Sandy council adopts higher water and wastewater system development charges after public hearing

The Sandy City Council voted April 14 to adopt Resolution 20 25-13, implementing revised system development charges for water and wastewater that match the maximum defensible amounts calculated in the city’s updated SDC methodology.

The change raises the maximum water SDC to $18,477 and the maximum wastewater SDC to $14,952, figures presented by staff during a public hearing. City staff estimated the increases could produce roughly $52,000,000 in additional water SDC revenue and $25,000,000 in additional wastewater SDC revenue over the next 20 years if development occurs at projected levels.

The council held a public hearing before the vote. Builders and local business owners warned the increases would further strain homebuilding and affordability in Sandy. Nolan Wagner, a home builder from Damascus who identified himself during public testimony, said, “as these fees go up, builders are gonna not continue building in the city of Sandy.” Tom Worth, a local developer who described multiple unsold lots in his subdivision, told the council he expected the higher charges would make some of his remaining parcels unsellable and that he planned to appeal assessed values if the resolution passed.

Tyler, staff presenter for the city, told councilors the updated methodology — prepared with consultant FCS Group — had captured the city’s anticipated capital improvement projects for water and wastewater and produced the…