Thanks to the leadership of Ward Four Alderman Lioneld Jordan, there is some hope that Fayetteville's transportation system might be able to keep up with the growth and development at the city's outer edges. After a tie vote in the April plebiscite, several new subdivisions and large scale developments have been approved in his ward, but there is no new funding available to improve or expand the transportation infrastructure to handle the anticipated traffic count.
It is good to see a public official prepared to address the problem instead of sticking his head in the sand like some others in city government. Jordan plans to present a resolution for consideration by the City Council to determine whether five members still acknowledge that impact fees are needed, and he has indicated that he is willing to work with opponents to develop an adequate graduated fee structure. Ward Three Alderman Bobby Ferrell says he's still against impact fees on developers, but Mayor Dan Coody has offered timid support for the idea that he opposed earlier in the year. Ward One Alderman Adella Gray said during her campaign that she supported impact fees, but she voted against them at the first opportunity. Who knows what she will do this time.
Given the huge cost of building new roads and upgrading existing roads to handle growth, transportation impact fees for streets, roads, bike lanes, trails, and mass transit are probably the most commonly imposed of all types of impact fees. They are direct charges assessed by local governments against new development projects that attempt to recover some of the cost incurred by government in providing the public facilities required to serve that new development. Supporters argue that it is appropriate to require developers to pay their fair share for the traffic problems their projects create, but the developers seem to want a free ride.
Earlier this year, Aldermen Jordan, Lucas, Cook, Allen, and Thiel supported road impact fees. Aldermen Ferrell, Rhoades, and Gray opposed them, as did the Chamber of Commerce, the Fayetteville Economic Development Council, and the Free Lunch Club of local realtors, home builders, and developers. Mayor Coody provided no leadership on the issue. The City Council will consider the initial Resolution on Tuesday, August 21st. The Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Construction and Developers Committee will meet at noon on Monday, August 20th.
Contact your Aldermen before Tuesday to let them know whether you support impact fees for developers to pay their fair share or whether you support increasing your sales or property taxes to pay for the additional transportation costs resulting from new developments.
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