Review starts in spring on county impact fees; some don't want added charges for building permits

Contact

Advertise

Email Story

Recommend Story

Printable Version

Discuss

Published on 2/7/2010

GEORGETOWN, S.C. — During the upcoming yearly review process for impact fees, Georgetown County Councilman Ron Charlton could ask that a hold be put on impact fees.
Meanwhile, Georgetown County Council will be receiving some preliminary information about the impact fees during upcoming budget workshops, he said.
The first budget workshop is scheduled for Feb. 16, he said.
Charlton expects some information will be made available at that time about how many building permits were issued, and how much was collected in impact fees for most of last year.
The full range of information won’t be available until after June 1, he said.
It will then have been a full year since the fees were passed, and Council can look at the impact the charges are having on the county.

Turns away business

Charlton said he still believes the fees stop businesses, and homeowners, from locating in Georgetown County.
He would like the fees to be put aside during the review process, he said.
“I’m still in the mindset that we need to look at it and see where we’re at,’’ he said. “I would like to see us just go ahead and put a moratorium on it.”
The fees have also caused concern for the past year among developers and Realtors, who say the $6,000 now charged for a building permit is harming their businesses.
The fees are being used to finance such capital improvement projects as roads, libraries and parks.
Georgetown County Administrator Sel Hemingway said the fees are to take the burden off taxpayers for paying for infrastructure for new development.
“What led council in that direction is that we heard from residents every time a new development comes before council, that they wanted development to pay for its fair share of the growth. The only mechanism to allow that to happen would be impact fees.”

Hurting business

Realtors, however, have continued to say that the fees are hurting the real estate market in Georgetown County.
“Any increased cost of home ownership right now is hurting the market,’’ said Pawleys Island Realtor Alan Altman. “But there are a lot of things negatively affecting real estate, and impact fees are one of them.”
He said the county needs to look at the capital improvements project, and to see whether it is improving the county’s quality of life.
“In this point of time in our economy, it’s hard to imagine there would be anything out there that we would need that would overshadow the cost of home ownership,’’ he said.
Residents also spoke out against the fees, at the time they were passed, because they feel the capital improvement projects should be put off until the recession is over.
Hemingway said the impact fees help pay for libraries, such as the building of the new Waccamaw Neck Library.
“Within the capital improvement plan, the libraries are part of the overall improvement plan,” he said. “The revenue from those fees will contribute to the construction of those projects. They are the appropriate amount of funds that associates have calculated to what is related to growth.”

By Kelly Marshall Fuller
Kfuller@gtowntimes.com

I have a lot I have owned for years and would like to build a house on it. The infrastructure is already there. Why should I have to pay a tax to build. The building permit and tap fees already add up to over $5000. Add another $6000 to that and I have spent $ 11000 before the first nail has been driven. Call it what you want, a tax, a fee, whatever. What it really is is a way for Sel Hemingway to keep Georgetown county growth free.

Posted by on 2/11/2010

Kudos to Ron for voicing his concerns about impact fee's, whether for his own profit or not. I partially agree with Ron. I have owned a tract of land out in the rural area of Georgetown County where I would like to build, there is no infrastructure nor would $6000 bring me infrastructure, and I still need to pay for a septic tank and well. So I think impact fee's should be revisited. However, I do not totally agree with Ron. I think that land subdivided for the intended purpose of selling multiple lots/houses should retain their impact fees and even be increased, unless the permittee retains all their professional, contractor, and sub-contractor services from businesses in Georgetown County so that money can be re-circulated back amongst county taxpayers. Too often, businesses located outside of Georgetown County are awarded our contracts, which places more pressure on our allready vulnerable local business economy.
As for the capital improvement projects, I hope that the county continues with them if the contracts are awareded back to our Georgetown County businesses...if not, then our money is eventually circulated outside of the county, and our county unemployment rate rises as a result.

Posted by on 2/10/2010

It has been shown that impact fees DO NOT turn away any businesses or individuals!!
The NEW people SHOULD pay for the added infrastructure needed for THEM!

Posted by Doctor Razz on 2/9/2010

Actually Ron's development in Maryville should not be affected by the Impact Fees unless it is outside of the City limits. Georgetown, thank goodness,refused to participate in this bilking of people and businesses.

Posted by Lee Padgett on 2/8/2010

Ron may benefit but IN THIS CASE big deal. For WHATEVER reason he wants the fees gone. It will benefit the WHOLE COUTY if he is succesful, nit just a few lots in Maryville. It may look more PC if another council person was making the proposal, but they are not so THANK GOD FOR RON.

Posted by on 2/7/2010

AHEM! Lets tell the rest of the story. Ron Charlatan wants people to buy lots at his failed development in Maryville and he knows they will not as long as the impact fee is in place. Ron is trying again to use his public position for personal profit. Come on Georgetown times! Tell the whole story just once.

Posted by The truth shall set you free Ron on 2/7/2010

Leave a Response

Notice about comments:
Gtowntimes.com is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Gtowntimes.com cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not gtowntimes.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here.