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FY 2027 Budget - Technical Adjustment to Add and Increase Commercial Site Plan Review Fee
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jason May, Budget & Grants Management, Director, 704-283-3760
ACTION REQUESTED:
Board of County Commissioners approve the reinstatement and amendment of the commercial site plan review fees as presented, effective upon adoption of the amended fee schedule.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
None.
BACKGROUND:
Commercial site plan review is a required element of the County's development review process for non-residential projects. These fees are assessed to recover a portion of the staff time and resources expended in reviewing commercial site plans submitted to the County for approval. The fee structure distinguishes between smaller commercial sites (less than one acre) and larger sites (one or more acres), with the larger category incorporating a per-acre component to reflect the increased complexity and review time associated with larger projects.
Prior to the omission, the fee schedule established the following rates for commercial site plan review:
|
Category |
Previous Fee |
|
Less than 1 Acre |
$300.00 per review |
|
1+ Acres |
$300.00 plus $50.00 per acre (or portion thereof) |
Proposed Action
Staff recommends the Board of County Commissioners approve an amendment to the non-residential review fee schedule to reinstate the commercial site plan review fee category and adopt the following updated fee structure, effective upon adoption:
|
Category |
Proposed Fee |
|
Less than 1 Acre |
$400.00 per review |
|
1+ Acres |
$400.00 plus $50.00 per acre (or portion thereof) |
The proposed base fee increase from $300 to $400 represents a 33% adjustment to the flat-rate component of the fee. The per-acre charge of $50.00 per acre (or portion thereof) for sites of one acre or more is unchanged. This adjustment more accurately reflects the current cost of the review services provided and brings the commercial site plan fees into better alignment with peer jurisdictions and the County's broader cost-recovery objectives.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Revenue generated from commercial site plan review fees is recorded in the General Fund. The fiscal impact will vary based on development activity; however, reinstatement and adjustment of this fee is expected to modestly improve cost recovery for Planning and Development Services operations. No additional appropriation is required.