Download - Fairfax County Government
Fairfax County Government
Land Development Services, DPWES Proposed Increase to Land and Building
Development Fees October 17, 2008
Last Fee Increase
July 1, 2005 - Increased zoning, plan review inspections, and permit fees
Shifted recovery rate from 80% to 90% July 1, 2006 – Increased site inspection fees as part
of “phased” adjustment
2005 Fee Increase Report Card:
Phased in the 2nd increase of site inspection fees Created a work group of industry representatives
and County staff to identify process improvements. Developed a program to support and recognize the
professionalism of plan reviewers and a system of accountability on par with designated plan examiners in private practice.
More regular update to fees
Trends
New residential and commercial development slowdown Increase in commercial alteration building permits issued Increase in the available minutes per residential
inspection Increase in available minutes per single discipline for
commercial inspections Increase in the number of complaints related to un-
permitted work and work done in the resource protection areas
Trends
Reduced number of projects in default Increase in cost of doing business Decrease in revenue due to economic downturn Decrease in site, subdivision and infill lot development
LDS’ Response to Workload Changes
Reviewed workload measures and revenue collection activity Looked for ways to minimize expenses, i.e., reduced service
contracts Explored opportunities in DPWES to “loan” staff Transferred 16 positions to other business areas Reduced Exempt Limited Term positions from 17 to 4 Assigned 4 positions to Strike Force Team (in addition to 5
positions specifically assigned to the Strike Force in FY 2009)
Holding 35 merit positions vacant Reviewing all vacant positions and continuing to manage
positions through attrition and evaluating re-assignments
2010 Proposed Fee Increases
Approach for Adjusting Fees
First…. Categorized LDS’ activities as either “private” good or
“public” good as defined by ICMA Private Good
Services with identifiable customers Solely benefits a specific customer such as plan
review, bonding, permits and inspections Public Good
Services that benefit the community as a whole such as enforcement of the grass ordinance, illegal land disturbing activities, administration of the E&S program, and developer bond default
Then…. Looked at multiple site plan types reviewed and
approved in FY 2007 Determined validity of time recorded Compared today’s cost using hourly rate and time
expended against actual fee charged to determine if cost of service was covered by fee
Findings…. Cost of providing services ranges from breaking even to losing as much as 200%.
Approach for Adjusting Fees
Reviewed Commercial and Residential building plan review, permit and inspections activities Compared today’s cost using hourly rate and time
expended against actual fee charged to determine if cost of service was covered by fee
Findings…. greater disparity exists between actual costs associated with residential plan review and inspections than commercial plan review and inspections
Approach for Adjusting Fees
Recommendations:
Category Proposed Percent Increase
Waivers and Inserts 0%All Site Plans and Inspection Fees
39%
Infill Lot 100%All Commercial and Residential Alteration Permit Fees
27%
New Residential Permit Fees 50%
Note: General inflation is expected to grow 22% from 2004 the time of the last fee increase to 2009 the anticipated effective date of the current fee proposal. This 22% masks the recent increase in fuel costs which have increased much more over the same period.
Site Review Fee Comparisons (current fees)
Non-ResidentialProjects
Fairfax(current)
Fairfax(proposed)
Arlington Prince William
Loudoun *Montgomery
Church $6,190 $8,604 $1,400 $840+2.35%
Bond Amt
$5,294 $4,020
Office < 50,000 Sq, Ft.
$15,610 $21,698 $6,240 $25,585 $5,313 $18,532
Telecommunication Facility
$13,250 $18,418 $1,400 $31,864 $5,427 $50,230
Drive Thru Pharmacy $9,780 $13,594 $4,206 $8,205 $4,943 $6,680
Source: Fairfax County 2008 jurisdictional survey. *LDS calculated fee based on jurisdiction’s fee schedule.
Site Review Fee Comparisons (current fees) Residential Projects
Fairfax(current)
Fairfax(proposed)
Arlington Prince William
Loudoun *Montgomery
S.F. Attached, (192 lots, 8.53 acres)
$19,546 $27,168 $37,991 $53,880 $2,575 + (.0075 xBond Amt)
$36,180
S.F. Attached & Detached, (49/63 lots, 30.56 acres)
$41,055 $57,066 Unavailable $40,208 “ “ $22,980
S.F. Detached (35 lots, 8 acres)
$12,290 $17,083 $7,026 $14,994 “ “ $15,735
S.F. Detached (7 lots, 2.1 acres)
$6,750 $9,382 $6,176 $2,574 “ “ $4,055
S.F. Detached (40 lots, 69.17 acres)
$12,500 $17,375 $22,756 $14,580 “ “ $16,100
Source: Fairfax 2008 jurisdictional survey. *LDS calculated fee based on jurisdiction’s schedule
Building Fee Comparisons (current fees)Building Type
Fairfax FairfaxProposed
Arlington Alexandria Loudoun Prince William
Montgomery(Enterprise)
100,000 SF New Office
$13,000(assumes type I const)
$17,000 $90,400 $88,200 $77,700 $17,000 $236,220
200,000SF New Condo
$26,000(assumes type I const)
$34,000 $180,700 $151,200 $141,000 $34,000 $236,220
50,000 SFOffice Alt.
$56,250(assumes 45/sf)
$56,250 $32,300 $7,500 $22,500 $15,180 $58,000
3,000 Sq. Ft., SFD
$295(assumes ANSI Std home)
$445 $1,940 $1,692 $1,267 $270 $2,115
800 Sq. Ft., SFD Alteration
1.5% est.Cost
1.5% est.Cost
$145 $120 1% of est. cost
$63 $350
Source: Arlington County 2007 Survey
Questions and Answers