Whitestown holds first reading on $318-per-trip road impact fee; residential example cited

Town staff introduced the first reading of ordinance 2026-06, adopting a 2026 road impact fee based on a months-long study and a steering committee. Shri and consultant Amanda Johnson (EMCS) said the proposed fee is $318 per new trip, calculated with Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) trip-generation rates.

Amanda explained how a trip is defined for fee purposes and gave a residential example: an average single-family dwelling was estimated to generate about 9.4 trips, yielding an estimated fee of roughly $2,993.71 per unit under the proposed $318-per-trip rate. She also compared Whitestown’s proposed fee to nearby jurisdictions’ fees (examples: Zionsville ~$275, Fishers ~$399, Noblesville ~$600), noting some neighboring communities include additional bridge/overpass components.

The council completed the ordinance’s first reading and heard that the process is governed by Indiana statute, requires a planning commission recommendation and includes a six-month waiting period before fees are collected if adopted. Staff said fees are collected with building permits and go to a dedicated road-impact fund restricted to road infrastructure projects (widening, intersection improvements, not general maintenance). The steering committee and staff said the fee structure allows for adjustments when an existing building changes use or when applicants request installment payments, subject to a review board.

No vote to adopt was taken at the meeting; the item will return for a second reading and potential adoption. Councilmembers expressed interest in balancing growth incentives with road funding needs.