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Planning staff urges update to impact‑fee study; board to ask council for funding for third‑party review
Summary
Staff told the Laconia Planning Board the current impact‑fee schedule is based on a 2009 assessment and that the city currently collects 50% of the assessed fees; the board directed staff to request City Council funding for a third‑party update and asked for clearer, consistent waiver standards.
The Planning Department told the board that Laconia’s impact‑fee schedule relies on a 2009 assessment and that City Council increased the collection rate to 50% of the assessed total in 2021. Staff noted the ordinance requires a review of those values and recommended seeking a modern analysis.
“Even if we just left it at, we're only collecting 50% of the total impact that developments have on the community, that would still increase a significant amount just by inflation alone,” the assistant planner told the board while showing a CPI‑adjusted comparison.
Staff outlined that the current fee schedule covers capital categories allowed by state statute — schools, police, fire, recreation, roads and library — and that an updated study could account for inflation, demographic change and potential additions such as water and sewer where authorized. The current single‑family fee cited on staff materials is $7,629.61 in total assessed impact, of which the city collects half under current policy.
Board members urged consistency when granting fee waivers and asked staff to return with a recommendation and with cost estimates for hiring an independent consultant. Planning staff said they will request City Council funding to engage a third party, bring cost estimates at the next council meeting, and come back to the board with a plan to update the schedule before the ordinance review deadline in mid‑2025.
