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Gainesville City Zoning Code

ARTICLE 9

19 - DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES

Sec. 9-19-1-1. - Legislative findings.

The city council has considered the feasibility of imposing development impact fees and finds, determines, and declares that:

(1)

The state legislature, through the enactment of the Georgia Development Impact Fee Act, O.C.G.A. § 36-71-1 et seq., has authorized the city to enact development impact fees;

(2)

The city established a development impact fee advisory committee pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-71-5, and that committee has served in an advisory capacity and assisted and advised the city with regard to the development and adoption of the ordinance from which this article is derived;

(3)

The city comprehensive plan contains within it land use assumptions, a capital improvement element for public safety and parks and recreation impact fees, and the establishment of a level of service standard for public safety and park and recreation capital facilities for the planning horizon to 2026; and the city comprehensive plan, including the amendment to include a capital improvement element for public safety and parks and recreation impact fees, has been submitted to the Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center and determined by the state department of community affairs to be in compliance with the rules of the state department of community affairs, chapter 110-12-2, development impact fee compliance requirements;

(4)

The city must expand its public safety and parks and recreation capital facilities in order to maintain the current level of service established in the city comprehensive plan if new development is to be accommodated without decreasing its adopted level of service standards. This must be done in order to promote and protect the health, safety, morals, convenience, order, prosperity, and the general welfare of the city;

(5)

The imposition of development impact fees is a preferred method of ensuring the availability of capital facilities necessary to accommodate new development;

(6)

Each of the types of land development described in this article will create a need for the construction, equipping, or expansion of the city's public safety and park and recreation capital facilities;

(7)

The fees established by this article are derived from, are based upon, and do not exceed a proportionate share of the costs of providing additional public safety and parks and recreation facilities necessitated by the new land developments for which the fees are levied;

(8)

The report entitled, "A Report on Public Safety and Park and Recreational Development Impact Fees" Prepared for Gainesville, Georgia, dated March 1, 2006, and revised June 4, 2006, sets forth a reasonable methodology and analysis for the determination of the development impact of new development on the need for and costs for additional public safety and parks and recreation improvements in the city.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-1; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-2. - Short title and applicability.

(a)

This article shall be known and may be cited as the "City of Gainesville Development Impact Fee Ordinance."

(b)

This article shall apply throughout the incorporated area of the city.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-2; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-3. - Intents and purposes.

(a)

This article is intended to assist in the implementation of the city's comprehensive plan.

(b)

The purpose of this article is to regulate the use and development of land so as to ensure that new development bears a proportionate share of the cost of capital expenditures necessary to provide public safety and parks and recreation in the city.

(c)

This article is intended to comply fully with each and every relevant provision of the Georgia Development Impact Fee Act, O.C.G.A. § 36-71-1 et seq., and shall be interpreted and implemented to so comply.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-3; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-4. - Rules of construction.

The following provisions regarding interpretation are hereby adopted and shall be applied to this article. Where the provisions of this section conflict with interpretations specified in chapter 9-2-1, the rules of construction of this section shall control, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1)

The provisions of this article shall be liberally construed so as to effectively carry out its purpose to promote and protect the health, safety, morals, convenience, order, prosperity, and the general welfare of the city.

(2)

For the purposes of administration and enforcement of this article, unless otherwise stated in this article, the following rules of construction shall apply to the text of this article:

a.

In case of any difference of meaning or implication between the text of this article and any caption, illustration, summary table, or illustrative table, the text shall control.

b.

The term "shall" is always mandatory and not discretionary; the term "may" is permissive.

c.

Words used in the present tense shall include the future; and words used in the singular number shall include the plural, and the plural the singular, unless the context clearly indicates the contrary.

d.

The phrase "used for" includes "arranged for," "designed for," "maintained for," or "occupied for."

e.

The term "person" includes an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an incorporated association, or any other similar entity.

f.

Unless the context clearly indicates the contrary, where a regulation involves two or more items, conditions, provisions, or events connected by the conjunction "and," "or" or "either…or," the conjunction shall be interpreted as follows:

1.

The term "and" indicates that all the connected terms, conditions, provisions or events shall apply.

2.

The term "or" indicates that the connected items, conditions, provisions or events may apply singly or in any combination.

3.

The term "either…or" indicates that the connected items, conditions, provisions or events shall apply singly but not in combination.

g.

The term "includes" shall not limit a term to the specific example but is intended to extend its meaning to all other instances or circumstances of like kind or character.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-4; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-5. - Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning. Where the definitions of this section conflict with terms defined in chapter 9-2-2, the definitions of this section shall control, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Applicant means a person applying for the issuance of a building permit.

Building permit means the approval issued by the city that authorizes the construction or permanent placement of a building, dwelling or other structure on a site.

Capital equipment means buildings, vehicles, weapons, and communications equipment, all with an expected use life of ten years or more.

Capital improvement means an improvement with a useful life of ten years or more, by new construction or other action, which increases the service capacity of a public facility.

Developer means any person or legal entity undertaking development.

Development means any construction or expansion of a building, structure, or use, any change in use of a building or structure, or any change in the use of land, any of which creates additional demand and need for public safety facilities and parks and recreation facilities.

Development approval means any written authorization from the city which authorizes the commencement of construction.

Development impact fee means a payment of money imposed upon development as a condition of development approval to pay for a proportionate share of the cost of public improvements needed to serve new growth and development.

Encumber means to legally obligate, by contract, or otherwise commit to use by appropriation or other official act of the city.

Floor area shall have the same meaning as in the building code of the city.

Impact fee administrator means the city community and economic development department director or his designee.

Present value means the current value of past, present, or future payments, contributions or dedications of goods, services, materials, construction, or money.

Project means a particular development on an identified parcel of land.

Project improvements means site improvements and facilities that are planned and designed to provide service for a particular development project and that are necessary for the use and convenience of the occupants or users of the project and are not system improvements. The character of the improvement shall control a determination of whether an improvement is a project improvement or system improvement and the physical location of the improvement on- or off-site shall not be considered determinative of whether an improvement is a project improvement or a system improvement. If an improvement or facility provides or will provide more than incidental service or facilities capacity to persons other than users or occupants of a particular project, the improvement or facility is a system improvement and shall not be considered a project improvement. No improvement or facility included in a plan for public facilities approved by the governing body of the municipality or county shall be considered a project improvement.

Proportionate share means that portion of the cost of system improvements which is reasonably related to the service demands and needs of the project.

Service area means a geographic area defined by the city in which a defined set of public facilities provide service to development within the area. Service areas shall be designated on the basis of sound planning or engineering principles or both.

System improvement costs means costs incurred to provide additional public facilities capacity needed to serve growth and development for planning, design and construction, land acquisition, land improvement, design and engineering related thereto, including the cost of constructing or reconstructing system improvements or facility expansions, including, but not limited to, the construction contract price, surveying and engineering fees, related land acquisition costs (including land purchases, court awards and costs, attorneys' fees, and expert witness fees), and expenses incurred for qualified staff or any qualified engineer, planner, architect, landscape architect, or financial consultant for preparing or updating the capital improvement element, and administrative costs, if so authorized in this article, provided that such administrative costs shall not exceed three percent of the total amount of development impact fee receipts. Projected interest charges and other finance costs may be included if the development impact fees are to be used for the payment of principal and interest on bonds, notes, or other financial obligations issued by or on behalf of the municipality or county to finance the capital improvements element but such costs do not include routine and periodic maintenance expenditures, personnel training, and other operating costs.

System improvements means capital improvements that are public facilities and are designed to provide service to the community at large, in contrast to project improvements.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-5; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-6. - Individual fee calculation study.

If an applicant opts not to have the development impact fee determined according to section 9-19-2-2 for public safety facilities or section 9-19-3-2 for park and recreation facilities, then the applicant shall prepare and submit to the impact fee administrator an independent fee calculation study for the land development activity for which a building permit is sought. The documentation submitted shall show the basis upon which the independent fee calculation was made. The impact fee administrator shall consider the documentation submitted by the applicant but is not required to accept such documentation as he shall reasonably deem to be inaccurate or not reliable and may, in the alternative, require the applicant to submit additional or different documentation for consideration. If an acceptable independent fee calculation study is not presented, the applicant shall pay the development impact fees based upon the schedule shown in section 9-19-2-2 and section 9-19-3-2, as applicable. If an acceptable independent fee calculation study is presented, the impact fee administrator may adjust the fee to that appropriate to the particular development. Determinations made by the impact fee administrator pursuant to this subsection may be appealed to the mayor and city council in accordance with section 9-19-1-15.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-6; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-7. - Certification of fee schedule or fee.

On the request of an applicant, the impact fee administrator shall certify the development impact fee schedules or development impact fees resulting from an individual assessment, whichever is applicable, and said certification shall establish the applicable development impact fees for a period of 180 days from the date thereof.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-7; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-8. - Payment of fee.

The applicant shall pay the development impact fee required by this article to the impact fee administrator or his designee prior to the issuance of a building permit.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-8; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-9. - Administrative fee.

An administrative fee of three percent shall be levied against the total development impact fee due prior to the issuance of a building permit.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-9; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-10. - Deposit of fees in appropriate account.

(a)

All public safety impact fee funds collected shall be properly identified by and promptly transferred for deposit in the public safety development impact fee trust funds of the city, which shall be interest bearing accounts, to be held in separate accounts as established in section 9-19-2-4 and used solely for the purposes specified in this article.

(b)

All parks and recreation impact fee funds collected shall be properly identified by and promptly transferred for deposit in the park and recreation development impact fee trust fund of the city, as established in section 9-19-3-4 which shall be an interest bearing account, and used solely for the purposes specified in this article.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-10; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-11. - Report by administrator.

At least once each fiscal period, the impact fee administrator shall present to the city council a report describing the amount of development impact fees collected, encumbered and used, and a proposed capital improvement program for public safety and parks and recreation, assigning funds, including any accrued interest, from the public safety development impact fee trust funds to specific police facility and fire protection facility improvement projects and related expenses, and from the park and recreation impact fee trust funds to specific park and recreation facility improvement projects and related expenses. Monies, including any accrued interest, not assigned in any fiscal period shall be retained in the respective impact fee trust fund until the next fiscal period except as provided by the refund provisions of this article.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-11; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-12. - Refund of fees paid.

(a)

If a building permit expires without commencement of construction, then the feepayer shall be entitled to a refund, without interest, of the development impact fee paid as a condition for its issuance except that the city shall retain three percent of the fee, if so authorized and collected, to offset a portion of the costs of collection and refund. The feepayer must submit an application for such a refund to the impact fee administrator within 30 days of the expiration of the permit.

(b)

In the event that development impact fees have not been expended or encumbered by the end of the calendar quarter immediately following six years from the date the development impact fee was paid, the impact fee administrator shall provide written notice of entitlement to a refund to feepayers or their successors with interest.

(c)

If funds are not expended or encumbered by the end of the calendar quarter immediately following six years from the date the development impact fee was paid, upon application of the then current landowner, they must be returned to such feepayer with interest that is a pro rata share of the interest earned by the fund. A feepayer must submit an application for a refund to the impact fee administrator within one year of the expiration of the six-year period or the publication of the notice of entitlement, whichever is later. Refunds shall be made to the feepayer within 60 days after it is determined that a sufficient proof of claim for a refund has been made.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-12; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-13. - Exemptions.

(a)

The following shall be exempted from payment of development impact fees:

(1)

Alterations or expansion of an existing building where use and size are not changed.

(2)

Additions to an existing dwelling unit.

(3)

The construction of accessory buildings or structures.

(4)

The replacement of a building or structure with a new building or structure of the same size and use.

(b)

Any claim of exemption must be made no later than the time of application for a building permit. Any claim not so made shall be deemed waived.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-13; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-14. - Credits generally.

(a)

This section shall apply when a credit is considered or approved by the impact fee administrator pursuant to sections 9-19-2-6 and 9-19-3-6.

(b)

Credit for the dedication of land shall be valued at 115 percent of the most recent assessed value by the property appraiser, or by fair market value established by private appraisers acceptable to the city. Credit for the dedication of land for facilities shall be provided when the property has been conveyed at no charge to, and accepted by, the city in a manner satisfactory to the impact fee administrator.

(c)

Applicants for credit for construction of improvements shall submit acceptable engineering drawings and specifications, and construction cost estimates to the impact fee administrator. The impact fee administrator shall determine credit for construction based upon either these cost estimates or upon alternative engineering criteria and construction cost estimates if the impact fee administrator determines that such estimates submitted by the applicant are either unreliable or inaccurate. The impact fee administrator shall provide the applicant with a letter or certificate setting forth the dollar amount of the credit, the reason for the credit, and the legal description or other adequate description of the project or development to which the credit may be applied. The applicant must sign and date a duplicate copy of such letter or certificate indicating his agreement to the terms of the letter or certificate and return such signed document to the impact fee administrator before credit will be given. The failure of the applicant to sign, date, and return such document within 60 days shall nullify the credit.

(d)

Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, credit against development impact fees otherwise due will not be provided until the construction is completed and accepted by the city, the county, or the state, whichever is applicable; and a suitable maintenance and warranty bond is received and approved by the impact fee administrator, when applicable.

(e)

Credit may be provided before completion of specified improvements if adequate assurances are given by the applicant that the standards set out above will be met and if the applicant posts security as provided below for the costs of such construction. Security in the form of a performance bond, irrevocable letter of credit or escrow agreement shall be posted with and approved by the impact fee administrator in an amount determined by the impact fee administrator. If the public facility construction project will not be constructed within one year of the acceptance of the offer by the impact fee administrator, the amount of the security shall be increased by ten percent compounded, for each year of the life of the security.

(1)

Any claim for credit must be made no later than the time of application for a building permit. Any claim not so made shall be deemed waived.

(2)

Credits shall not be transferable from one project or development to another unless so provided in a development impact fee credit agreement.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-14; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-15. - Appeals.

(a)

Any applicant or feepayer aggrieved by a decision of the impact fee administrator made pursuant to this article shall have the right to appeal to the mayor and city council. Prior to any such appeal the aggrieved applicant or feepayer shall file a request for reconsideration with the impact fee administrator who shall act upon such request within 15 days.

(b)

All appeals shall be taken within 15 days of the impact fee administrator's decision on the request for reconsideration by filing with the impact fee administrator a notice of appeal specifying the grounds therefor. The impact fee administrator shall forthwith transmit to the mayor and city council all papers constituting the record upon which the action appealed from is taken. The mayor and city council shall thereafter establish a reasonable date and time for a hearing on the appeal, give due notice thereof, and decide the same within a reasonable period of time following the hearing. Any applicant or feepayer making an appeal shall have the right to appear at the hearing, to present evidence and may be represented by counsel.

(c)

An applicant may pay a development impact fee under protest to obtain a building permit and by making such payment shall not be stopped from:

(1)

Exercising the right of appeal provided for in this section; or

(2)

Receiving a refund of any amount deemed to have been illegally collected.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-15; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

State Law reference— Administrative appeals, O.C.G.A. § 36-71-10.

Sec. 9-19-1-16. - Review and automatic update of fee schedules.

(a)

The development fee schedules contained in this article should be reviewed by the impact fee administrator at least once every two years.

(b)

Unless otherwise directed by the governing body of the city, the impact fee administrator should at least once every two years recommend to the governing body of the city the amendment of the development impact fee schedules established in this article based on the methodology described in subsections (c) and (d) of this section.

(c)

The base for computing any adjustment is the January Construction Cost Index for the United States, published by McGraw-Hill. For the purpose of this section, the initial index to be referenced is January of the last year when the impact fees were updated with cost or demographic data.

(d)

If the index is changed so that the base year is different, the index shall be converted in accordance with the conversion factor published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. If the construction cost index is discontinued or revised, the consumer price index or such other index or computation with which it is replaced shall be used in order to obtain substantially the same result as would be obtained if the construction cost index had not been discontinued or revised.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-16; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006; Ord. No. 2019-11, § I, 5-21-2019)

Sec. 9-19-1-17. - Penalty provision.

A violation of this article shall be prosecuted in the same manner as specified in chapter 9-24-2 and, upon conviction, the violator shall be punishable according to law; however, in addition to or in lieu of any criminal prosecution the city shall have the power to sue in civil court to enforce the provisions of this article.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-17; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-1-18. - Severability.

If any section, phrase, sentence or portion of this article is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof of this article.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-1-18; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-2-1. - Imposition of public safety development impact fee.

(a)

Any person, who, after the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived, seeks to develop land within the city, by applying for a building permit, is hereby required to pay a public safety development impact fee in the manner and amount set forth in this article.

(b)

No new building permit for any activity requiring payment of a development impact fee pursuant to section 9-19-2-2 shall be issued unless and until the public safety development impact fee hereby required has been paid.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-2-1; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-2-2. - Computation of the amount of public safety development impact fee.

At the option of the applicant, the amount of the public safety development impact fee may be determined by adding together the applicable police facility impact fee and the applicable fire protection facility impact fee from the following schedules:

Police Impact FeeFire Impact Fee
Residential
Per dwelling unit $375.00 $685.00
Type and unit of development (per 1,000 square feet except as noted) NAICS Code Police impact fee (per 1,000 square feet except as noted) Fire impact fee (per 1,000 square feet except as noted)
Industrial and Related
Construction company 23 $410.37 $749.60
Data processing 5182 $467.00 $853.04
General freight trucking 4841 $187.50 $342.49
Industrial, light $134.37 $245.45
Industrial, heavy $67.12 $122.61
Materials recovery facility 56292 $785.00 $1,433.91
Miniwarehouse $26.75 $48.86
Mining (acre) 21231 $8.75 $15.98
Nursery stock wholesaler (acre) 42493 $85.12 $155.49
Manufacturing 31-33 $215.00 $392.72
Petroleum bulk storage (acre) 4247 $303.00 $553.47
Research laboratory $467.00 $853.04
Septic tank services 562991 $441.62 $806.68
Solid waste collection 562111 $645.00 $1,178.18
Warehousing 4931 $187.50 $342.49
Wholesale trade 42 $134.37 $245.45
Retail Trade and Services
Amusement arcade 71312 $312.50 $570.82
Amusement park (acre) 713 $1,344.12 $2,455.22
Arena $672.00 $1,227.50
Art store 45392 $256.62 $468.76
Automobile, new car dealer 44111 $268.75 $490.90
Automobile, used car dealer 44112 $312.50 $570.82
Automotive repair/maintenance 8111 $516.25 $943.00
Automotive parts store 44131 $268.75 $490.90
Automobile rental and leasing 53211 $312.50 $570.82
Bank 52211 $537.50 $981.81
Baked goods store 445291 $312.50 $570.82
Bar, drinking place or tavern 7224 $386.25 $705.53
Beer, wine and liquor store 44531 $178.25 $325.59
Bookstore 4512 $312.50 $570.82
Bowling center 71395 $312.50 $570.82
Building materials store 4441 $80.50 $147.04
Car wash (principal use) 811192 $512.50 $936.15
Caterer 72232 $500.00 $913.32
Cemetery (acre) 81222 $10.75 $19.63
Clothing store 4481 $224.37 $409.85
Consumer lending 522291 $435.75 $795.95
Cosmetic or beauty supply store 44612 $237.12 $433.14
Day care center 6244 $336.00 $613.75
Department store 4521 $312.50 $570.82
Dry cleaning/laundry 8123 $312.50 $570.82
Electronics store 443142 $312.50 $570.82
Fitness center 71394 $312.50 $570.82
Florist 4531 $109.37 $199.78
Formal wear/costume rental store 53222 $224.37 $409.85
Fuel dealer 45431 $280.37 $512.14
Funeral home 81221 $195.00 $356.19
Furniture or home furnishings store 442 $144.75 $264.40
Gasoline with convenience store 44711 $693.75 $1,267.23
Golf course/country club (acre) 71391 $33.62 $61.42
Hardware store 44413 $127.50 $232.89
Hobby, toy, game store 45112 $224.37 $409.85
Home improvement store 44411 $224.37 $409.85
Household appliance store 443141 $312.50 $570.82
Insurance carrier 5241 $537.50 $981.81
Janitorial service 56172 $529.37 $966.97
Jewelry store 44831 $312.50 $570.82
Landscaping services 56173 $145.00 $264.86
Linen or uniform supply 81233 $185.37 $338.61
Lodging (hotel or motel, including extended stay (per guestroom) 72111 $107.50 $196.36
Lodging, bed and breakfast inn (per guestroom) 721191 $53.75 $98.18
Marina 71393 $500.00 $913.32
Merchandise (general) store 4529 $312.50 $570.82
Merchandise (used) store 4533 $224.37 $409.85
Mobile food service (per vehicle) 72233 $443.75 $810.57
Movie theater 71111 $201.62 $368.29
Museum 71211 $156.25 $285.41
Musical instrument store 45114 $224.37 $409.85
Nursery, garden, farm supply store 44420 $145.00 $264.86
Office, general $403.12 $736.36
Office, medical or dental $436.87 $798.01
Office supply store 4532 $312.50 $570.82
Optical goods store 44613 $312.50 $570.82
Paint or wallpaper store 44412 $176.62 $322.63
Personal care service 8121 $390.75 $713.75
Pet care (excludes veterinary) 81291 $462.50 $844.82
Pet/pet supply store 45391 $168.75 $310.30
Pharmacy or drug store 44611 $224.37 $409.85
Recreational vehicle dealer 44121 $224.37 $409.85
Recreational vehicle park or campground (per camp site) 7212 $9.37 $17.12
Rental center 53231 $312.50 $570.82
Restaurant 7225 $693.75 $1,267.23
Securities brokerage 52312 $462.50 $844.82
Shoe store 44821 $224.37 $409.85
Specialty food store 4452 $312.50 $570.82
Supermarket/grocery 44511 $224.37 $409.85
Sporting goods store 45111 $224.37 $409.85
Tennis or racquet club (principal) (court) $32.25 $58.90
Tire store 44132 $224.37 $409.85
Tobacco/vape store 453991 $312.50 $570.82
Veterinary or animal hospital 54194 $379.62 $693.43
Video rental 53223 $265.62 $484.05
Transportation and Communication
Ambulance services 62191 $518.75 $947.56
Courier or express delivery 4921 $318.75 $582.24
Limousine service 48532 $370.00 $675.85
Motor vehicle towing 48841 $518.75 $947.56
Newspaper publisher 51111 $267.50 $490.22
Parking lot/garage (acre) 81293 $896.25 $1,637.58
Radio/TV broadcasting 5151 $160.75 $292.26
Sound recording studio 51224 $105.00 $191.79
Taxi service 48531 $518.75 $947.56
Wireless telecommunication carrier 51721 $312.50 $570.82
Institutional
Church/religious organization 8131 $67.12 $122.61
Civic or social organization 8134 $134.37 $245.45
Crisis center 6242 $351.50 $641.60
Hospital 622 $436.87 $798.01
Nursing home/assisted living 623 $634.37 $1,158.77
Recreational community center $268.75 $490.90
School, general education 61111 $134.37 $245.45
School, business 6114 $312.50 $570.82
School, technical/trade 6115 $218.75 $399.57
School, cosmetology/barber 611511 $312.50 $570.82
School, fine arts 61161 $312.50 $570.82
Roominghouse or boarding-
house
7213 $721.25 $1,317.46

 

(1)

If a building permit is requested for mixed uses, then the fee shall be determined through using the above schedules by apportioning the space committed to uses specified on the schedules.

(2)

If the type of development activity that a building permit is applied for is not specified on the above fee schedules, the impact fee administrator shall use the fee applicable to the most nearly comparable type of land use on the above fee schedules. The impact fee administrator shall be guided in the selection of a comparable type by the city comprehensive plan, supporting documents of the city comprehensive plan, and this unified land development code. If the impact fee administrator determines that there is no comparable type of land use provided in the above fee schedules, then the impact fee administrator shall determine the appropriate fee by considering demographic or other documentation which is available from the city community and economic development department, and state and regional authorities.

(3)

In the case of change of use, redevelopment, or expansion or modification of an existing use which requires the issuance of a building permit, the development impact fee shall be based upon the net positive increase in the development impact fee for the new use as compared to the previous use. The impact fee administrator shall be guided in this determination by the sources listed in subsection (2) of this section.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-2-2; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006; Ord. No. 2019-11, § II, 5-21-2019)

Sec. 9-19-2-3. - Public safety service area established.

There is hereby established one public safety service area which shall be the entirety of the incorporated area of the city.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-2-3; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-2-4. - Public safety development impact fee trust funds established.

(a)

There is hereby established one police facility development impact fee trust fund and one fire protection facility development impact fee trust fund, which shall be an interest-bearing account, for the public safety service area established in section 9-19-2-3.

(b)

All public safety development impact fees collected shall be promptly deposited in the appropriate public safety development impact fee trust funds, i.e., the police facility development impact fee trust fund and the fire protection facility development impact fee trust fund and maintained there, including interest thereon, until withdrawn pursuant to this article.

(c)

Funds withdrawn from these accounts must be used in accordance with the provisions of section 9-19-2-5.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-2-4; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-2-5. - Use of funds.

(a)

Funds deposited in the police facility development impact fee trust fund shall be used solely for the purpose of acquiring, equipping, and/or making capital improvements to police protection facilities under the jurisdiction of the city, the county, or the state, and related expenses as permitted by the Georgia Development Impact Fee Act (O.C.G.A. § 36-71-1 et seq.), and shall not be used for maintenance or operations.

(b)

Funds deposited in the fire protection facility development impact fee trust fund shall be used solely for the purpose of acquiring, equipping, and/or making capital improvements to fire protection facilities under the jurisdiction of the city, the county, or the state, and related expenses as permitted by the Georgia Development Impact Fee Act (O.C.G.A. § 36-71-1 et seq.), and shall not be used for maintenance or operations.

(c)

In the event that bonds or similar debt instruments are issued for advanced provision of capital facilities for which public safety development impact fees may be expended, development impact fees may be used to pay debt service on such bonds or similar debt instruments to the extent that the facilities provided are of the type described in subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

(d)

In the event a developer enters into an agreement with the city to construct, fund or contribute system improvements such that the amount of the credit created by such construction, funding or contribution is in excess of the development impact fee otherwise due, the developer shall be reimbursed for such excess construction funding or contribution from development impact fees paid by other development located in the service area which is benefited by such improvements.

(e)

Funds may be used to provide refunds as described in section 9-19-1-12.

(f)

Funds shall be considered expended on a first-in, first-out basis.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-2-5; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-2-6. - Credits.

Public safety land and/or capital improvements may be offered by the applicant as total or partial payment of the required development impact fee. The applicant must request a public safety development impact fee credit. If the impact fee administrator accepts such an offer, the credit shall be determined and provided in the manner described in section 9-19-1-14.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-2-6; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-3-1. - Imposition of park and recreation development impact fee.

(a)

Any person who, after the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived, seeks to develop land within the city, by applying for a residential building permit is hereby required to pay a park and recreation development impact fee in the manner and amount set forth in this article.

(b)

No building permit for any activity requiring payment of a development impact fee pursuant to section 9-19-3-2 shall be issued unless and until the park and recreation development impact fee hereby required has been paid.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-3-1; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-3-2. - Computation of the amount of park and recreation development impact fee.

(a)

At the option of the applicant, the amount of the park and recreation development impact fee may be determined by the following fee schedule:

Cost per dwelling $1,400.00

 

(b)

If a building permit is requested for mixed uses, then the fee shall be determined through using the above schedule by apportioning the space committed to uses specified on the schedule.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-3-2; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006; Ord. No. 2019-11, § III, 5-21-2019)

Sec. 9-19-3-3. - Park and recreation development impact fee service area established.

There is hereby established one park and recreation development impact fee service area, which shall be the entire incorporated area of the city.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-3-3; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-3-4. - Park and recreation development impact fee trust fund established.

(a)

There is hereby established one park and recreation development impact fee trust fund, which shall be an interest-bearing account, for the park and recreation development impact fee service area established by section 9-19-3-3.

(b)

All park and recreation development impact fees collected shall be promptly deposited in the park and recreation development impact fee trust fund and maintained there, including interest thereon, until withdrawn pursuant to this article.

(c)

Funds withdrawn from this account must be used in accordance with the provisions of section 9-19-3-5.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-3-4; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-3-5. - Use of funds.

(a)

Funds collected from park and recreation development impact fees shall be used solely for the purpose of acquiring and/or making capital improvements to park and recreation facilities under the jurisdiction of the city, the county, or the state, and related expenses as permitted by the Georgia Development Impact Fee Act (O.C.G.A. § 36-71-1 et seq.), and shall not be used for maintenance or operations.

(b)

Funds shall be used exclusively for acquisitions, expansions, or capital improvements within the park and recreation development impact fee service area from which the funds were collected.

(c)

In the event that bonds or similar debt instruments are issued for advanced provision of capital facilities for which park and recreation development impact fees may be expended, development impact fees may be used to pay debt service on such bonds or similar debt instruments to the extent that the facilities provided are of the type described in subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

(d)

In the event a developer enters into an agreement with the city to construct, fund or contribute system improvements such that the amount of the credit created by such construction, funding or contribution is in excess of the development impact fee otherwise due, the developer shall be reimbursed for such excess construction funding or contribution from development impact fees paid by other development located in the service area which is benefited by such improvements.

(e)

Funds may be used to provide refunds as described in section 9-19-1-12.

(f)

Funds shall be considered expended on a first-in, first-out basis.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-3-5; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)

Sec. 9-19-3-6. - Credits.

(a)

Park and recreation land and/or capital improvements may be offered by the applicant as partial payment of the required development impact fee. The applicant must request a park and recreation development impact fee credit. If the impact fee administrator accepts such an offer, the credit shall be determined and provided in the manner described in section 9-19-1-14.

(b)

An applicant may apply for credit against park and recreation development impact fees otherwise due for private park and/or recreation facilities. In no circumstance shall credit for private park and/or recreation facilities exceed 50 percent of the park and recreation development impact fees otherwise due. An applicant requesting credit must show that:

(1)

The private park and/or recreation facility for which credit is sought serves a public recreational need; and

(2)

The private park and/or recreation facility for which credit is sought is consistent with the park and recreation capital improvement element of the city's comprehensive plan.

(ULDC 2005, § 9-19-3-6; Ord. No. 2006-34, § I, 8-1-2006)