Road Impact Fees Going Up in Lake County

The proposed new fees, if approved by commissioners, would kick in Oct. 1, the start of local government's fiscal year. Orlando area residential and commercial developers have been building feverishly in nearby Lake for the past seven years, taking advantage of some of the lowest impact fees in the state.

But now those fees, if adjusted, would compare with existing fee schedules in surrounding counties, commissioners argue. They are studying proposals made by their hired consultant, Tindale, Oliver & Associates of Tampa.

Fast-food restaurant developments may take the biggest hit--up 869.1%, from $1,182 per 1,000 sf of space to $17,706. General commercial projects, such as strip retail centers of 50,000 sf to 200,000 sf could face an increase of 260.4%, from $604 per 1,000 sf of development to $2,177.

Office ventures in the 30,000 sf to 100,000 sf category may get off easy, looking at only a 5.7% increase--from $2,727 per 1,000 sf to $2,883. Industrial product impact fees would go up by 13.1%, from $1,907 per sf in the general light industry category to $2,157. Industrial parks themselves face a 46% fees increase.

Single-family development faces a 63% hike--from $1,343 to $2,189. Total existing fees generate $9.2 million annually to county's cash register.

Commissioners are also reviewing impact fee rates on new school construction and fire protection. They are even talking about creating a new impact fee category to help pay for parks/recreation, law enforcement, jails and libraries.

"It was a good long run for developers in Lake County, but given the cost of road repairs and traffic improvements everywhere today, the increases are probably overdue," Dean Fritchen, senior associate, Arvida Realty Services Commercial Division, Winter Park, FL, tells GlobeSt.com.

Jean Kaminski, executive director, Home Builders Association of Lake County, and Carl Lunderstadt, chairman, Lake County Industrial Authority, oppose the planned new road impact fee schedules. They couldn't be reached at GlobeSt.com's publication deadline. But their associates tell GlobeSt.com both plan to lobby hard for softer fee hikes than those suggested by the county's consultant.