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Council adopts consolidated community development master fee schedule after public hearing
Summary
Following a public hearing, the council approved a master fee schedule and code updates to consolidate planning, permitting and review fees; notable changes include new pre-application fees and credits and separate fees for accessory dwelling units and short subdivisions.
The Longview City Council on March 13 adopted a consolidated Community and Economic Development master fee schedule and associated code updates after a public hearing.
Why it matters: The consolidated schedule moves disparate fees now scattered throughout city code into a single, transparent resolution. Staff said the change improves clarity for applicants, streamlines administrative processing and sets up the city to update fees by resolution going forward.
Key changes the council approved include: - Pre-application fees: a $100 minor pre-application fee and a $400 major pre-application fee, with a portion of the fee credited against a later formal application submitted within six months. - Separate, clarified fees for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and special uses (ADU fees were reduced to reflect lower staff time), and a split fee structure for short subdivisions (to reflect distinct review phases). - Pulling public-notice and transcript fees into the master schedule to make them easier to find and apply. - Establishing a separate fee for wireless communication facility review and setting minimum fees for selected reviews (for example, fire review of building permits).
Staff noted the proposed pre-application fees remain competitive with peer cities and that the city's updated permit system (ERP) will allow better tracking of actual staff time for future fee adjustments. During the hearing a resident and a local developer said a master schedule improves predictability and reduces the time spent searching scattered code sections.
The council approved the associated resolution (resolution number 2548) establishing the master fee schedule. Staff said the change is intended to be implemented within 30 days and will allow staff to streamline permits and publish the schedule on the city website.
Ending: Staff will update permit-system settings, post the master schedule online and bring future fee adjustments back to council by resolution as needed.
