Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

County mulls impact fees

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

Will new residents in unincorporated Coweta County soon be paying fees to help the county keep up with growth?

The implementation of impact fees was one of several issues discussed Tuesday by the Coweta County Commission during a work session.

“I think the commissioners want to see what all their options are,” said county administrator Theron Gay.

Already, cities high-growth cities, such as Newnan and Senoia have adopted impact fee ordinances. Senoia’s fee, which is just over $1,000 and is tacked on to a new home, will help pay for a new library, more recreation opportunities and an upgrade to the police department.

“It’s really a way to help offset the costs for new growth and we have some big transportation issues that need to be addressed,” Gay said.

According to the Department of Community Affairs, the Georgia Development Impact Fee Act was enacted into law in 1990. It sets rules for local governments that wish to charge new development for a portion of the additional capital facilities needed to serve it. Under DIFA, local governments may impose exactions on developers to help finance the expansion of their infrastructure systems only through an impact fee system and only for the specific types of facilities and infrastructures listed in the law.

The department’s Web site says that Local governments wishing to impose development impact fees must have an adopted comprehensive plan that meets the Minimum Standards and Procedures for Local Comprehensive Planning. The comprehensive plan must include a Capital Improvements Element (CIE) in order to be in compliance with DIFA. A current plan can be amended to include a CIE.

Impact fees can only be used for capital expenses, so Gay said the county would have to show that any roads being built would be because of the new growth in the area.

He expects to present a study on the viability of implementing impact fees to the County Commission later this year.