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Yonkers committee considers two-year permits, pro rata renewals and fee cut for large projects
Summary
The committee reviewed a proposed local law to change building permit rules to allow two-year permits, 90-day pro rata renewals and an overall roughly 20% fee reduction targeted at large projects; staff will return with detailed fee charts and a follow-up meeting is planned.
The Legislation and Codes Committee considered a local law to amend Chapter 56 of the code to change building permit terms and the fee schedule to accommodate multi-year developments in Yonkers.
Building Commissioner Jim Gibbons told the committee that with increased development over the last decade the department and developers negotiated a new fee schedule that would permit two-year permits instead of one-year permits and allow additional 90-day pro rata permits after expiration so projects that run longer do not pay a full additional year. "So if a project takes 2 years and 6 months, a developer will not be required to pay a full additional year of permit fees," Gibbons said, and staff estimated an overall reduction of about 20% for larger projects.
Commissioner Gibbons and Corporation Counsel Matt Gallagher discussed specific rates. Gibbons noted proposed language showing "$14.50 per thousand" for a fee tier but said that may be a typo and requested time to confirm the table; Gallagher and staff said they would return with charts showing how the new legislation would affect fees. Gallagher also proposed another committee meeting so finance staff could present impact charts and involve Planning/Development staff (he said he would bring "JJ" and later referenced speaking with "mister Jacobson" about dollars offset).
Council members welcomed the proposal as a way to smooth fees for multi-year construction, particularly where projects can take two years or longer. Minority Leader Mike Breen supported the idea. Some members raised a related concern about long-running private builds and suggested looking at escalating permit fees on projects that repeatedly extend beyond reasonable timelines; Gallagher said staff would research that idea for possible future legislation.
No final vote occurred; the item will remain in committee pending staff follow-up and a subsequent meeting to present detailed fee impacts.
