Placentia council continues public hearing on development impact fee nexus study to March 3

City staff asked the Placentia City Council on Feb. 3 to continue a public hearing on a proposed development impact fee nexus study so consultants can finish work the city says must be legally defensible.

Joe Lambert, the staff presenter, told the council the study would update the city’s development impact fee program and could introduce new city facilities fees. "Development impact fees are only imposed on new development as conditions of approval," Lambert said, adding the fees are meant to recover costs the city will incur because of growth and not to produce a profit for the city.

The request came after staff said unforeseen delays with the consultant, DTA, prevented the final study from being ready. Lambert said the Building Industry Association and other stakeholders expect to know how fees are calculated and that the city needs a fully vetted nexus analysis before adopting new or amended fees. He asked the council to continue the public hearing to March 3, 2026.

During the public comment portion of the hearing, Jeff Buchanan asked whether the proposed fees would be assessed if a home is rebuilt after a catastrophic loss. Lambert answered that the proposal would not affect routine repairs such as replacing a roof or water heater and that the fees are intended for new development or substantial rebuilds that trigger conditions of approval.

Mayor Ivanka moved to continue the hearing to the March 3 regular meeting; the motion carried by a recorded vote of four yes, one not voting (Mayor Pro Tem/Board Vice Chair Yamaguchi recorded as not voting).

The study will return to the council on March 3 for further consideration once staff and the consultant complete the legally required analysis.