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Commission backs first major UDC fee update since 2005 to recover planning costs
Summary
Planning staff proposed and the commission recommended changes to the city's Unified Development Code fee schedule—raising many planning and commercial fees and adding a third landscape inspection fee—to better recover administrative costs; the recommendation passed 7–0.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that City Council adopt a comprehensive update to the Unified Development Code fee schedule, the first major revision since 2005.
Planning staff told commissioners the update is intended to recover administrative costs for processing applications, advertising and inspections rather than to generate surplus revenue. Proposed changes include raising zoning change fees to $1,000 plus $20 per acre (up from $200), increasing commercial specific use permit fees to $1,000 plus $20 per acre while keeping residential SUPs lower, increasing plan development district fees to $1,500, adding a $500 third landscape inspection fee for repeat callbacks, and raising zoning verification and tree removal fees. Staff estimated the changes could increase revenue to recover roughly 50–60% more of current department costs under an illustrative scenario and noted notification costs average around $150 per case.
Commissioners asked about how much of current expenses are covered and what revenue increases might result; staff said an exact figure would require detailed analysis but estimated planning fees could recover significantly more of staff time and administrative overhead under the proposed schedule. Commissioner Bentley moved to approve the draft text amendment recommendation for transmittal to City Council; Commissioner Shane seconded and the commission approved the recommendation 7–0.
