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Planning commission waives park/open-space fee for Habitat’s 5-home Rivertown Summit project
Summary
The Columbia River Planning Commission approved a request from Habitat for Humanity to waive the annual park and open-space fee for a five-unit homebuilding project on North Fourth Street. The commission voted by voice; no individual roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.
The Columbia River Planning Commission voted to waive the annual park and open-space fee for Habitat for Humanity’s Rivertown Summit project, a five-unit new-build planned at 440 North Fourth Street.
The request was presented by Mike Andrelzik, outreach manager with Lancaster, Nevada, and Habitat for Humanity, who said the five units have been matched with Habitat families and asked the commission to waive the fee so donated funds can stretch further. “We'd like to request that the recreation be be waived,” Andrelzik said during public comment.
The commission’s chair called for a motion; Member Brad moved to waive the fee and a colleague seconded. The commission approved the waiver by voice vote. The transcript records commissioners saying “Aye” and no recorded opposition; it does not record a roll-call tally of yes or no votes.
Why it matters: Habitat for Humanity said the five units are earmarked for first-time homebuyers who qualify at roughly 40–80% of county area median income (the transcript lists the county AMI as about $83,000). Waiving the fee reduces the project’s upfront costs and preserves donated dollars for construction and homeowner support rather than municipal fees.
Details of the request and prior precedent: Andrelzik told the commission Habitat relies on donations and grants and that waiver of the fee would stretch those resources. He also referenced a letter from Steve Gerberly of Harvard Engineering noting a previous arrangement on a different Habitat project: an offered fee-in-lieu figure of $500 per unit was discussed and had been waived for a past development on Fifth Street. The planning commission agenda and staff packet included that letter.
Project timeline and community notes: Andrelzik said construction is expected to start in late April with completion targeted for the fall, though he cautioned schedules can change. He identified one occupant by first name, Donation, described as a Columbia resident with three children enrolled in the Columbia School District. Commissioners and attendees expressed support; one commissioner said the neighborhood on Linden Street is excited to see homes built there.
Action recorded: waiver of the annual park and open-space fee for the Rivertown Summit Habitat for Humanity project was approved by voice vote; the transcript does not record individual vote tallies.
What remains unresolved: The transcript does not specify the dollar amount of the fee being waived for this project or whether the waiver sets any conditions. The letter referenced an earlier $500-per-unit fee-in-lieu for a prior project; the commission did not attach conditions on the record during the meeting.
Next steps: Habitat intends to break ground late April (date not guaranteed); the commission did not request additional materials or schedule a follow-up hearing on the waiver during this meeting.
