With the adoption of the 2030 Allen Comprehensive Plan in 2014, the land use assumptions for the community have been updated. Impact fees, which are based on projected growth, land-use, and planned construction, have remained unchanged since 2002. The development community pays transportation impact fees when applying for a building permit, to fund the infrastructure necessary to accommodate growth of our community. Similarly, water and sewer impact fees are paid with each new account established, based on meter size. The logic follows that the larger the meter, the more water a user consumes, and the greater impact on the water and sewer system accordingly; therefore, a greater impact fee ensues. The impact fee concept is a way to distribute the cost of infrastructure proportionally across new users and growth, easing the burden on existing residents and businesses.
State law requires City Council take action every five (5) years on the impact fee structure - to either change the fees or determine no revision is required. In 2007 and 2012, the Allen City Council determined no revision was needed, based on staff recommendation that land use assumptions and proposed construction projects had not changed significantly. Since the land-use projections have changed within the last five years, it is now appropriate to revisit and recalculate the fee structure.
Texas Local Government Code requires a public hearing on the proposed impact fee structure, and staff recommends setting the hearing for July 25, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. The impact fee study will be published on June 22, 2017 and made available to the public for review, on the same day advertisement is made in the Allen American, as required by law.
The Planning & Zoning Commission, which serves as the Advisory Committee for impact fees, will receive a copy of the study on June 23rd and be requested to provide written comment by July 7. The Advisory Committee is required to review the study prior to the public hearing.