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Council adopts development‑fee increases after debate over ADUs and parking fees (5–1)
Summary
Glenwood Springs approved Resolution 2024‑40 to raise most development review fees roughly 14–15%, including a parking fee‑in‑lieu increase from $8,000 to $10,000 per stall and reduced ADU rate; council voted 5–1 amid debate about whether ADUs remain "affordable by nature."
Glenwood Springs — The City Council voted 5–1 to adopt Resolution 2024‑40, updating the city’s development‑review fee schedule and raising the majority of land‑use fees roughly 14–15% to reflect current costs and recent changes to charter and project‑size thresholds.
Community Development Director Hannah Kusman told council the package is intended to align fees with staff time and construction costs. Key changes include an increase in the parking fee‑in‑lieu from $8,000 to $10,000 per stall, a proposed ADU‑specific fee set at half the standard rate ($5,000), higher sidewalk fees (residential up to $96 per linear foot; commercial higher), a new parking‑alternative request fee of $255, a new minor‑PUD administrative fee, and an increase to the legal review hourly rate from $250 to $350.
The decision followed extended council discussion about the impact on accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Councilor Godus said ADUs “used to be incentivized heavily” and questioned whether larger, two‑bedroom ADUs remain affordable by nature; he asked why ADUs should receive steep incentives if they now rent at higher market rates. Kusman said the fee schedule before council tonight gives ADUs a break on the parking fee‑in‑lieu but that larger affordability incentives are typically handled through system‑improvement fee waivers or deed‑restriction agreements that council may grant.
Several councilors asked staff to bring a work session to revisit ADU sizing, parking policy and incentives. Councilor Wymer and others supported the resolution as a near‑term update while requesting a broader policy review on how fees shape desired development outcomes.
The resolution passed on a 5–1 roll call; one councilor opposed so the change will take effect under city rules for resolutions and scheduling. Kusman said staff highlighted the most impacted fees in the accompanying spreadsheet and will circulate the final fee schedule for publication.
Next steps: Staff to publish the adopted fee schedule, and council requested a future work session to examine ADU incentives, parking policy, and thresholds.
