ACHD proposes two service areas and higher impact fees; Kuna officials raise affordability, industrial concerns

Justin Lucas of the Ada County Highway District presented a draft update to ACHD's 20-year capital improvements plan and its impact-fee program, telling the Kuna City Council the district is considering a move from a single countywide service area to two service areas. "Impact fees are intended to pay for the roadway infrastructure that is generated by growth," Lucas said.

Under the draft, ACHD proposes two service areas (West and East) based on travel-characteristic data. Lucas cited internal trip-retention metrics used to delineate the areas — Ada County trips that originate and end inside the county exceed 90 percent, the West service area retains over 70 percent of trips, and the East service area retains roughly 65 percent. Using updated cost estimates and project lists, ACHD staff estimated a proposed impact fee for a single-family home of approximately $8,900 in the West service area and a little over $5,000 in the East service area.

Mayor Stier asked whether the dividing line "kinda cuts our industrial zone off of our city zone," noting that employment centers can draw workers countywide. Lucas said the boundary is drawn from projected travel characteristics, not to favor particular parcels, and acknowledged examples such as Micron "that will likely draw individuals from all over Ada County, all over Canyon County, and even out of Elmore County." He advised the city to send formal written comments to ACHD if it disagrees with the proposed boundary.

Council members pressed on precedent and legal risk. One councilor asked whether ACHD has used multiple service areas before; Lucas said ACHD employed multiple areas prior to 2012 and emphasized tradeoffs between the simplicity of a single service area and perceptions of fairness. Council President Bruce raised affordability concerns: "Every time you raise an impact fee, it's going to be higher in the West. That adds on to an additional cost of the house, which then makes it more unaffordable for families." Lucas said the fee calculation follows state code, driven by project costs and trip characteristics, and that affordability considerations are a policy choice for elected decision-makers.

Lucas said ACHD is taking public comment now and hopes the commission will consider adoption in early December; he asked the city to submit comments in writing so the commission has them for deliberations. He also said ACHD can provide accounting of fees collected from developments in Kuna on request.

The presentation included maps of roadway widening and new connections ACHD flagged over the plan's 20-year horizon; staff said those projects and updated construction-cost estimates are the principal drivers of higher fee projections. The council did not take a formal position during the meeting and was encouraged to submit formal comments to ACHD prior to the commission's deliberations.