What is an impact fee?
A charge on new development to pay for the construction or expansion of streets, parks, trails, water and wastewater facilities related to growth.

What areas of the City will be subject to impact fees?
Citywide. Non-residential and residential buildings in both rural and urban areas will be subject to impact fees.

How will the fees be collected?
Impact fees will be collected when a building permit application is submitted.

When will the fees likely be put in place?
We anticipate that we will begin collecting impact fees on July 1, 2009.

How will the fees be determined?
The cost will be determined by the impact and will vary based on the size, location and type of development.

What will the City do with the fees collected?
All fees will be used for the purposes for which they are collected. Streets and Parks/Trails impact fees will be used in the areas they are collected. Water and wastewater impact fees will be used for growth related improvements like treatment plants and transmission lines.

Is the City charging a fee to implement growth management?
No, the intent is to have new development help pay for the infrastructure needed to support it.

Why are impact fees necessary given the City recently approved an $835 million GO Bond Program?
The GO Bonds primarily address current infrastructure needs. The revenue from impact fees will be spent on additional infrastructure needs resulting from new development.

Will there be an exemption for development within the downtown core?
No, if the development is creating an impact the project will be assessed a fee.

Are developer related improvements going to be required in addition to the fee?
The impact fee will not eliminate existing requirements for development related on-site improvements, as well as those immediately adjacent to the site.

Will there be any credits for replacement of existing uses? If so, how will the credit be applied?
Yes, a credit for the impact of the pre-existing use will be applied. For example, if an existing office use converts to a retail use, the impact fee will be based on the increased impact on streets.