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Commissioners review proposed changes to traffic‑impact fees, new document‑recording fees and annual sidewalk trip‑hazard contract
Summary
At the budget work session staff recommended changing the town's traffic‑impact analysis fee structure to require a $250 scoping deposit and raise the full study review fee to $1,000; staff also proposed new document recording fees tied to county land‑record charges and presented a ~ $38,589 contract for annual sidewalk trip‑hazard remediation.
Town planning and legal staff proposed several fee and contract changes during the April 15 budget work session.
Traffic impact analysis fees: Staff proposed dividing the existing traffic impact analysis (TIA) fee into two components: a $250 fee to determine scope (collectible before a scoping meeting) and a $1,000 fee for review of the full traffic study. The change is aimed at reducing the town’s up‑front consultant costs when applicants attend a scoping meeting and then do not proceed; the scoping deposit is intended to be earnest money so the town recovers consultant time. Staff said typical full traffic studies historically cost developers much more (examples discussed in the meeting cited typical consultant estimates around $2,400 for a complete study), and the new structure is intended to ensure the town recovers consultant costs.
Document recording fees: Town legal staff described a newly noticeable set of fees charged by the Harford County land‑records office (filing surcharges, page fees, an e‑fee and an apparent $50 lien‑sheet charge). Staff recommended that developers be required to pay any land‑records recording costs incurred when processing easements, deeds or developer agreements, noting the county had recently begun charging a lien‑sheet fee that the town had not previously seen. Staff discussed whether to keep specific dollar figures in the town fee schedule or instead reference the county land‑records fee schedule to avoid frequent updates if the county changes its charges.
Sidewalk trip hazard contract: Public works staff presented the annual contract for Precision Concrete Cutting for sidewalk trip‑hazard remediation. The FY2026 request was for cutting 426 trip hazards throughout the downtown area, listed streets included Main Street and others, with a contract price of $38,589. The town had budgeted $40,500 for the work and was under budget in the proposal. Staff said the work is routinely scheduled for spring following winter heave.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about who pays consultant fees if a project does not proceed, how frequent the county’s lien‑sheet charges had become, and whether the town should reference county fee schedules rather than hard‑coded dollar amounts to avoid frequent ordinance changes. No final municipal code changes or contract award votes occurred at the work session; staff will return with final language and the contract will be placed on the upcoming public meeting agenda for approval.
Ending: Staff will prepare ordinance language or fee schedule wording for commissioners’ consideration that either references county recording fees or locks dollar amounts in the town schedule; the sidewalk contract will be placed for formal vote at the next regular meeting.
