Friday, December 13, 2002
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Friday, December 13, 2002 |
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Senoia leaders get a lesson on impact fees By JOHN
THOMPSON Senoia officials got a broad overview Monday night of the impact of impact fees. City leaders have been mulling over the idea of charging impact fees on new development to help pay for the upgrades in infrastructure that will occur in the next few years with the new growth. William Ross, of Ross and Associates, helped create the first impact fees in Cherokee County that were ruled constitutional by the Georgia Supreme Court. In a lengthy presentation Monday, Ross told the Senoia City Council that planning was the key in creating a successful impact ordinance. The city would have to create a capital improvement element, which would show what infrastructure needs are needed from the new growth. Ross cautioned that impact fees could only be charged for the new infrastructure needs, and not anything the city already needs, but can't fund. For example, if the city has a deficit in park space, it can't make the new development pay for all of its park needs. Current residents would also have to help fund the parks, probably in the form of a property tax hike, he added. Impact fees can only fun system wide upgrades, such as water systems, wastewater treatment plants, road, emergency services facilities and personnel and libraries. Mayor Dianne Cleveland thanked Ross for his presentation and said the city would contact him again after there were further along in the process of drafting an impact fee ordinance.
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