ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA

Transcription

1 ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA County Board Agenda Item Meeting of April 16, 2005 DATE: April 1, 2005 SUBJECT: Zoning Ordinance amendments to Section 36. Administration and Procedures of the Zoning Ordinance to increase application fees for building permit applications reviewed by the Zoning Administration office for compliance with zoning regulations. C. M. RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the attached Ordinance to amend, reenact and recodify Section 36 of the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance to increase various zoning fees necessary to provide for efficient administration of review process, and to encourage economic development, to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the public, and, for other reasons required by the public necessity, convenience and general welfare and good zoning practice. ISSUES: None. SUMMARY: The proposed fee schedule in this report includes fee increases in three (3) Subsections 36,C.4.a., b., and c. of the Zoning Ordinance. All of the proposed fee increases are for the review of building permit applications that are reviewed by the Zoning Office for compliance with zoning regulations. Fees for all three subsections are proposed to be raised by five (5) dollars. The rate of inflation over the past three years was 9.2 percent. Staff proposes raising the fees five (5) dollars to keep them at rounded numbers and the increases will not result in more than the cost of the services provided. The resulting percentage increase will range from 3.3 percent for larger fees to 50 percent for smaller fees. The modified fee schedule would become effective on July 1, 2005 if approved by the County Board. Therefore, in order to further the County's goal of recovering more of the costs associated with the review and processing of development proposals and plans, the proposed zoning fee increases should be adopted. BACKGROUND: The fees listed in the three (3) Subsections 36.C.4.a., b., and c. of the Zoning Ordinance are scheduled for review this year, following a regular three (3)-year review schedule established by the County. The proposed increases are based on the inflation adjustment for County Manager: County Attorney: Staff: Sakura Namioka, CPHD, Planning Division

2 construction related activities for the past three years. The fee increases do not exceed the increases in those costs. Fees for all three subsections are proposed to be raised by five (5) dollars. The rate of inflation over the past three years was 9.2 percent. Staff proposes raising the fees five (5) dollars to keep the fees at a round number and the increases will not result in more revenue than the cost of providing the services. The County Board takes action on the Fiscal Year 2006 budget on April 16, The proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments are proposed to be formally acted on by the County Board at that meeting. The public hearing on the County budget revenue was held on March 31, DISCUSSION: In order to further the County's goal of recovering more of the costs associated with review and processing of development proposals and plans, the proposed zoning fee increases should be adopted. Fees for all three subsections are proposed to be increased by five (5) dollars, based on an average increase of the rate of inflation over the past three years which was 9.2 percent. The modified fee schedule would become effective on July 1, 2005, if approved by the County Board. The new fees would not exceed the cost of reviewing and issuing the relevant applications and permits. The proposed fee increases were shared with the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA) Technical Committee at the meeting in March 2005 for discussion. The Planning Commission will consider the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment at its April 4, 2005 hearing. The proposed fee schedule changes are summarized below: Type of Construction Subsection 36.C.4.a. New Construction Existing Fees Proposed fees New single-family, town houses, duplexes (by-right and site plan) $65 per dwelling unit $70 per dwelling unit By-right Development, including apartments, retail and offices Site plan projects, including office, residential, hotel, commercial and Institutional uses (excluding town houses) New parking structures and lots (by-right and site plan) $35 per 10,000 sq. ft. gross floor area $60 per 5,000 sq. ft. gross floor area $30 per 5,000 sq. ft. gross floor area $40 per 10,000 sq. ft. GFA $65 per 5,000 sq. ft. GFA $35 per 5,000 sq. ft. GFA - 2 -

3 Subsection 36.c.4.b. Modifications to Existing Structures Exterior Additions: Single-family, town houses, duplexes All Other Interior Alterations: Existing Fees $35 for less than 1,000 sq. ft., $65 for larger additions $128 flat fee Proposed fees $40 for less than 1,000 sq. ft., $70 for larger additions $133/ flat fee Single-family dwellings, town houses, duplexes, apartments All Other Subsection 36.c.4.c Other Types of Building Permits: Footing and foundation, and excavation $35 fee for less than 1,000 sq. ft., $65 for larger alterations $65 per 10,000 sq. ft. gross floor area or part thereof Existing Fees $40 $45 Retaining walls $20 $25 Decks and fences $10 $15 Detached garages and accessory buildings Demolition Plans: By-right construction $15 $20 $15 per site $40 fee for less than 1,000 sq. ft., $70 for larger alterations $70 per 10,000 sq. ft. GFA or part thereof Proposed fees $20 per site Site plan construction $65 per site $70 per site Swimming pools $15 $20 Satellite dish antennae, temporary structures (e.g. fireworks stands) $45 $50 Driveways, on-grade patios No fee No fee Revisions to approved by-right and site plan new construction only projects $25 per revision $30 per revision Uses not elsewhere specified $35 $40-3 -

4 FISCAL IMPACT: Current activity levels were used to project estimated revenue. It is estimated that the proposed fee schedule will generate approximately $218,800 in Fiscal Year 2006 revenue. The proposed increased fees will generate approximately $18,800 beyond what would be generated if the fees were not increased for the rate of inflation. The estimated revenue increases have been included in the Fiscal Year 2006 Proposed Budget. CONCLUSION: The proposed fee increases are intended to further the County's goal of recovering more of the costs associated with the review and processing of these development applications, to provide for efficient administration of review process; to encourage economic development; and to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the public. It is, therefore, recommended that the County Board adopt the proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment to Section 36. Administration and Procedures

5 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND, REENACT, AND RECODIFY SECTION 36. ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURES, SUBSECTION C.4.a. b. AND c. OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO INCREASE FEES FOR BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS REVIEWED BY THE ZONING OFFICE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ZONING REGULATIONS. BE IT ORDAINED THAT, Section 36., Subsection 36.C.4.a, b and c of the Zoning Ordinance be hereby amended, reenacted, and recodified, in order to increase various zoning fees necessary to provide for efficient administration of review process, and to encourage economic development, to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the public, and, for other reasons required by the public necessity, convenience and general welfare and good zoning practice; as follows: SECTION 36. ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURES C. Permits. 4. Every application for a building permit that is required under this Section of the Zoning Ordinance shall be accompanied by a fee as follows: a. New Construction: New single-family, town houses, duplexes (by-right and site plan) $65.00 $70.00 per dwelling unit By-right development, including apartments, retail, and offices $35.00 $40.00 per 10,000 square feet gross floor area Site plan projects, including office, residential, hotel, commercial and institutional uses (excluding town houses) $60.00 $65.00 per 5,000 square feet gross floor area New parking structures and lots (by-right and site plan) $30.00 $35.00 per 5,000 square feet gross floor area - 5 -

6 b. Modifications to Existing Structures: Exterior Additions: Single-family, town houses, duplexes All Other $35.00 $40.00 for less than 1,000 square feet, $65.00 $70.00 for larger additions $ $ flat fee Interior Alterations: Single-family dwellings, town houses, duplexes, apartments $35.00 $40.00 for less than 1,000 square feet, $65.00 $70.00 for larger alterations All Other $65.00 $70.00 per 10,000 square feet gross floor area or part thereof c. Other Types of Building Permits: Footing and foundation, and excavation $40.00 $45.00 Retaining walls $20.00 $25.00 Decks and fences $10.00 $ Detached garages and accessory buildings $15.00 $20.00 Demolition Plans: By-right construction $15.00 $20.00 per site - 6 -

7 Site plan construction $65.00 $70.00 per site Swimming pools $15.00 $20.00 Satellite dish, antennae, temporary structures (e.g. fireworks stands) $45.00 $50.00 Driveways, on-grade patios No fee Revisions to approved by-right and site plan new construction only projects $25.00 $30.00 Uses not elsewhere specified $35.00 $