Impact Fees
This week the Sustainability and Transportation Committee had a briefing on impact fees. Impact fees are charges to developers to address the needs for capacity improvements to transportation, parks, schools, and fire facilities. I last wrote about impact fees here and provided some history about the Council’s efforts to develop an impact fee program.
This weeks’ briefing, which you can watch here (start at 3:05:36) explains what transportation impact fees are, which other local jurisdictions have them & how they compare with each other, and potential next steps.
Why is this coming up now? In my last write up I reported on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) list of eligible projects which is required for a Comprehensive Plan amendment. That list of projects includes:
- Bicycle Master Plan
- Freight Master Plan
- Pedestrian Master Plan
- Move Seattle Plan
- Capital Improvement Program
To meet requirements, the Transportation Impact Fees methodology must “separate the share of project costs that address existing deficiencies from the share of project costs that add multimodal capacity and serve new growth. The resulting growth-related improvement costs are then further separated to identify the share of growth related to land development in Seattle versus growth from outside of the City. New development in Seattle cannot be charged a fee to pay for the capacity needs generated by development outside of the City.”
The EIS received a determination of insignificance, but it was appealed by Impact Fee opponents to the Hearing Examiner in November. We now expect the Hearing Examiner to rule by the end of August or early September. Depending on the ruling the Council could potentially move forward with an impact fee proposal this year.
Next Steps:
Step 1 – Comprehensive Plan Amendments
- Hearing Examiner decision on appeal expected by mid- August
- Committee discussion and action on Comprehensive Plan amendment legislation
Step 2 – Fee Schedule and Program
- Policy and regulatory decision on a fee schedule, exemptions
- Discussion and potential action on implementing regulations
- September – October: Discussion of potential amendments to the Mayor’s proposed budget based on an impact fee program
- November: Potential Full Council action on Comprehensive Plan amendments, implementing regulations, and associated budget amendment
You can read more about impact fees here.
Delridge Day this Saturday
With over 50 booths this year’s festival will be the largest yet. There will be skate lesson from Skate Like A Girl at 12pm and 2pm, field games for all ages throughout the day, martial arts demonstrations, and live music from Bill Wolford, Ellis Brothers, The Slags, and Roo and the Few.
FREE food will be provided thanks to the support of the Seattle Police Foundation, and the Police Department will be there too for the annual Southwest Precinct Picnic. Last year they brought a working canine, a bomb squad robot to hand out candy, and mounted officers.
Come join your neighbors:
- Date: Saturday, August 10, 2019
- Time: 11:00 am–3:00 pm
- Location: Delridge Community Center and Park
July Constituent Email Report
Constituent correspondence is a very important task in my office. My staff and I spend time every day helping you improve our community, whether that’s by getting you help from a city department with our constituent case management services or giving you information about legislation that the Council is considering. The unshaded categories and numbers are problem-solving emails answered in July, what I refer to above as “case management services.” The shaded categories and numbers are emails answered in July related to policy or legislation that the Council is considering.
In-District Office Hours
On August 16, I will be at the South Park Community Center (8319 8th Ave S) between 2pm and 7pm. The final meeting of the day will begin at 6:30 p.m.
These hours are walk-in friendly, but if you would like to let me know you’re coming in advance you can email my scheduler Alex Clardy (alex.clardy@seattle.gov).
Additionally, here is a list of my tentatively scheduled office hours. These are subject to change.
- Friday, September 27, 2019
Senior Center of West Seattle, 4217 SW Oregon St - Friday, October 25, 2019
Southwest Customer Service Center, 2801 SW Thistle St - Friday, November 29, 2019
South Park Community Center, 8319 8th Avenue S - Friday, December 20, 2019
Senior Center of West Seattle, 4217 SW Oregon St