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Council unanimously approves change to sewer-credit calculations to spur redevelopment
Summary
Sumner council voted unanimously to revise system development charge sewer-credit calculations so credits are based on current use (permitted or proven unpermitted use in effect for 10 years), a change staff said will correct legacy underbilling and encourage conversion of older, vacant buildings.
The Sumner City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 2967, a revision to how the city calculates sewer credits for system development charges (SDCs).
Development Services Director Doug Beagle and engineering manager Joe Fessler explained the change: rather than relying on an old utility-account–based credit, the ordinance recalculates sewer credits using the current use of a building — defined as a permitted use or a current unpermitted use that can be proven to have been in effect for the last 10 years. Staff said the new method aligns credits with current calculation methods used by other nearby cities and will reduce unexpected impact fees that can discourage redevelopment.
"We found that many utility accounts were being underbilled so that the sewer credit was much smaller than expected, which has stopped projects," Joe Fessler said. The ordinance would allow credits tied to a building’s actual current use, using a methodology based on square footage and use type to calculate equivalent sewer units.
Council members asked about methodology and local business impacts; staff answered that the approach mirrors contemporary practice and should incentivize conversion of older vacant buildings. Council member Hockstetter said the change removes an unfair hurdle for small businesses seeking to reuse older buildings. The council voted to adopt the ordinance unanimously.
