Clifton Heights council adopts tiered permit-fee cap, encumbers ARPA grants and approves energy and PennDOT agreements

The Clifton Heights Borough Council voted unanimously at its meeting to adopt a resolution that amends administrative and regulatory permit fees and caps fees for very large building projects, approved the encumbrance of $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a second round of nonprofit grants, and approved contracts for energy supply and a PennDOT multimodal transportation grant reimbursement.

The council approved Resolution 2025-5 (as referenced during the meeting) to tier building-permit fees so that permit revenue remains proportionate to municipal review and inspection costs for very large projects. Borough staff described the change as necessary because the community is facing an unusually large school construction project that, under the borough's prior formula, would have produced an excessive permit fee. The staff presentation outlined the tiered schedule the council adopted: a 4% base percentage on smaller projects (up to $5 million), 3% on values between $5 million and $40 million, 1% on $40 million to $75 million, and a quarter-percent (0.25%) above $75 million up to a $100 million cap. Council members said the tiers align the borough's…