Action Alert: March 12th BoCC public hearing and vote on impact fee ordinance

On March 12th, the Lee County Commissioners will vote on a draft ordinance to reduce impact fees for two years.  The level of reduction must be decided, but the proposals on the table at the March 4th BoCC workshop were in the range of a 50-80% reduction (and exempting fire/EMS).  Much is at stake for advocates of complete streets and county taxpayers in this decision, so plan to share your views with commissioners at the March 12th meeting or before.  There will be an opportunity for public comment beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the County Commission Chambers.  

The blue sheet package for the March 12th public hearing on the ordinance to reduce impact fees has now been posted.  The percent reduction is left blank in the draft ordinance.  The BoCC meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. in the County Commission chambers.  The public hearing is listed as last on the agenda and the public comments will occur at the beginning of the public hearing item, which could be as early as 10 a.m.  When you arrive, fill out a blue card to speak and hand it to the Chair.  Each speaker will have 3 minutes to speak.  If you can't attend, you can send an e-mail to the commissioners or the impact fee webpage provides an on-line way to submit your comments.
To see all the resources available on the Lee County impact fee webpage, click here. Nothing new as been added since last week, except for the attached blue sheet.

Over the past six weeks there have been multiple BoCC and committee meetings discussing this proposal.  Below are links to some of the documents and news reports.

3/5:  blue sheet package for the March 12th public hearing on the ordinance to reduce impact fees (includes draft ordinance)

3/5 NP editorial:  Don't stop Lee County impact fees, lower them

3/5 NDN article:  Lee commissioners toy with impact fee cut, seem to nix all-out moratorium

3/1 NP Guest opinion:Lee County's League of Women Voters want some answers on impact fees

BWL's 1/15 background paper: Why suspending impact fees is a bad idea

For earlier articles and reports, see the Feb. 1st blog post.