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Preston council adopts ordinance requiring developers to pay engineering review costs
Summary
The Preston City Council on Sept. 8 adopted Ordinance 2025-6 (Title 16, Chapter 10, Section 030), requiring developers to reimburse the city for engineering review and approval costs and allowing bonding; the Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended the change after a 5–2 vote and public hearing.
The Preston City Council on Sept. 8 approved Ordinance 2025-6, which requires developers to reimburse the city for engineering review and approval costs and permits a deposit or bond to cover those costs. Councilmember Terry Larson introduced the ordinance, which the council read once in summary and approved unanimously.
Director of City Planning and Land Use Shawn Oliverson told the council that current subdivision fees do not cover the city’s actual engineering costs and that the change will shift direct reimbursement for actual engineering review expenses to developers. Oliverson said the Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on Aug. 27, 2025 and recommended the ordinance by a 5–2 vote.
Councilmembers discussed concerns that the ordinance could create an open-ended expense for developers. The council clarified that the ordinance is intended to reimburse direct, actual costs rather than impose unspecified city fees.
Councilmember Chris Larsen moved to uphold the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation; the motion passed unanimously. City Clerk Linda Acock read the ordinance in summary after the council dispensed with the usual three separate readings.
The ordinance becomes part of the Preston Municipal Code as Title 16, Chapter 10, Section 030. The council did not specify an effective date during the meeting; implementation details and fee-setting were described as matters to be set by resolution.
