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Idaho Falls council tables update to development impact fees after heated public hearing
Summary
After more than two hours of testimony and debate, the Idaho Falls City Council voted to table a proposed update to the city's development impact fee study, citing unresolved questions about methodology (square-foot vs. housing type), whether to include unfinished basements, affordable-housing waivers and commercial fee impacts.
The Idaho Falls City Council on Nov. 25 postponed action on a major update to the city's development impact fee study and related ordinance after an extended public hearing and wide-ranging testimony from residents, developers and advisory committee members.
The hearing, led by Director of Parks & Recreation and impact fee administrator PJ Alexander, and consultant Colin McAlweeney of TishlerBise, presented a proposed methodology shift: assessing residential fees by square footage rather than the current housing-type categories, increasing several fee elements to the maximum supportable level and recalibrating credits and project lists in the capital improvement plan (CIP). The staff-recommended design keeps transportation at 100% of maximum support and other services (fire, police, parks) at 75%.
Why it mattered: city staff said the update reflects rising construction and infrastructure costs since the 2021 study, and completing the update positions the city to finance anticipated growth-related projects without shifting those costs to…
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