues to expand.”
The new exemptions are expected to have a “minimal” cost to city coffers, the report adds.
Development for non-commercial educational purposes or non-commercial medical purposes are also exempt from the parkland dedication bylaw.
Places of worship continue to be exempt from paying development charges.
