Oakdale council adopts plan-area fee to fund 'backbone' infrastructure for Crane Crossing south area
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Summary
Council approved a public facilities financing plan and an accompanying plan-area fee for the Crane Crossing specific plan's South development area to require new development to pay for oversized or extended infrastructure; the fee will not apply to existing properties and will include funds for parks improvements.
The Oakdale City Council on a 5-0 vote adopted a public facilities financing plan and established a plan-area fee for the South development area of the Crane Crossing Specific Plan, creating a mechanism for new development to pay for backbone infrastructure and certain park improvements.
City staff said the action implements a public facilities financing plan and a project-specific impact and nexus study prepared at the developer's request. The plan covers the southern portion of the Crane Crossing Specific Plan (the area adjacent to Highway 108 and Crane Road) and excludes the unannexed northern area. The council approved the ordinance language adding Article 10 to Chapter 11 of the Oakdale Municipal Code and adopted the financing plan and nexus study during the public hearing.
City staff described "backbone infrastructure" as oversized or extended infrastructure—examples include water trunk lines larger than the developer's immediate need (e.g., requiring a 12-inch main where the subdivision would normally need 6–8 inches) that are intended to serve adjacent future development. Fees will apply only to newly subdivided lots and new building permits; existing developed properties in the plan area are not subject to the fee. Fees will be collected at the time building permits are issued and held by the city until used to reimburse developers or fund projects.
The council and staff discussed how the fee program is similar to the East F Street Specific Plan financing approach. Staff said the developer previously executed a funding agreement in June 2023 and retained Goodwin Consulting to prepare the public facilities financing plan and the nexus study. The plan aims to ensure that "development pays its way" and to avoid a scenario where future projects would have to tear up newly built streets to add utilities.
Council members asked for plain-language clarification of what constitutes backbone infrastructure; staff answered that examples include trunk water mains, oversized lines, and other utilities sized to serve areas beyond a single subdivision. Staff also confirmed that part of the park-related fees from the subdivision could be applied to Fish Park improvements rather than building a small neighborhood park within Saddlewood, and that the choice between collecting fees, providing land, or building a park yields equivalent value as accounted in the nexus study.
The council opened a public hearing; no members of the public spoke. A motion to approve item 10.2 carried 5-0. Staff will bring finalized ordinance text into the municipal code as directed by council action.
The vote formally adopts the financing plan, the project-specific impact and nexus study, and establishes the plan-area fee for the Crane Crossing South development area.
