Impact fee revisions proposed
<p>Nickolas Akre, electrician apprentice for Super D Electrical, marks a 2x4 during construction on a Monogram Home Friday in Post Falls. The city is proposing a revision of its impact fees on new growth and the Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on the topic on May 12.</p>
POST FALLS - Post Falls is proposing revisions on how it charges impact fees to mitigate the effects of new growth.
The Planning and Zoning Commission will continue a public hearing on the proposals at its May 12 meeting at 6 p.m.
The single-family residential impact would be revised to an average housing unit basis as opposed to being assessed by bedroom count.
"This will expedite the single-family review process and share the impact fee cost across all single-family homes," Jon Manley, Post Falls associate planner, wrote in a memo to the planning commission.
Whether the total amount of the fees will increase or decrease under the proposal depends on the structure.
The total amount of impact fees for homes with three or fewer bedrooms would increase from $2,641 to $2,882.60. The amount for homes with four or more bedrooms would decrease from $3,814.11 to $2,882.60.
The amount for multi-family and other residential structures would decrease from $2,348.16 to $2,328.06.
No comments have been submitted to the city regarding the proposals.
Scott Krajack of Viking Construction said he supports the change to one fee, but not the increase for the smaller homes. He said builders pass along the fee to the new homeowner, so that will increase the price of entry-level homes in Post Falls and make them more difficult to sell than areas that have lower impact fees.
The city hired consultant TischlerBise to conduct an interim update of its impact fees. A more comprehensive review of the fees will be done later this year.
* Meanwhile, a special-use permit for a mixed-use, 8.5-acre proposal at the southeast corner of Highway 41 and 16th Avenue in Post Falls was recommended for approval by the planning commission this week.
The proposal by Chrislinc Properties, LLC is for a 96-unit apartment complex with a clubhouse and pool that would be located off Highway 41. The eastern portion (3 acres) of the site along Highway 41 would be reserved for commercial use.
A special-use permit is required to build apartments in a commercial zone.
"The large amount of vacant commercial land along Highway 41 under-utilizes the capability of the current infrastructure," the project narrative states. "Utilizing this property as apartments will encourage further development and growth farther north on Highway 41 and will provide affordable housing."
However, some people are concerned that the apartment complex would only increase congestion at the unsignalized intersection and believe the entire site should be retained for commercial use.
"We cannot continue to willy-nilly add areas of commercial/residential use," Kelly Lindquist wrote. "We need to look at our area 20 years from now and how it will look. I feel that 41 should be saved as a commercial corridor, something Post Falls needs."
The special-use request is expected to be considered by the city council in May.