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Consultant says wastewater SDC could climb to $8,974 per EDU as Lowell weighs updates
Summary
Consultant Matt Wadlington told the council that maximum defendable System Development Charges (SDCs) would rise sharply—wastewater to $8,974 per EDU and transportation to about $6,192 per EDU—driven largely by permit-driven wastewater upgrades; council may set lower rates and will revisit Jan. 20.
A consultant told the Lowell City Council at its Jan. 6 work session that the maximum defendable System Development Charge (SDC) for wastewater is $8,974 per Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU), far above the city’s current $1,689 rate.
"The maximum defendable SDC for wastewater is $8,974 per Equivalent Dwelling Unit," Matt Wadlington of Civil West said while presenting updated SDC calculations for wastewater, stormwater and transportation. Wadlington said the wastewater increase is primarily the result of required wastewater treatment plant upgrades, lift station improvements and gravity sewer work needed to maintain permit compliance rather than to add capacity.
Wadlington reported the stormwater maximum defendable SDC at $575 per EDU and the transportation SDC at approximately $6,192 per EDU, a large jump from the existing $696 transportation rate; he said the transportation fee would fund roughly 2.5 miles of new roads. He emphasized that these figures are "maximum defendable" rates and that the council has discretion to adopt lower actual SDCs.
City Administrator Max Baker said Wadlington will revise his memo and staff will bring the SDC work back for potential action at the council’s Jan. 20 meeting; any adopted rates could later be adjusted by resolution if needed. Council members discussed the council’s flexibility on setting rates and the need to balance infrastructure funding with development costs.
The presentation folded several specific cost drivers into the wastewater calculation, citing treatment-plant and lift-station work and gravity-sewer upgrades tied to permit compliance. No vote or rate adoption occurred; the item was scheduled for further consideration on Jan. 20.
