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A decision to grow suburban development could mean a doubling of the city’s annual operating costs to bring new communities online, from $10 million to $20 million, over and above operational budgets for other new communities currently in development.

However, council also elected Thursday to leave the door open to the possibility of a funding tool that could see developers share part of the operational costs for new developments along with taxpayers; councillors also asked administration to look at other ways to reduce the costs to the city, which could include delaying or reducing services in new communities.

“I want to be absolutely clear from this council, you’re talking about a differential in service delivery in new areas,” said city manager Jeff Fielding. “Is that what I’m hearing?”

“Yes,” said Coun. Shane Keating, who said he wants administration to look at how fire services can be deployed differently in new communities, as well as different options for transit in low-density neighbourhoods where shuttle buses often run empty.

“Not every community needs exactly the same services on exactly the same date as they build out,” Keating said.

The report, compiled by city administration following two years of consultations with developers, sparked passionate debate in council chambers Thursday.

Inner-city Coun. Druh Farrell said she wants council to factor in both established and suburban communities when talking about growth.