Laconia planning staff recommends phased increase to impact fees; board schedules public hearing

Laconia planning staff presented a final impact-fee study and a draft ordinance Sept. 2 that would expand what projects may be charged and raise the maximum fees the city could collect for new development. Planning Director Rob Mora told the Planning Board the city's 2009/2011 study left current fees far below what a modern analysis supports; the consultant's new maximum rate for a single-family home is $19,307. The draft ordinance the board reviewed would initially collect 25% of the new maximum and include automatic annual adjustments tied to inflation, with a proposed 5% annual step until full (100%) collection is reached by 2040. Why it matters: the proposed changes would broaden the types of public infrastructure funded through impact fees (including municipal facilities and public works), raise the per-unit and per-square-foot amounts for many housing and commercial types, and change how waivers and exemptions are handled. Key details from the presentation and board discussion - Study findings: the consultant compared Laconia to peer communities and recalculated needs across multiple departments using updated…