Growth comes with a price-Bryan County (Atlanta, Richmond Hill: 2014, home builders, new construction)

[Airforceguy]

I'm surprised that Bryan County didn't already have impact fees. I really don't see growth slowing down in Bryan County. In fact, I believe it will increase, especially when the Belfast Siding Road(exit 82) opens in 5 years. IMO, Bryan County is the Forsyth County of the coast....

At least one Bryan County commissioner thinks impact fees on new homes are an idea whose time has come.

District 3 Commissioner Steve Myers brought the issue up during an April 2 meeting involving various local leaders at the Stevens Wetlands Center at J.F. Gregory Park, as school leaders and others talked of facing challenges to keep up with growth.

“People are moving to Bryan County, probably for the education system. Well, let’s charge them for it. I think (the impact fee) should be $2,000 to $3,000 per rooftop,” Myers said. “What does it hurt? So they sell a few less homes. It slows down the growth rate a little, it stops

giving gray hairs to our education-system leaders who are trying to keep up with the growth, and it gives the county a chance to catch up.”
Impact fees have been discussed in the past and were studied by Bryan County as recently as 2008. But they never gained traction, especially after the economy fell into a recession.

But there are signs the economy is changing, at least for home builders. Richmond Hill alone issued 52 single-family home permits in 2013 and 125 in 2014, Richmond Hill Planning and Zoning Director Scott Allison told those at the meeting, which was hosted by the Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition.

Bryan County News, bryancountynews.net

[CoastalGAgirl]

I couldn't agree more, especially with the school systems!

[ellie]

I think people with children should pay higher taxes. That will fix a few problems right there.

[counterclockwise]

Effingham Commissioners Dealing with Effingham's Impact Fees 2011 news article.
Effingham commissioners reduce impact fees | savannahnow.com

[Newsboy]

I'm as surprised as everyone else that Bryan doesn't already assess impact fees. They are pretty much the norm anywhere else in the state -- especially Metro Atlanta. I know my home county, Fayette, was so dependent on impact fees from new construction to provide and support basic infrastructure, that it took a MAJOR MAJOR hit when the recession brought new home building to an absolute standstill and all those impact fees dried up.

IUST THINK ABOUT IT: During the boon times when new-home construction was topping 1,000 houses annually, an average $5,000 per house impact fee would equal more than $5 million in revenue to the county government -- PER YEAR. Imagine all the opportunities Bryan County has missed.

[WanderingImport]

Dum de dum dum... Bryan County.

[bellhead]

Wish Chatham county would go to the CID fee's... Really would help with our water and sewage fees.