Early voting begins for impact fees decision
Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Nine votes were cast on the first day of early voting for Fayetteville's road impact fees.
Early voting will continue until April 9, with ballots available 8 a.m. to 4: 30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Washington County Clerk's Office in the County Courthouse.
The special election will determine whether Fayetteville will add impact fees for roads to its inventory of development charges - aimed at helping to pay for infrastructure projects needed to add capacity.
Ward 4 Alderman Lioneld Jordan has become the champion of impact fees, arguing they are a good way to offset the expenses caused by growth. The theory is that new construction adds to the strain on infrastructure and therefore should pay its share.
Jordan said he will continue to support the fees because he campaigned on them. He often says the city needs to catch up on roads, which were a priority for residents, but will not do so with sales tax alone.
Voters approved a 1-cent sales tax to fund $ 110 million in bonds, of which $ 68 million is for transportation projects, with the rest being for sewer project overruns associated with the $ 183 million Wastewater System Improvement Project. The sewer project, the largest capital project undertaken by the city, is three years behind schedule and more than $ 60 million over budget.
The council had discussed a $ 162 million transportation bond issue but backed off because of the overruns. A 2003 study determined the city needs about $ 221 million in street work, including $ 45 million in short-term road projects, $ 21 million in intersection projects and $ 155 million in long-term projects.
While most would agree that work should be done, opponents don't think impact fees should be used. The street impact fees, they argue, are unfair because developers are already building infrastructure for their projects or making financial contributions for off-site improvements.
Opponents also argue the fees would be detrimental to the economy and would eliminate any opportunity for affordable housing projects.
Ben Israel, owner of Dixie Development, has said the fees will increase the amount of rent that must be charged in his commercial properties because the fees will be part of the financing package.
Bill Burckart, of Burckart Construction, has said that a few thousand dollars can mean the difference between renting and buying for residents who are at the median income level.
The argument that the road fees are taxes is being nullified by the election. Jordan had been ready to pass the fees at the council level, just as had been done before, but City Attorney Kit Williams urged that the council call for an election to insulate the city against potential legal action. If the fees are approved by a vote, then it won't matter whether they were later found to legally be taxes, which must be approved by popular vote.
The proposed fees are as follows • Residential developments are proposed to be charged $ 2, 363 per dwelling, which would apply to single-family and multifamily units.
• Retail / commercial and office uses would all be charged $ 2, 701 per 1, 000 square feet.
• Industrial and warehouse uses would have a fee of $ 1, 676.
• Churches, nursing homes and schools would have a fee of $ 1, 495 per 1, 000 square feet.
For more information about polling places or early voting contact the county clerk's office at 444-1711.
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