The changes are effective Oct. 1. Homebuilders and developers are likely to pass the increased fees on to consumers. Some fees will come down.
This marks the first time in six years that the village has changed fees. The new ones are based on a cost analysis done by the village. The new schedule is intended to make those who use the services pay a greater share of the costs of providing building and inspection services. Zoning ordinance enforcement is still paid for by the General Fund (taxpayers).
The new schedule assigns all but 21 percent of the departmental costs to users. The increases will generate $100,000 more a year in revenue. Taxpayers are now subsidizing about $250,000 a year for these services.
After discussing the matter during three work sessions, the council voted to approve the fee schedule recommended by Chief Finance Officer Natalie Dean.
Earlier, the council asked Dean to increase the fees charged for people seeking a variance from zoning ordinances and appeals of the staff’s interpretation of the ordinances, which go to the Board of Adjustment, from $200 to $600. She had originally proposed raising the fee to $1,500 each.
A complete schedule of the new fees and charges is available at the Village Hall.
During a council work session Tuesday morning, Councilman Douglas Lapins asked Mayor Steven Smith about letting people who may be opposed to the new fees “vent” before the council voted during the regular meeting that afternoon, since the public comment period comes at the end of the meeting.
Smith said they had discussed it at length during three work sessions over the course of several months and opponents had ample opportunity to address the council earlier.
“I don’t want to get another double bogey,” Smith said, referring to an editorial in The Pilot criticizing Smith for refusing to allow opponents of the village’s purchase of its water and sewer system to speak during a recent public hearing.
“They can comment ex post facto after our vote, as part of the agenda later on when we hear comments from attendees,” Smith said.
As it turned out, no one spoke at the council meeting from the audience. Mayor Pro Tem George Hillier made the motion to approve the fee schedule and Councilwoman Virginia Fallon seconded.
The council also voted unanimously to annex 67 acres on Chicken Plant Road into the corporate limits for a park.
A scheduled public hearing on rezoning property on N.C. 211 from neighborhood commercial to office and professional was rescheduled to Oct. 28. Through error, adjacent property owners did not get letters as the law requires. A public notice of the hearing was published as required.
