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Forest Park staff propose planning fee increases, cite decades-old ordinance language
Summary
Planning staff proposed updating the planning and community development fee schedule to align with neighboring jurisdictions; staff said portions of the fee ordinance date to 1959 and recommended increases that would still keep Forest Park's fees lower than nearby cities.
City planning staff presented a proposed update to the Planning and Community Development Department's fee schedule and related ordinance language, saying some ordinance sections show a last formal revision date of 1959.
Staff said they conducted a comparative analysis with Clayton County, Jonesboro, Riverdale and Morrow and recommended a new fee schedule intended to cover cost of service while remaining competitive; staff told council the proposed schedule would still, in many instances, be lower than neighboring jurisdictions. Staff cited specific examples in the packet, including a proposed rezoning fee increase to $600 and a proposed variance/conditional-use fee of $650, and said the fees are based on gross square footage and International Code Council building valuation data when applicable.
Council members asked whether higher fees might deter development or be borne by residents; staff said the proposed fees are aligned with neighboring cities and that fee revenue would go to the general fund. Staff and council noted that some fee language in the ordinance had not been redlined or updated for many years and that updating procedures and the fee schedule is intended to reflect current cost of service rather than raise revenue beyond costs.
The Planning Commission approved the text update on Dec. 19, 2024; no final council vote to adopt the fee ordinance was recorded at the work session.
