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Puyallup council votes to advance traffic-impact-fee overhaul, moves to adopt $8,762 maximum defensible fee on first reading
Summary
After an extended staff presentation and council debate, the council approved first-reading direction to adopt a new traffic-impact-fee ordinance: set a maximum defensible fee of $8,762 per single-family-equivalent, index fees to the construction-cost index, allow up-to-80% reductions for qualifying affordable-housing units and early-learning centers, add a 50% heavy-truck trip premium for industrial uses, and set a land-use credit look-back policy (5 years, up to 10 by director discretion).
Puyallup City Council on March 10 advanced a major update to the city's traffic-impact-fee ordinance on first reading after an extended staff presentation and multiple straw votes on individual components.
City Engineer Hans Unger and consultant Daniel Dye outlined the study supporting a higher fee to address capacity projects (sidewalks, intersection work, road widening and related capital needs). The current nominal fee ($4,500 per single-family equivalent, unchanged since 2007) was presented alongside two implementation options: a phased catch-up approach and an immediate increase to the study's maximum defensible rate.
After discussion, Deputy Mayor Johnson moved and the council approved a motion to adopt the maximum defensible fee of $8,762 for the ordinance as it goes forward to second reading and public hearing. Council also voted to tie adopted fees to an annual construction-cost index used in the study and to pursue exemptions allowed by state law for certain land uses.
Key components the council approved or directed staff to implement in…
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