Fountain Hills staff, consultant warn rising construction costs could sharply raise development impact fees

The Town of Fountain Hills held a work session in which town staff and consultant Ben Griffin of TischlerBice reviewed a draft update to the town’s land use assumptions and infrastructure improvements plan that will determine development impact fees for the next five years. Paul (town staff) and Ben told council the update is required under Arizona law and that rising construction costs—plus a recent increase in the Shea Boulevard widening estimate—could result in substantially higher fees for new development.

“This is your opportunity to ask questions,” Rachel (town manager) told council, stressing no formal action would be taken at the work session. Ben Griffin described the basics of impact fees and three required legal showings—need, benefit and proportionality—and…