Cedar Park updates water and wastewater impact fees for growth projections

The Cedar Park Planning and Zoning Commission convened on May 20, 2025, to discuss critical updates to the city’s water and wastewater impact fees, a topic that directly affects local development and infrastructure funding. This meeting marked the first of several planned discussions aimed at refining the impact fee structure, which has not been updated since its last revision in 2020.

The primary focus of the meeting was to outline the process for updating the impact fees, which are one-time charges imposed on new developments to help fund the necessary infrastructure improvements. These fees are essential for accommodating the city's anticipated growth and ensuring that the water and wastewater systems can support new residents and businesses.

During the presentation, an engineer from Breeze and Nichols provided an overview of the impact fee process, emphasizing the importance of using current data to project future growth. The city anticipates a steady growth rate of approximately 1.6% annually over the next decade, which translates to nearly 5,000 new living unit equivalents (LUEs) by 2035. This growth is expected to be predominantly in single-family and mixed-use developments, reflecting the available land for development within Cedar Park.

The commission also discussed the role of the newly formed Capital Improvement Advisory Committee, which will oversee the development of the impact fees. This committee is tasked with reviewing land use assumptions and the capital improvement plan, ensuring that the proposed fees align with the city's growth projections and infrastructure needs.

Key next steps include further meetings to delve into the capital improvement plan and finalize the impact fee calculations. The commission plans to hold additional sessions in July and later this year, culminating in a public hearing where community feedback will be solicited before the final recommendations are presented to the city council.

As Cedar Park continues to grow, these discussions are vital for ensuring that the city can effectively manage its resources and infrastructure, ultimately benefiting all residents by maintaining a high quality of life and supporting sustainable development.