Commissioners adopt modest development-review fee changes; broader fee review urged

The Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 7 approved a set of modest changes to development-review, fire-prevention and engineering inspection fee schedules, while several commissioners urged a more comprehensive analysis of all fees to reflect current staff costs and inflation since the schedules were last broadly reviewed.

Growth Management staff presented a narrow package that added fees such as zoning review on building permits, landscaping compliance inspection fees, a permit fee for shoreline stabilization and other technical adjustments. Paul Schilling, Growth Management director, said staff had focused on a set of clarifications and additions and that a wholesale fee overhaul would be a much larger undertaking.

“Should the board’s direction be to travel in that direction, we could certainly do that,” Schilling said, noting the last comprehensive review was years ago. Commissioner [first reference: Commissioner Hurd] said developers and large projects require substantial staff time and that the county was not recovering the full cost on some complex reviews. Several commissioners emphasized balancing fee increases with keeping small-project costs reasonable so that single-family homeowners and small businesses are not deterred.

The building department and fire prevention staff said they were also pursuing efficiency measures. Staff noted some proposed building-permit efficiencies and possible fee reductions tied to inspection innovations, while other departments proposed limited fee increases for larger commercial items.

Commissioner [first reference: Commissioner Campey] moved to approve the proposed fee revisions; Commissioner [first reference: Commissioner Capps] seconded. The motion passed 3-1 with Commissioner Hurd dissenting. Commissioners asked staff to return with a more complete cost-based fee study for future consideration.