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City of Castlegar introduces incentive to aid in consolidating parcels

Castlegar's city council has adopted what they are calling the Lot Line Consolidation Incentive Program.

In order to acknowledge complaints and concerns surrounding the city's new parcel tax from property owners that own more than one parcel of land, Castlegar's city council has adopted what they are calling the Lot Line Consolidation Incentive Program.

Castlegar's new parcel tax will see $150 added annually to each parcel within the city for the next ten years. Provincial legislation stipulates that when imposing a parcel tax, the tax must be applied to all parcels in the city.

The purpose of the program is to assist property owners with legally removing lot lines that bisect their homes. The majority of these parcels are located in an area defined by subdivision plan 650, which was completed in 1897. This area is located in the downtown, north end of Castlegar east of Columbia Ave. The typical size of a parcel in the original plan 650 area is 30 feet by 100 feet and it was common for a property owner to acquire two or more parcels and straddle their homes over lot lines.

In some cases, it may be advantageous for property owners to remove interior lot lines and consolidate their property into one parcel, thereby saving $150 each year per parcel they remove.

The new policy would see the city credit back parcel tax levies once homeowners have legally consolidated their property. The program will be made available until the end of 2017, giving property owners a little over a year and a half to complete the process.

To take advantage of this program, property owners should contact the Department of Development Services for more information and to see if they qualify.