- November 18, 2024
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The following is an adapted news release from the Flagler County communications office:
Citing an economy that has turned around but is not quite yet robust, the Flagler County Commission extended its moratorium on county impact fees for another year.
Referencing a tepid recovery, County Commissioner Barbara Revels put it in plain English: “This is a no-brainer.” She got support from several members of the public who spoke at the county’s regular commission meeting Monday Oct. 6, 2014.
“Fees do affect the decision to build,” Commercial Developer Mark Langello said. Realtor Toby Tobin said Revels’ comment “hit the nail on the head.”
An average single family residential home pays approximately $1,700 in county park and transportation impact fees, but the real impact is in commercial construction. A convenience store or gas station will pay $17,000 for each 1,000 square feet of space in county transportation impact fees at the time of construction.
Tobin called for the elimination of impact fees all together. The county isn’t the only entity that charges impact fees. Cities in Flagler County and the Flagler County School Board also charge impact fees. Flagler County is the only entity that put their impact fees on hold during the recession until the economy improves. Revels said there is some evidence that the move has boosted construction in the county versus Palm Coast.
Impact fees are used to offset the “impact” directly related to new developments. Under state law, use of the proceeds of impact fees is limited to new roads and other improvements to serve the new development. For example, park impact fees can be used to provide new parks and park expansion but cannot be used for repairs to existing parks.
Flagler County Commission voted unanimously to extend the moratorium for one year. It will expire next year if not renewed by the County Commission.
