Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Impact Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Advisory board reviews impact fee schedule; members flag need for updated analysis
Summary
Board members reviewed the city’s impact-fee ordinance, noted that the fee schedule dates to 2001, and discussed disparities (about $975 per resident generally, about $650 in Sebastian Highlands) and the possibility of a new fee study given rising equipment and construction costs.
The advisory board reviewed the city’s impact-fee ordinance and asked staff for a contemporary analysis of fees and zones, saying the current schedule appears out of date given recent construction-cost increases.
Staff summarized the ordinance included in the meeting packet and said the typical parks impact fee is about $975 per residential unit, while Sebastian Highlands (a legacy development with a bankruptcy-era settlement) is charged a lower fee (about $650). Staff said fees are collected at the time the owner obtains a building permit.
Board members expressed concern that $975 per resident will not support future park needs in a rapidly growing community and asked staff to benchmark fees against similar cities and present an analysis to the board and to City Council for possible adjustment.
Board members also asked about how impact-fee funds are held by zone, whether money must be encumbered within seven years and what happens to unspent funds. Staff said they would follow up with the city’s finance/accounting group to explain encumbrance rules and report back to the board.
Board members discussed “fee-in-lieu” arrangements, citing the Bryant Court playground: a developer paid about $80,000 in lieu of providing neighborhood park property, and staff used those funds to build the playground.
