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Council advances parks impact fee over developer objections; first reading passes
Summary
Council passed Ordinance 35-20-24 on first reading to establish a parks and recreation impact fee charged to new development, after a lengthy presentation by consultants and critical public comments from builders and residents who warned the fee will be passed to consumers.
The West Lafayette City Council on Oct. 7 moved forward on Ordinance 35-20-24, an ordinance establishing a parks and recreation impact fee charged to new development. The ordinance passed on a first reading with an 8–1 recorded vote (one abstention).
Tricia McClellan, consultant with REA in conjunction with Baker Tilly, summarized the framework: "These are fees that are assessed to new developments. So they are paid at the time that a building permit is pulled." She explained state law limits impact fees to capital improvements required to serve new residents and prohibits using them to address existing facility deficiencies or routine maintenance. The steering committee proposed charging 60% of the calculated maximum for single‑family units and 100% for multifamily units; the presentation highlighted a proposed single‑family fee on the order of about $2,000.
Builders and developers pushed back in public comment. Steve Schreckengas, a longtime local builder, cautioned that "technically, that's correct. In reality, it's gonna be paid by the consumer. It will be added to the rents," and said the upfront financing burden can be significant for projects. Barney Schumann, president of the Builders Association, asked how the city's population-per‑unit assumptions and credit for on-site amenities are calculated.
Council members asked detailed questions about projections, the ordinance language (including a point of confusion about single‑family and multifamily adjustment percentages on page 7 of the ordinance), potential impacts on affordable housing, and whether comparable university towns rely on impact fees. Consultants said the fee model uses historical census and housing-study data, includes a required impact fee review board to hear appeals and in-lieu proposals, and relies on a 10‑year projection that must be updated every five years.
Councilors requested additional benchmarking and some targeted follow-up work; the ordinance will return for a second reading after staff responses. Under state law the fee would take effect months after adoption, and council discussed timing and possible refinements to rates for different housing types.
