The Upper Pine River Fire Protection District looks to decide in the coming days on whether to waive impact fees for deed-restricted and low-income units in the Bayfield area.
“It’s an effort to keep housing affordable in Bayfield and reduce the fees that contractors, builders have to pay,” said deputy fire chief Greg French. “So, hopefully they’ll pass that savings reduction onto the buyer.”
One of the fees would be for $1,191 per residence and the other would be $1,187 per 1,000 square feet of a nonresidential building, such as the new Tractor Supply location site in Bayfield. It would be a one-time cost regarding only new building permits that would be assessed.
The public comment period on the measure – which allows other agencies to weigh in – will end Tuesday, and Upper Pine fire would impose the impact fees for new residential or business development permits that enter the picture afterward.
“Comments are being collected at this point,” French said, adding that a subsequent board or special meeting will happen after that public comment period ends.
French said reducing or waiving such impact fees means builders or contractors would not have to pay that cost. He said waiving those fees would ultimately lower the final sale price of homes, but would not affect areas like interest or mortgage rates.
He said extra money is earmarked specifically to go toward future capital improvements, future fire stations and fire engines, and other related expenses to better serve increasing call volumes.
“These are difficult times for special districts with a reduction in tax revenue at the state level and also with the loss of tax revenue from oil and gas. We have to make up the funding elsewhere,” he said. “Residents will not be affected by an impact fee unless they choose to build a new home. It’s us attempting to keep up with growth.”
The Bayfield Town Board last week requested the fire department consider such a waiver, which would entail either a portion of those fees or the whole sum. Impact fees are only assessed during the permit application process, French said.
The impact fees will only apply to projects seeking building permits at this time, French said.
“Buildings and construction that have needed permit packages at this point will not be affected by impact fees,” he said.
mhollinshead@durangoherald.com
