Current city code establishes several unique and inconsistent methods for when a land development fee is established and when it should be collected. Some sections state that a fee should be established when a permit application is submitted, some sections state that it should be established after the permit has been reviewed and is approvable, and other sections state that it should be established at the time the permit is issued. This creates irregularities and inconsistencies between building permits, impact fees, and utility system development charges. It also means that when a new fee schedule is adopted (and that goes into effect on January 1st each year), some fees vest to the prior year and other fees are now subject to the new fee schedule.
Ordinance 6843 seeks to create a consistent standard across all sections of city code by utilizing the following principle: fees are established and imposed based on the date that a permit application is determined to be complete and that fees are payable prior to permit issuance. The one exception is contained within ACC 15.08.080 which requires that a building permit plan review be established and imposed based on the date that a permit application is determined to be complete and that fees are payable prior to commencement of city review. |