Updating Impact Fees: A Path to a Better Community

Imagine a community where our parks are vibrant, our emergency services are well-equipped, and our transportation infrastructure is top-notch. This vision is within our reach, but it requires us to address a crucial issue: updating New Castle County's impact fees, which haven't been revised in over 20 years. This long-overdue update, proposed in ordinance 24-008, is essential for our community's growth and sustainability.

Impact fees are one-time charges imposed on developers for new construction projects. These fees are designed to cover the cost of infrastructure and services needed to support new developments, such as roads, police, parks, sewers, and emergency services like EMS and fire services. But when developers don't pay their fair share, the burden falls on us—the residents.

It's been over 20 years since these fees were last updated, and during this time, the cost of providing these services has increased significantly. Yet, developers have continued to profit, often contributing to urban sprawl and putting more financial strain on our community.

Updating these fees is essential for making developers contribute their fair share towards infrastructure and services, thereby easing the financial burden on residents. It also helps control sprawl by discouraging haphazard development. Importantly, amendments are planned to exempt affordable housing projects, ensuring that all community members benefit from sustainable growth.

Despite these clear benefits, the Land Use Department (LUD) recently opposed the ordinance at a Planning Board hearing, using arguments that were not based on solid grounds. Some off-the-record comments from LUD staff and Planning Board members suggest that there was a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the ordinance's intentions and requirements.

However, we only need seven votes in the County Council to pass this ordinance, and we are optimistic about reaching this goal. The ordinance will be discussed at the County Council Land Use Committee meeting on July 2nd at 3 p.m.

Your support at this stage is crucial. Here’s what you can do:

1. Attend the Meeting & Make Public Comment: Attend in person or via Zoom at the July 2nd Land Use Committee meeting to show your support. Public presence and comments can significantly influence the council’s decision. If you can’t attend, consider submitting a written comment to express your support for the ordinance.
2. Spread the Word: Share this information with your friends, family, and neighbors. The more people understand the importance of this issue, the stronger our collective voice will be.

By updating these impact fees, we can make sure that new developments contribute to the well-being of our community, creating a place people actually want to live.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to making New Castle County a better place to live!

Jason Hoover
Candidate for New Castle County Council President