Impact Fees Delayed for City
In the ever present struggle to create more funds for public services, the City of Douglasville has delayed the mandatory hearings for impact fees on the precedence from objections by developers and homebuilders. The Department of Community Affairs is requesting additional information regarding the matter of impact fees. There is not indication as to when the hearings will be held.
There are many reasons why developers and home builders dislike impact fees, mainly because it has to deal with money. Any new development would be subject to the impact fee, which would then aid infrastructure needs, since growth puts stress on the road and water systems. The Douglas County Home Builders Association argues that the City’s fee may be too high and accountability has been put into question due to the County’s mismanagement of SPLOST.
New development spurs populous growth, therefore degrading infrastructures at a higher degree. Since funding for public goods has become a greater issue, actions to lessen urbanization have been less than satisfactory for the past six years. Mayor Thompson believes that the quality of life in Douglas County is in jeopardy if population continues to increase. If this is the case then the realization of discovering the consequences of overdevelopment has come too late, despite community input.
