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Council hears kickoff for mandatory impact‑fee study; public advisory committee planned
Summary
Consultant Paige Hatley outlined the scope of a Georgia Development Impact Fee Act (DIFA) study the city will use to analyze charges for parks, police, fire and road‑capacity projects; the study includes a methodology report, a capital improvements element and DCA review; an advisory committee with development‑industry representation is required.
Paige Hatley of a firm specializing in impact‑fee studies told South Fulton City Council during a public hearing on Feb. 25 that the city has begun a mandatory kickoff to study a possible development impact‑fee program under Georgia’s Development Impact Fee Act (DIFA).
Hatley outlined the study components: a methodology report (technical calculations and the maximum fee schedule), a capital improvements element (CIE) that inventory projects to 2050, and a draft development impact‑fee ordinance. The CIE must be reviewed by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) if adopted and is typically aligned with the city’s comprehensive plan update.
Hatley said South Fulton is limiting the study to fee‑eligible capital categories allowed by state law for cities: parks, public safety (fire and police) and road capacity projects such as widenings and roundabouts. The study will exclude routine maintenance, staffing or routine equipment replacement, but can include capital expansions (for example, additional fire station square footage or specialized vehicles).
The consultant explained the process for determining a maximum fee schedule (the legal ceiling for fees) and described the state‑required advisory committee. DCA rules require an advisory panel of five to ten members and at least half of the membership must be from the local development community (builders, developers, real‑estate interests). Hatley said the committee is advisory and the council appoints members; the firm will schedule public hearings on the CIE and the ordinance at the proper stage.
Council members asked whether the study is already underway; staff said inventory work and departmental data collection have begun. Hatley said the methodology report is the heavy lifting and typically takes four to six months; the full process is often a year. No fees or program decisions were made at the hearing; the item served as the statutorily required public kickoff to collect initial public input.
Ending: Staff will form the required advisory committee and post public notices for the study; the consultant will collect additional departmental data and return recommended methodology and CIE documents for council review and later DCA review.
