HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Fee Change
MEMORANDUM
DATE: January 4, 2012
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM Tom Anderson, Director
SUBJECT: Proposed Change to FY 2011-12 Fee Schedule
____________________________________________________________________________
Background:
As part of the review and adoption of the County budget each year, the Board of County
Commissioners also adopts a schedule of fees to be charged for County services. Occasionally,
the need arises to amend the adopted fee schedule during the course of the fiscal year.
Community Development staff recently received clarification from the State Department of Land
Conservation and Development (DLCD) regarding the level of review required for certain uses
in the Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) zone. Specifically, some proposed uses which previously
received a more detailed review, may now undergo more straightforward review. Accordingly,
we propose to amend the adopted fee schedule to provide for a lower fee for certain proposed
EFU uses.
Discussion:
A number of agricultural related uses in the EFU zone are allowed with detailed restrictions
under state rules and have accordingly been evaluated by the County under a comparatively
complex process. While providing a thorough analysis of the proposed use with respect to
protection of surrounding agricultural uses, the application requirements are more complex and
the associated fees are more expensive. Conversely, uses classified under state law as “Sub-1”
uses are more straightforward, require less review time, and since CDD fees are based on the
time required of staff to complete the review, allow for a lower fee to be charged. DLCD has
recently indicated to staff that two specific agricultural uses, farm stands and small processing
facilities, may be reviewed as Sub-1 uses.
The current County fee schedule contains the following fees related to Administrative
Determinations, the first of which is associated with the more complex review in the EFU zone
noted above.
CDD - Planning Division
Administrative determination with notice (EFU zone)
1,230.00
Administrative determination with notice (height exception, fire -siting standards, etc)
785.00
It is proposed that the descriptions of Administrative Determinations be simplified as shown in
the table below, without changing the associated fee amount. This change will allow staff to
apply the lower fee amount ($785 for an Administrative Determination-Minor) to Sub-1 uses in
the EFU zone.
CDD - Planning Division
Administrative determination with notice - Major
1,230.00
Administrative determination with notice - Minor
785.00
It is expected that the reduced application requirements and lower fee will provide financial relief
for a number of small farmers in the County this fiscal year, which is the reason for the mid-year
fee schedule modification request.
Requested Board Action:
Discuss and determine if the fee schedule modification is appropriate.
If so, the modification can be accomplished either via administrative approval of the Interim
County Administrator, or via Board approved Resolution. The Board is asked to provide
direction on which option to undertake to finalize the change.