Transportation impact fee up for discussion

By Nate Delesline III

Published: December 1, 2008

The implementation of a countywide transportation impact fee is among the items up for consideration by the Board of Supervisors at their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday.

Because funding for transportation projects from the federal and state government is uncertain, county officials say they’re left with few options to pay for important local transportation projects.

However, some supervisors have said they don’t agree with the proposal because it would place a burden on people who would like to build on a parcel of land they’ve owned for generations. Others have expressed concern that large developers will just pass the fee on to buyers.

Discussion about the impact fees is set for the supervisors’ night meeting, which begins at 7 p.m., and the board is expected to receive public comments then. The morning session of their regular meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m.

Fee background
Permitted under House Bill 3202, which was passed in 2007, the new law is meant to allow high-growth areas to recoup money spent on transportation projects that are driven by development. A local fee of about $2,100 is proposed, but that figure would vary depending on exactly what kind of usage the new building would have. The fee would not apply to farm facilities, houses of worship, public schools, libraries, hospitals or any building used by emergency workers. According to the county, all the required steps to set the fee have been followed and the hearing is the final step.

First, the county established an advisory committee, which met for the first time in March. Next, all areas in the county — except those within town limits — were designated as the fee service area, and a road improvement program was adopted into the county’s comprehensive plan. Finally, three priority road projects were identified. They are an interchange at U.S. 29-Route 666, a connector road from Ira Hoffman Lane to Keyser Road and an extension of Ira Hoffman Lane from Keyser Road to U.S. 29. Those projects total about $60 million, according to the fee committee.

Also, if a builder agrees to pay for transportation improvements as part of their overall plan, the county has the authority to waive or reduce the impact fee. The legislation also specifies that impact fees may not be charged to pay for road repairs or to solve traffic issues that existed previously.

Other matters
Also Tuesday, the board will consider:

- A resolution requesting VDOT to accept roads in Rillhurst subdivision into the state’s secondary highway system
- A budget amendment for $50,581 for circuit court clerk technology trust funds from the state.
- A $300,000 budget amendment for the Department of Human Services for additional funds for Head Start transitional daycare
- Acceptance of two donations totaling $2,500 for the airport and AirFest
- A budget amendment for $930 for state funds received from the Department of Motor Vehicles from the sale of animal friendly license places for the animal shelter.
- Advertising for an appointment to the Public Transportation Advisory Committee
- Filling two vacant positions in the Sheriff’s Office
- A presentation from Virginia Regional Transit regarding the transit development plan

Nate Delesline III can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or .