Fraser Planning Commission recommends code amendment to update land dedications and school impact fees tied to East Grand School District IGA

Town Planner Garrett Scott presented a draft code amendment on March 25, 2026, to align Fraser’s land-dedication and fees-in-lieu practices with a recently executed Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with East Grand School District. Scott said a 2024 demographic study commissioned by the district showed lower student-generation rates compared with the prior 1998 analysis, which produced lower school impact fees even as overall district population increased. The IGA requires the study to be updated at least every four years.

Scott told the commission that payments under the amended code would be made directly to East Grand School District rather than through the town. He also summarized parkland dedication rules: the standard dedication requirement is 5 percent of subdivision area, though the Board of Trustees may determine that parks are unnecessary in certain areas because of proximity to existing parkland or small development size and may instead accept fees in lieu.

Developer Lipscomb questioned whether the Board of Trustees should have sole authority to determine whether land dedication or fees-in-lieu apply, and raised concerns about the town’s ability to maintain newly dedicated parkland and the potential magnitude of fees for developers. In response, Planner Garrett Scott said historically decisions have involved collaboration between developers and the town, but the Board retains final authority over whether to accept public land and where it would be located.

The Planning Commission approved PC Resolution 2026-03-01 recommending approval of the code amendment to modify land dedications and fees-in-lieu. Commissioner Brian Cerkvenik moved the resolution and Vice Chair Bob Gnuse seconded; the motion carried 5-0. The resolution recommendation will forward to the Board of Trustees for final action.