The Lakeland City Commission concluded a workshop on impact fees on Tuesday, October 29th. After much discussion, the City Commission collaboratively approved and established impact fees for new construction projects. Impact fees are charges assessed to new homes and businesses that affect municipal services/infrastructure such as police, fire, parks and transportation. The thought is growth pays for itself. However, there are shortfalls within transportation and parks because the cost associated with providing this crucial infrastructure has risen sharply over the past few decades, especially in the areas of construction and land acquisition. For example, new transportation and improvement projects are at a $182 million deficit. This calculation is based on daily trips generated, length of trips, new travel estimates, road conditions, new project demands and other factors. Impact fees. Without the implementation of impact fees this deficit could grow even larger.
Consulting firm Tindale Oliver provided a detailed analysis using consumption-based impact fee methodology. This methodology is commonly used throughout Florida as a way for growth to help pay for infrastructure through impact fees. The City Commission last addressed impact fees in 2015. Impact fees are established for various uses that include new construction for single-family residential, multi-family, office, warehouse and retail. Impact fees are calculated based on the cost to deliver transportation, parks, fire and law enforcement services.
*Residential and multi-family impact fees are per unit or dwelling. Office, warehouse, retail and light industrial impact fees are calculated per 1,000 sq.ft.
The Lakeland City Commission will hear the first reading of the proposed impact fees in an ordinance on November 4th during a regularly scheduled City Commission meeting. Second reading of the impact fee ordinance will take place on November 18th and at this meeting there will be an opportunity for public comment before a final vote takes place.