Builders, lenders and housing advocates urge College Station to lower impact fees to boost homeownership

More than a dozen local builders, real estate professionals and housing advocates urged the College Station City Council on April 10 to reduce or waive development impact fees, saying the charges raise the cost of starter homes and push buyers out of the market.

Speakers from the Greater Brazos Valley Builders Association, local Realtors and nonprofit housing groups told council members that impact fees and other development charges are being passed along to purchasers and are a material barrier for first-time buyers.

Chandler Arden, co-chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Greater Brazos Valley Builders Association, told the council that "impact fees do have an effect on homeownership," and that the fees can price would-be first-time buyers out of their first house. Carrie Bullington, a bank loan officer, said she had turned away "3 this week" first-time buyers who could not qualify…