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Lakewood staff propose fee schedule changes for planning and public works, raise technology fee to cover permit systems
Summary
Public works and planning staff presented a package of fee schedule updates April 21 that correct omissions, add new permit categories and increase a technology surcharge from 2% to 4% to recover software and GIS costs used in permit review.
Lakewood planning and public works staff presented proposed updates to the 2025 fee schedule at the April 21 council meeting, describing a mix of housekeeping fixes, restored line items omitted in a prior reformatting and substantive rate changes to better recover permitting costs.
Public Works Director Tom Remack (appearing with Assistant Director Ms. Silva) said the changes address ‘‘scrivener errors’’ from a large 2024 reorganization of permit fees and add several required permit types that had been left off the published schedule. Staff proposed restoring fees and line items for shoreline permits, design review, certificates of appropriateness, binding site plan alterations and other categories. The update also adds a fee for unit‑lot subdivisions created by recent state legislation and reintroduces cottage‑housing fees.
On substantive changes, staff proposed raising the technology fee assessed on permits from 2% to 4% to cover permit‑related software, GIS and review platforms. Site‑development fees would move to a three‑tier flat fee model ($650, $1,000 and $5,000) so applicants can more easily predict costs. Street‑opening fees were corrected to $1,200 (they had dropped to zero in the prior draft); zoning‑certification fees were adjusted to $300. The schedule also adds a short‑term vacation‑rental permit and clarifies hearing‑examiner deposit language for some land‑use reviews.
Remack said the adjustments are intended to keep Lakewood competitive with neighboring jurisdictions while recovering costs tied directly to permit processing. Council members asked about the impact on the department’s cost‑recovery targets; staff said the changes were designed to maintain or improve the department’s cost‑recovery ratio and to provide clearer flat‑fee options for applicants.
Staff indicated the fee updates will return for adoption at a future meeting after the council has had time to review the recommended changes. No fee changes were adopted on April 21.
