Rushford Village planning commission delays decision on higher permit fees

The Rushford Village Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 20 discussed revisions to its 2025 permit rate sheet and agreed to table any final decision until its Feb. 17 meeting to allow more analysis.

Commissioners, staff and the mayor said legal and engineering costs are rising and that the current permit revenue—$3,619.86 in 2025—did not cover the commission’s expenses. Planning and Zoning Administrator Jon Pettit told the commission he is paid for 10 hours a month and expects that future administrators will document more hours, adding to program costs.

Members debated options including raising all fees, eliminating no-charge permits, establishing tiered rates (for example a $3,000–$10,000 tier), changing per-square-foot calculations for new construction and remodels, and folding legal, advertising and public-notification costs into a higher public-hearing fee. Commissioner Gordon Johnson suggested the commission consider a ceiling or percentage approach for very large commercial projects rather than a strict per-thousand scale.

The discussion referenced a potential commercial project, identified in meeting notes as “Farmer’s Winn,” with an estimated value of $15 million; Johnson used a 1% figure as an illustrative comparison when discussing how to price very large projects. Administrator Pettit and others raised concern that doing away with small or no-cost permits entirely could reduce compliance if residents skip permits for minor work; others argued a modest minimum fee would recoup administrative costs and discourage underreporting of project value.

Given the range of options and the need to quantify legal and engineering costs more precisely, the commission voted to table fee revisions to the Feb. 17 meeting. The motion to table was made by Commissioner Glen Kopperud, seconded by Commissioner Gordon Johnson, and carried.