The Yonkers Legislation and Codes Committee on June 25 discussed a proposed local law that would create a two‑year building permit track for projects equal to or exceeding $10,000,000 and set a flat fee for that two‑year period.

The proposal would replace the current one‑year permit with an optional two‑year fee for large projects. Finance department staff provided a worked example: under the current rule a $10,000,000 project would pay a one‑year fee of $123,000 plus a one‑year extension of $61,500; under the proposal a two‑year fee would be $145,000, a difference of $39,500, or about a 20–21% reduction, finance staff said.

Nut graf: The change is aimed at creating a single two‑year permitting option for very large developments, but the finance commissioner warned it would reduce revenue on each qualifying permit and the administration described the overall budgetary impact as dependent on how many qualifying projects enter the pipeline.

Finance commissioner John Wazewski and department staff explained the fiscal mechanics at the committee meeting. ‘‘Under the current rule, the one‑year fee for a $10,000,000 project would be $123,000 plus a one‑year extension of $61,500. Under the proposed change, a two‑year fee would be $145,000,’’ a finance staff member said. Committee member Councilman Moretti summarized the change as “we're losing roughly $40,000 on the transaction.”

Wazewski and other administration staff told the committee that any lost revenue would depend on the number of new, large projects entering Yonkers. The administration noted that many large projects already in the pipeline were permitted under the existing fee schedule and thus would not be affected while in progress. ‘‘There’s going to be a fiscal loss in the city, but until we have some idea these are obviously going to just be on new projects,’’ the finance commissioner said.

Committee members asked whether the two‑year track would extend to smaller projects; staff clarified the change applies only at the $10,000,000 threshold and would not affect smaller permits. After discussion the committee voted to take the item from committee and send it to the full council agenda for consideration that evening.

Ending: The measure was forwarded out of the Legislation and Codes Committee; the city council will consider it later the same day.