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Increased Impact Fees: Yes. If current residents still have to foot the bill after a hike in fees to $2500, then the hike isn't big enough. Also, I think the financing deals around North Hills sound pretty sketchy. We're helping fund a development in hopes that it generates future tax revenues. Who's funding the infrastrucutre improvements to ensure shoppers keep flooding into the N. Hills area though, Kane or Raleigh. If its Kane, then fine, but if its Raleigh, then scrap the fancy financing deal and make Kane pay his share.
Year Round Water Restrictions: Yes. One day per week is too strict, but two days per week is OK. I'd really like to see no watering allowed between 10AM - 6PM (or even later in the heat of summer). So much water is lost to evaporation in the extreme sun/heat hours mid-day in the summer.
Improved Transportation: Absolutely! Our bus system is a joke. The current system seems to somewhat serve the needs of the population in Raleigh that might not have a car. What it needs to do is better serve that population while expanding to serve the commuter population as well, and in doing so make it an attractive alternative to driving one's car. TTA has fallen short in N. Raleigh to RTP, so certainly there's some opportunity for CAT to step in, or for better collaboration at least between the bus systems. If we can't have rail, we should at least have good busses.
Yes! Yes! & Yes!
One thing that contributes to the management of all three of these issues is the development of more high density urban housing. Development within the existing city infrastructure leverages roads, sewer and power grids that are already built. Urban density also decreases the amount of lawns, plants, etc. that need to be watered per city resident. Urban density also promotes and supports transit solutions beyond the individual automobile.
The big trick is to figure out how to make this affordable to those who want to live in the city but can't afford the high prices! If we are willing to charge impact fees on sprawl development to pay for infrastructure, we should also be looking at incenting /encouraging development that leverages the infrastructure we already have.
Yes, Yes, and Yes. It unanimous! All the right forms of investments for Raleigh. Better question is what percentage of the increased revenues will actually go to what they were 'earmarked' for? If history is any barometer one only needs to see how much of the State Lottery is going to public schools support......
I'm not getting into an impact fee (self-serving politicians without principals playing games to score easy votes from financially unsophisticated folks and STDBM's) discussion, no matter how hard you try, NRG.
And I'll do as good as you did avoiding real estate threads.
Good thing Raleigh has Cary to show them how to manage water.
And if Mussolini could make the trains run on time, it seems like we should be able to at least set up serviceable bus routes, and time traffic lights.
[quote=MikeJaquish;2125726]I'm not getting into an impact fee (self-serving politicians without principals playing games to score easy votes from financially unsophisticated folks and STDBM's) discussion, no matter how hard you try, NRG. QUOTE]
Usually the TBJ is more insightful.
You would think they would point out that BUYERS pay the fees, not developers.
One more coffin nail in affordable new housing in Raleigh.
It won't be long before they have the "undesirables" well under control, and the only way a working man will buy a new home is to go to Habitat for Humanity.
Usually the TBJ is more insightful.
You would think they would point out that BUYERS pay the fees, not developers.
One more coffin nail in affordable new housing in Raleigh.
It won't be long before they have the "undesirables" well under control, and the only way a working man will buy a new home is to go to Habitat for Humanity.
Mike, don't the buyers technically already pay the fees even if there aren't any "impact fees" so to speak? The money has to come from somewhere for infrastructure that will support new development - which means it is coming from residents' pockets already. I think that impact fees make more sense because the developers will have to pay them up front, and they'll probably eventually be passed down to buyers to some extent, but residents are going to pay for roads, schools, etc. one way or another. Why not get at least some of the money up front when new developments are built instead of later, when the residents pay their property taxes, sales tax, income tax, ad infinitum, and when the impact of these new developments has already happened. That is a reactionary way of dealing with growth, which you can see from many other cities' bad examples, is not a "smart" way of dealing with growth.
The fact that the new fees will be on a tiered system will help prevent housing from becoming unaffordable. Also, this is only on new development, not on the sale of an existing home. I also don't understand why people are screaming about this, when Raleigh supposedly had some of the lowest impact fees in the county. Everyone else seems to be doing just fine with higher fees.
The fact of the matter is, economics will come into play. Developers can try all they want to gouge and blame it on the impact fees, but they will inevitably only be able to sell for what the market will bear.
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