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TMAPC backs staff proposal to streamline fees and recover more processing costs, 8‑2 vote
Summary
The Commission voted 8‑2 to recommend adoption of a revised TMAPC/BOA fee schedule that consolidates many variable fees into flat fees and raises several fees to better match average processing costs; staff said the typical rezoning cost estimate of $1,550 would move to $1,800 under the proposal increasing recovery to ~97%.
Planning staff presented a proposed fee schedule that would reduce the number of fee categories, replace many variable line‑item charges with 34 flat fees, and better align application fees with the full cost of processing. Staff said a typical rezoning averaged about $1,550 to process at an 83% recovery rate; raising the rezoning fee to $1,800 would improve recovery to about 97% without exceeding full cost recovery.
Commissioners asked about the proportion of previously hidden fees that became explicit versus outright increases. Commissioner Craddock opposed the proposal on principle, saying he is concerned about "growing government" and raising fees to market levels. Commissioner Zalk said he supported the change if it increases transparency and makes application costs clearer for applicants. Commissioner Whitlock asked whether higher fees would affect housing supply; staff said the fee change itself would neither help nor hurt housing production and that the draft schedule had been circulated to home builders and developer groups with little feedback.
After discussion, the Commission voted 8‑2 to recommend adoption of the resolution amending the TMAPC/BOA fee schedule (Ayes: Fugate, Hood, Humphrey, Rojas, Rosene Robinson, Shivel, Turner‑Addison, Zalk; Nays: Craddock, Whitlock). The minutes state that an ordinance amendment to Title 49 Administrative, Permit and License fees will be presented to City Council following the TMAPC recommendation.
