Supervisors defer impact fee decision
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Following a public hearing on controversial impact fees last week, it looked like the new Chesterfield Board of Supervisors might make its first big statement on a major issue, but when significant differences of opinions arose, the supervisors deferred the matter until next month.

Based on comments he made on Nov. 28, Board Chairman Art Warren supports imposing impact fees while Matoaca Supervisor Marleen Durfee last week also referred to the legislation passed by the General Assembly.

Midlothian Supervisor Dan Gecker is on the other end of the spectrum, having voted against impact fees as a planning commissioner. "Implementing impact fees without a comprehensive plan is improper," he said, adding that they are a "…a misuse of government power."

Bermuda Supervisor Dorothy Jaeckle was leaning against the fees, saying the county "was taking a band-aid approach to road funding" without a plan.

That leaves the possible future deciding vote with Dale Supervisor Jim Holland, who didn't indicate his views.

The staff proposal recommends impact fees for residential property only with the fees applying to about 9,000 residential lots rezoned prior to the cash proffer system. Landowners would be required to pay $5,820 per lot when applying for a building permit.

Those fees would to be paid on residentially zoned property that hasn't been subdivided, but would exempt lots that paid cash proffers or were included in a Community Development Authority (CDA).

Assistant County Attorney Jeff Mincks suggested exempting family subdivision lots and workforce housing built by nonprofit organizations that sells for under $200,000.

If the board adopts impact fees, the county could raise as much as $50 million to fund road improvements over many years.

So far, only the county staff is recommending using impact fees to improve roads. The Chesterfield Planning Commission unanimously recommended against enacting the fees after a committee set up by the county board also rejected them, saying such fees were not "equitable" or "administratively feasible." It recommended the county study the impacts of residential and commercial development on the tax base, including housing affordability and attracting economic development.

During last week's public hearing, nine residents uniformly opposed the fees. Andrea Epps, who chaired the impact fee committee, recommended deferring the issue for 60 days since the General Assembly is reviewing the legislation. If the board did that, authority for impact fees might be rescinded.

Matoaca resident Brenda Stewart called the fee plan "ambiguous" and complained that she couldn't get answers from county staff when she called with questions.

Builder George Emerson said the board should have mailed notices to the affected property owners like the planning commission did, which seriously affected the number of residents who turned out.

"Impact fees break faith with those who didn't rush to rezone their properties," argued attorney Jim Theobald.

Businessman Bob Schrum said his mother has owned her undeveloped lot for the past 18 years and didn't build on it. During that time the assessed value went up 700 percent though she didn't receive any extra county services for the tax money she paid.

Builder Paul Barr said, if impact fees are approved, they should exempt all homes built priced under $200,000 on those lots even if they were not built by a nonprofit organization. That would help builders keep sales prices lower, so working class buyers like teachers and police officers could afford a new home.

In November 2006, the county held its much heralded Transportation Summit, and then- County Administrator Lane Ramsey offered nine solutions for raising $300-$500 million to address the county's road needs. A 2004 estimate indicated Chesterfield had about $1 billion in road needs. Ramsey later said some of the road funding options discussed at the summit would appear in the budget that was adopted last April. None were.

Thus far, the county has inked an agreement with the Magnolia Green community to use $35 million from a CDA to improve Otterdale and Woolridge roads and is trying to interest road-builders in extending the Powhite Parkway as a toll road from its current end at Old Hundred Road to Route 360 near Grange Hall Elementary. No other solutions to generate road funding have been approved.

To reconstruct a two-lane road costs $8 million per mile. To widen a two-lane road to four lanes costs $10 million while widening a four-lane road to six lanes costs $13 million. County officials have said the cost of road improvements is growing faster than the cost of living.