Businesses voice opposition to proposed 171% hike in development charges

If approved by Belleville city council, a potential spike in non-residential development charges could stifle the city’s growth in the short and long term, members of the business community said in a public meeting Monday at City Hall.Given tough economic challenges for city manufacturers, industry and businesses, they said increased development charges will make it more difficult to draw new industry or expand existing ones at a time of thinning profit margins.The concerns were raised in