AGENDA REQUEST

Sponsor:

 Board of Supervisors Meeting Date:

Raymond E. Graham, Chairman, Cedar Run District Supervisor

July 13, 2006

Staff Lead:

Department: 

Frederick P.D. Carr, Director

Community Development

Topic:  

 A Resolution Revising the Department of Community Development’s Fee Schedule

Topic Description: 

The proposed fee schedule represents a comprehensive review, update and major revision since 2003.  It includes the entire fee schedule associated with the Building Office’s permitting and inspection activities, as well as all categories associated with site plans, special exceptions, text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, zoning appeals, and variances; special exception and rezoning applications; preliminary and final subdivision plats, construction plans; Agricultural & Forestal Districts; streets; and associated technical review fees and permits.

Requested Action of the Board of Supervisors:

Consider adoption of the attached resolution. 

Financial Impact Analysis:

The Department’s primary revenue source supporting staff and operational expenditures continues to be land development application fee revenues each fiscal year.  County reliance on that revenue source has increased significantly over that past three years.  The following represents a fiscal year summary of the Department’s budget proportion covered by such fee revenues:  FY 2003:  52%; FY 2004:  60%; FY 2005:  76%; FY 2006:  78%;  FY 2007:  80%.

As indicated in the Department’s FY 2007 Budget, the approved and added staffing would require an increase in development fees to upgrade the level and quality of services delivered through Community Development in several key areas.  2003 represented the first time since 1997 that any modest increase occurred and that revision focused primarily upon residential rezoning and subdivisions.  This fee schedule proposal is far more extensive and affects a majority of all land development application categories.

Summary Staff Report:

The Board of Supervisors conducted its public hearing on the proposed Fee Schedules on June 8, 2006.  Due to Board policy, approval of proposed fees must be deferred for action until the July 13, 2006 meeting.

The summary report presents the proposed Department of Community Development Fee Schedule elements for the:  (a) Building Office (Attachment 1) and the (b) Zoning, Planning and Technical Divisions (Attachment 2).

1.      Building Office Fee Schedule.  Attachment 1 is organized into nine categories:  new construction, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, alterations and repairs, miscellaneous, plans review, administrative and amusement devices. Here the existing and proposed fees for all category items are presented. The minimum base fees for almost all items have increased modestly, plus the following examples have been added to the fee schedule:  Occupancy Permits – Existing Buildings, Hood Suppression System, Emergency Off-Hour Inspection, Plan Review – Residential, Modifications, and appeals. 

2.      Zoning, Planning & Technical Fee Schedule.  Attachment 2 presents the proposed fee schedule and also has nine basic categories:  Zoning associated actions and permits, Special Exceptions, Comprehensive Plan, Rezoning, Site Plans, Subdivisions, Agricultural & Forestal Districts, Streets, and Technical Review Fees & Permits.  Detailed analysis is available in the June 8^th staff report for the fee schedule public hearing.  The following table provides a comparative analysis for some of the key fee changes included in last month’s staff report.

Identify any other Departments, Organizations or Individuals that would be affected by this request:

Property Owners
Developers
Contractors
Design Firms
Fauquier County Government
Fauquier County Water & Sanitation Authority 

Attachments:

1. Proposed Fee Schedule (Building Office)
2. Proposed Fee Schedule (Zoning, Planning and Technical Divisions)