Bridal Elementary district sets nominal developer fee; Rio Del receives study on consent calendar
Summary
The council received the Bridal Elementary School District's developer-fee justification study as an informational item; the district set a $1 per-square-foot residential fee (maximum allowed would have been $5.17), with collection handled by the school and an exemption for senior-only housing.
The Rio Del City Council received, on the consent calendar, a developer-fee justification study submitted by the Bridal Elementary School District and recorded the item as a receiving file.
A council speaker summarized the district’s public hearing and vote: the study showed the maximum allowable developer fee could be $5.17 per square foot, but the school board voted to set the residential fee at $1 per square foot and $0.75 per square foot for commercial construction. The council speaker said the board passed the measure 3–2 and emphasized that the city will not collect the fee; the school district will handle collection and provide verification during the building-permit process.
Councilmembers and members of the public asked several clarifying questions. Staff explained the fee applies to new construction over 500 square feet, and that senior-only housing is exempt because it is not expected to generate new students for the district. The council recorded the receiving-file action with a unanimous 5–0 vote to accept the item as presented.
A public contractor presented details at the school’s hearing about potential impacts on development, and some school board members expressed reluctance but concluded the reduced fee struck a balance between meeting statutory requirements and minimizing local impacts.
Next steps: The school district will implement its collection procedures; the city will add a line item to its building-permit checklist directing applicants to provide school-district fee verification when required.
