Forsyth OKs impact fees

By by Ken Stanford

Posted 9:42AM on Thursday, December 18, 2003

CUMMING - After months of discussion, the Forsyth County Commission has voted to implement an impact fee system. The 3-0 vote (Commissioners Marcie Kreager and Eddie Taylor were absent) to approve the ordinance makes Forsyth one of only eight counties in Georgia that have implemented the fees which are charged to developers based on the impact their developments have on the infrastructure. The others are Bibb, Fulton, Henry, Cherokee, Fayette, Gilmer, and Hall. "This is a giant step forward for Forsyth County," said Jim Callison, chairman of the 10-member impact fee committee that worked with the County's Planning and Development Department to draft the ordinance. "I commend the commissioners on their decision. Now the cost to improve the infrastructure will be spread out more fairly. In the past, the burden has fallen solely on the shoulders of the taxpayers." The fee schedule will be based on the type of facility being built and its square footage. For example, impact fees will add about 52 cents per square foot to the cost of building a new home, 5 cents a square foot for an industrial structure, 9 cents for office/business, and 22 cents for retail/commercial. Callison estimates the County could collect an additional $3.5 million annually as a result of the passage of the ordinance. The fees will help pay for increased demands on public safety, parks and recreation and libraries as a result of future growth. Currently, none of the funds are earmarked for the proposed new justice center but that is likely to change if voters approve the referendum in March. Ruby Cook, who along with Callison has served on two different impact fee committees over the last four years, also applauded the Board's decision. "I think the Board did a great job," Cook said. "I'm so glad they passed it. Now the new residents will have to help pay for the increased burden that is being placed on the infrastructure." Strongest opposition to impact fees in other municipalities usually comes from the development community. But County officials are optimistic that there will be little or no opposition here because of the way the ordinance was drafted. Representatives from the Greater Atlanta Homebuilders Association (GAHA), a professional trade organization, have been included in the process from the very beginning. April Atkins, governmental affairs representative for GAHA said the County's new ordinance is fair and equitable. "We 100 percent agree with the way Forsyth County has structured its impact fee ordinance," Atkins said Tuesday. We don't have any problem with it at all. As an organization, we don't oppose impact fees. As long as they are fair and equitable and in compliance with Georgia law, we are happy to pay them." Joe Padilla, who is Atkins predecessor at GAHA, said as far as he's concerned, the County's new ordinance is a win-win situation for everyone. "The way Forsyth County put this together is the right way to do it," he said. "As a builder I'm quite happy, especially since the Board adopted it on a square footage basis. From everything I've seen of this ordinance, there is just no downside to it."