Durango City Council approved an increase to impact fees for Durango Fire Protection District on Tuesday that will contribute to the fire department’s capital improvement purchases such as new fire engines and ambulances.
Residential impact fees were increased by about 61% from $819 per residential unit up to $1,317 per residential unit while commercial impact fees were increased by 41%, or $1.64 per square foot to $2.32 per square foot.
Fire Chief Hal Doughty said the fire district covers 58 miles from the New Mexico state line to Coal Bank Pass with 16 fire stations and about 180 full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters.
“We provide both fire and rescue services as well as advanced life support, ambulance and transport services. That’s what it is we’re trying to fund and trying to support as we do this,” he said.
He said there are two main reasons to increase impact fees: No. 1, construction costs have surged significantly; and No. 2, the cost of fire engines and ambulances, what he referred to as “rolling stock,” has also increased, and such vehicle orders have a wait period of about three years.
La Plata County as well as San Juan County, in which the fire district services just a small area, approved the same impact fee increases, he said. City Council’s approval of the fee increase will consolidate impact fees across DFPD’s service area.
City Council first enacted impact fees in the city in 2019 and was the first government entity to do so for DFPD.
Doughty said in February that an impact study completed in August predicts an average of 5,920 residential units and 3,220 commercial units are projected to be built in Durango over the next 20 years. Over the next 30 years, 8,880 residential units and 4,830 commercial units will be built.
He said projected growth rates are important because they indicate how much emergency services the fire district can anticipate will be needed. And the study confirms fee rates reflect current growth trends while also ensuring that builders and project owners aren’t being charged “exorbitant” fees.
Durango City Council will pass the impact fees at its next meeting. The item is likely to appear on City Council’s consent agenda, which City Council can pass without reviewing again unless a councilor calls for an item or items to be removed and revisited separately.
cburney@durangoherald.com
