Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Marin County board authorizes RFPs to study development impact fees and updates to off-site standards
Summary
The Board authorized agreements to prepare objective off-site design standards and a nexus/feasibility study of development impact fees, directing staff to publish RFPs and to return with findings to inform policy choices about fee levels and exemptions, particularly for affordable housing.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors voted to move forward with two related initiatives to guide future development: updates to objective off-site public-works standards and a nexus/feasibility study on development impact fees.
Community Development Director Sarah Jones explained staff plans to modernize off-site public works standards and to focus first on urbanized corridors, then rural street standards, and later utilities, lighting, storm drainage and grading standards. Staff recommended contracting Opticos Design Inc. for standards work and initiating a comprehensive nexus study to determine allowable fee levels under the Mitigation Fee Act.
Consultants from Economic & Planning Systems presented an overview of how impact fees work, legal constraints (the Mitigation Fee Act), and the technical steps of a nexus study: identifying capital projects, projecting growth (time horizons vary but 20 years or build-out horizons are commonly used), allocating proportional shares to new development, and producing maximum allowable fee levels. Staff and consultants said the study will typically also provide peer-fee comparisons and development-feasibility prototypes so policymakers can assess cost-per-unit outcomes under various scenarios (e.g., 10-, 50- and 100-unit projects).
Supervisors emphasized balancing infrastructure readiness with housing feasibility and the need for robust outreach to cities, special districts and the development community. Several supervisors asked about fee interactions with special-district fees (water, sewer) and urged sample scenarios so the board could understand the total cost per unit when combining county and other fees.
Motion language authorized the county executive or designees to execute agreements with Opticos Design Inc. and EPS, increase appropriations, publish required notices, and proceed to issue an RFP for a comprehensive nexus and feasibility study. The motion, moved by Supervisor Colbert and seconded by Supervisor Moulton Peters, passed by voice vote.
Next steps: staff will publish RFPs, engage cities and special districts in outreach, and return to the board with study procurement and, later, the study's findings to inform policy on fee levels and exemptions.
