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Columbia County Habitat for Humanity asks council to reduce fees for a donated lot in St. Helens
Summary
Columbia County Habitat for Humanity requested partial system development charge (SDC) relief and a sidewalk‑fee waiver for a donated lot where it plans to build a roughly 1,000‑square‑foot house; staff said SDC backfill is required by statute while sidewalk fee waivers are discretionary and historically have been granted by the city.
Jennifer Anderson, executive director of Columbia County Habitat for Humanity, and project coordinator Anna Dahlman presented the nonprofit’s request for fee relief and described the affiliate’s work and the donated lot they intend to develop in St. Helens.
Anderson said the proposed home is a modest, roughly 1,000‑square‑foot house without a garage on a small building envelope that was the subject of a variance. She described Habitat’s home‑buyer model—matched savings (IDA), USDA 502 loan packaging, a second mortgage that is forgiven over time—and said the organization typically serves households at about 40–50% of area median income.
Habitat asked the council to waive or reduce system development charges (SDCs) and to waive the city’s sidewalk fee in lieu. Anderson said the organization requests a 50% reduction in SDCs because the fee schedule is a flat charge that disproportionately increases costs for very small homes, and that the sidewalk fee has been forgiven for prior Habitat homes. She noted the city historically helped by forgiving fees but acknowledged SDC funds are constrained.
A city staff member explained that, by statute, SDC funds must be made whole through backfill if the council waives them, and that sidewalk fees are the city’s discretionary charge which the council can forgive without a statutory backfill. Councilors had no further questions and administration suggested moving the item to the evening meeting for action; no decision was made during the work session.
Ending: Habitat representatives thanked the council; staff will place the item on the evening agenda for consideration of fee adjustments or backfill options.
