Sarasota County cuts road fee

Sarasota County commissioners adopted a temporary 50% reduction in the county's road impact fee rates at its Jan. 26 meeting. The new rates become effective Feb. 1.

The amendment to the impact fee ordinance and fee schedule would make outstanding permits and any new permits received prior to Feb. 1, 2013 eligible for a 50% road impact fee reduction if the certificate of occupancy is received before Feb. 1, 2014. In December, the county approved a two-year suspension of school impact fees at the Sarasota County School Board's request.

Commissioners also agreed to enter into good faith negotiations with Palmer Ranch landowner Hugh Culverhouse to resolve a dispute over a 2009 road impact fee credit agreement tied to a 1999 settlement agreement.

Culverhouse maintains that the lower road impact fees reduce the rate at which he and other parties to the agreement receive reimbursements for new arterial roads the developers are building. Commissioners discussed other impact fee revenues and other sources of funds to compensate Culverhouse and the other private parties to the agreement.