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Council introduces ordinance to impose fire protection impact fee on new housing
Summary
The council introduced Ordinance 1095, which would create a fire protection impact fee on new residential development to fund Central Marin Fire Department equipment, facilities and vehicles; the ordinance includes a 50% fee reduction for deed‑restricted affordable units and was introduced by title with first reading waived.
The Larkspur City Council introduced Ordinance 1095 on Dec. 3, a permanent ordinance to establish a fire protection impact fee on new residential development. Staff said the fee would be collected by the city on behalf of the Central Marin Fire Department and used for equipment, facilities and vehicle needs tied to projected community growth.
Senior planner Alex summarized the ordinance, noting it aligns with the city’s General Plan goals to ensure new development pays a fair share of fire protection costs. Based on council direction at the Nov.19 meeting, the draft includes a 50% fee reduction for deed‑restricted affordable housing units to incentivize affordable development.
Fire Chief Ruben Martin added the intent is to scale fire resources to match projected housing growth; staff cited projections of roughly 997 new units in the city by 2040 (analysis based on ABAG allocations and the nexus study prepared for the proposed fee). Alex said staff plans to return Jan.7 with resolutions to adopt the nexus study prepared by Matrix Consulting Group and to set the fee amounts.
The council opened the public hearing; no members of the public spoke on the ordinance. Council moved to introduce the ordinance by title and waive the first reading; the motion carried on a voice vote.
