A Halifax councillor is requesting a staff report at Tuesday’s council meeting to examine whether developers should pay more to use sidewalk and road space when construction projects on private property occupy public spaces.

Developers currently pay a flat fee of between $60 and $150 to encroach on public space, plus a daily fee of $0.15 to $0.30 per square metre.

District 10 Coun. Kathryn Morse said other Canadian cities have increased their tariffs, leading to fewer hassles for both drivers and pedestrians.

“What they’re finding is many buildings can be built completely on private property and the equipment and scaffolding does not need to be put in the street and sidewalk,” Morse said.

“If they are required to use the street or sidewalk, they’re using it for less time because they’re being charged for it.”

Morse said her research shows that where builders pay a premium to use public space, they have come up with new construction methods to keep their equipment on site.

Morse is the councillor for Halifax-Bedford Basin West. She said her constituents raised the issue because of a construction project that’s installing cement barriers on Dutch Village Road.

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