Final approval has been granted to changes to the offsite development levy after more than a year of talking and research.

Despite a recommendation from administration and a consultant who studied the matter, council has approved a rate that's nearly half of what it was recommended to be. The report to council around this time last year explained that it was costing the city upwards of $80,000 per acre to develop new residential areas and a new bylaw was drafted to reflect that cost.

However, as a re-hashed version of the increase came up for debate, Councillor Scott McMann opposed the move and explained that he felt the increase was too much during the current economic downturn. With the vote this week, the levy will be just over $49,000 per acre.