Open Space Impact Fees

• Author: Tyler Adams
• Pages: 148-151

148 Sustainable Development Code: Climate Change

OPEN SPACE IM PACT FEE S

Tyler Adams (author)

Jonathan Rosenbloom & Christopher Duerksen (editors)

INTRODUCTION

Impact fees are one-time charges assessed on new development in order to

help pay for new or expanded public facilities and/or the impact development

may have on public facilities.1 In most jurisdictions, the fees must be used to

directly address the increased demand caused by the new development and

may not be used for pre-existing issues.2 Impact fees may go toward a vari-

ety of things, such as transportation, schools, and open space. Open space

is often used as an umbrella term that can incorporate parks, natu ral areas,

conservation lands, and other outdoor recreational area s.

Local governments will typically assess and vary fees based on the type

of proposed land use, such as single-family residential or multi-family resi-

dential. is ensures that uses that more densely populated or increase the

burden on public facilities have a proportionally larger share of the cost a sso-

ciated with new development. In the ordinances, jurisdictions may a lso state

what the proceeds will be used for, such as open space acquisition or capital

investment. Even though funds must always directly address the increased

demand caused by the new development, jurisdictions can place f urther limi-

tations on where the funds may be spent, such as in the specic zone that

the development took place. Additionally, when calculating the fees to be

assessed, local governments have some exibility, but will frequently factor

in type of use, occupa ncy rate, number of dwellings, and/or the size of the

development.3 Some local governments will accept open space or park land

dedicated to the city as credit toward the open space impact fees.

EFFECTS

Preserving open space is importa nt for a variety of reasons and collecting

impact fees allows a community to mitigate the eects of development on

open space and invest in acquiring or improving existing open space. Open