Zoning fee increases recommended to Board of Supervisors

“Before you think about who’s going to pay them, let’s think about what the costs actually are,” said Jay Willard, a member of the Blue Ridge Home Builders Association who spoke during last Tuesday’s public hearing of the Albemarle County Planning Commission. The sentiment was echoed closely by other members of the public who called for the commission to consider internal changes and cutbacks before resorting to raising zoning fees. Ultimately, however, the commission voted to recommend the increases.

The idea of increasing fees has received heat from politicians and citizens alike, most recently during the county Board of Supervisors’ campaign. Proponents of raising zoning fees cite the increase as a necessary one, since Albemarle County’s fees have been static for a number of years, while detractors fear that such changes would negatively impact the business community.

Albemarle’s Director of Community Development Mark Graham presented the recommendation for restructuring fees, Albemarle’s uniquely high standards set by the county for zoning applications. The director reminded the commission that the last comprehensive review of fees was in 1991 and that the fee adjustment made in 2002 (a general 25 percent increase in fees) was significantly lower than what was required to cover costs of service.

Commissioner Don Franco was the only speaker to directly question what real benefits come from high zoning application standards. “Is it really necessary? Are we really better off than other counties?” he asked.

Commissioner Marcia Joseph said that the high standards were a reaction to community values. “I think that we are asking an awful lot of applicants, but it’s part of what citizens have wanted and it’s part of what former commissions and former boards have wanted. So I think it’s part of the community’s responsibility to help pay for part of that review,” she said. Commissioner Linda Porterfield disagreed. “I’m not sure that the average taxpayer should be having to fund the majority of these services that are being asked for by various individuals, businesses, whatever,” she said.

The final vote was 4-1 with three special provisions, including the exemption of fees for temporary fundraising activities (Christmas tree sales, for example), and a delayed implementation date of July 1, 2010. One particular fee, much-scrutinized by some local watchers, is the original application fee for home-based businesses with two non-family employees (there were only three in 2008). It was reduced from $2,000 to $1,000.

The recommendation and provisions will go to the Board of Supervisors on December 2.

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