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Marin board votes to launch countywide study of development‑impact fees amid housing, water questions
Summary
After a staff presentation, the Marin County Board of Supervisors voted to initiate a development‑impact fee (DIF) study to measure infrastructure costs tied to new development and test feasibility for different housing types; supervisors pressed staff to include special districts and reclaimed‑water scenarios.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors voted April 7 to initiate a countywide development impact fee (DIF) study, a first step that will lead to a consultant procurement and a multi‑department analysis of how new development should share the costs of roads, storm drains, parks and other infrastructure.
"Development impact fees are charges placed on development projects to cover the cost of the services and facilities they create," Sarah Jones, director of the Community Development Agency, told the board. She explained that California law requires DIFs to be a fair share tied to the incremental infrastructure need new development generates.
Staff proposed a two‑part study: (1) establish the legal nexus and infrastructure costs associated with new development, and (2) test financial feasibility for different development prototypes so the board can weigh tradeoffs between cost recovery and housing production. Jones said the study would involve CDA, Public Works, parks, health and human services, fire and libraries, and would produce location‑specific analysis that accounts for special districts and school districts.
Supervisors pressed staff about several technical and policy issues. Supervisor Sackett asked whether a residential feasibility analysis is distinct from the DIF nexus study; Jones said feasibility is part of the overall study and would test whether full cost recovery would “pencil out” for different housing types. Sackett and others also flagged reclaimed water and future water‑infrastructure planning as elements that should appear in the study.
Supervisor Rodoni urged staff to include special districts and school districts in outreach: "There are at least 30 special districts in Marin and 19 school districts—how are we bringing them into the conversation?" Jones said the RFP will require consultants to account for the wide range of district fees and location‑specific fee burdens.
The board opened a noticed public hearing on the matter, heard no public speakers on this item and then moved to initiate the study. The motion to initiate the DIF study passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: Development impact fees, if adopted later, could shift costs for infrastructure onto new development and change the economics of housing projects. The upcoming study is designed to give the board data to weigh the effect of DIF levels on housing feasibility, affordability and county objectives.
Next steps: If the board's initiation is approved, staff will issue a request for proposals for a consultant to complete the study and will bring study results and policy options back to the board for further hearings and potential ordinance development.
