The Kame is a glacial deposit of sand and gravel, and it behaves differently from the clay that most of Niagara sits on. Water moves through it quickly, which is good for foundations and unhelpful for anything that relies on the ground holding a grade. Excavations stand up less predictably in loose granular material, and a slab poured on it needs its base built rather than assumed. On the slopes off the ridge, retaining and drainage do more work than the finished surface does.
Fonthill is governed by the Town of Pelham, whose building permit fees are currently under review. The Town has confirmed that its fees have not had a comprehensive review since 2016, with only small annual increases since, and it ran a fee study through 2026. Anyone budgeting a project across the next couple of years should treat today's permit figure as a floor rather than a fixed number. Our kitchen renovations in Fonthill get quoted with that noted rather than buried.