Sunbury planners recommend revised zoning fee language to council, cite cost recovery and outreach needs

The Sunbury Planning & Zoning Commission on July 27 voted to recommend that City Council adopt language moving a zoning-fee schedule into the zoning ordinance and establishing fees for permits the city already reviews but has not been charging. Commissioners and staff framed the effort as a cost-recovery measure; the commission recorded a 4-0 roll-call recommendation to council on the ordinance language.

Planning staff told the commission the intent is not "to put a permit in place to collect additional revenues, just arbitrarily just so we can collect money," but rather to recover staff costs for reviewing applications the city currently processes without fees. Staff listed examples of permits now being added to the schedule — fence permits, driveway extensions, patio and roof-repair-related items — and said the finance committee and council will handle the specific fee amounts. Commissioners pressed staff to add language addressing agency or escrow funds and to clarify which fees include Sunbury inspections and which may generate separate county inspection fees; staff said it would coordinate the phrasing with the finance director.

Commissioners also asked about payment and outreach. Staff said permitting is available online through OpenGov and that staff planned web content explaining new permit requirements; commissioners recommended additional outreach such as welcome packets for new residents or periodic mailings. The commission’s vote was a recommendation to council; council and the finance committee will next review fee amounts and any funding designations.