HomeMy WebLinkAbout3971ORDINANCE NO. ~5 'l I
AN ORDINANCE of the City Council of the
City of Kent, Washington, amending Title 12 of the
Kent City Code to add a new Chapter 12.14,
"Transportation Impact Fees" authorizing the
collection of transportation impact fees; providing
findings and definitions; providing for the time of
payment; providing exemptions and credits;
providing for fee adjustments for Downtown Kent;
providing for the establishment of a transportation
impact fee account, refunds, and the use of funds;
providing for administrative fees; providing for
reviews and adjustments of fee schedules;
providing the fee schedules for transportation
impact fees; authorizing independent fee
calculations; providing for the appeals of fees and
other determinations; setting a fee for appeals;
amending KCC 12.01.190(0) ;and providing for
certain other revisions in connection therewith.
RECITALS
A. The City Council of the City of Kent (the "Council") finds that
new growth and development in the City of Kent will create additional
demand and need for public facilities.
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Amend KCC 12.14
B. The City of Kent is authorized by Chapter 82.02 of the Revised
Code of Washington ("RCW") to require new growth and development
within the City of Kent to pay a proportionate share of the cost of system
improvements to serve such new development activity through the
assessment of transportation impact fees.
C. The transportation impact fees assessed pursuant to Ch.
82.02 RCW must be based upon a showing that new growth and
development creates additional demand and need for system
improvements, that the impact fees do not exceed a proportionate share of
the costs of such additional system improvements, and that the fees are
spent for system improvements reasonably related to the new growth and
development.
D. The City of Kent is authorized by Ch. 82.02 RCW to impose
impact fees for system improvement costs previously incurred by the City
of Kent to the extent that new growth and development will be served by
the previously constructed improvements.
E. Impact fees may be collected and spent for system
improvements that are included within a capital facilities plan element of a
comprehensive plan.
F. RCW 58.17.110 and RCW 58.17.060 require the Council and
administrative personnel to make written findings that public facilities such
as roads and streets are adequate before approving proposed subdivisions,
dedications, and short subdivisions.
G. To meet these requirements with respect to streets and roads,
the Council finds that it must assure that streets and roads are adequate to
serve new growth and development.
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H. The Council finds that it is in the public interest, and
consistent with the intent and purposes of the Growth Management Act,
RCW 36. 70A et seq., for the City of Kent to adopt transportation impact
fees which are uniform to the greatest extent practicable.
I. The Council has determined that the City of Kent is composed
of one zone for purposes of assessing transportation impact fees.
J. The City of Kent has conducted extensive research
documenting the procedures for measuring the impact of new growth and
development on public facilities, and has prepared the Rate Study which
serves as the basis for the actions taken by the Council.
K. In developing the impact fees for public facilities contained in
this ordinance, the City of Kent has provided adjustments for past and
future taxes paid or to be paid by new growth and development, which are
earmarked or proratable to the same new public facilities that will serve
the new growth and development.
L. The Council hereby incorporates the following studies into this
ordinance by reference: "Rate Study for Transportation Impact Fees," City
of Kent, dated May 2010 ("Rate Study") and the memorandum entitled
"Impact Fee Rate Adjustments for Downtown Kent," dated June 28, 2010
("Downtown Kent Rate Memorandum") The Rate Study and Downtown
Kent Rate Memorandum utilize a methodology for calculating
transportation impact fees which incorporates, among other things, all of
the requirements of RCW 82.02.060(1).
M. The City of Kent conducted an extensive series of meetings
with an advisory task force, developers, business representatives and
external stakeholders. The meetings began with small group discussions
with representatives of key stakeholder groups in March of 2006 and
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Amend KCC 12.14
continued to the Public Works Committee of the Council on June 21, 2010.
The ordinance was considered by the Council of the whole on July 6, 2010.
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT,
WASHINGTON, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
ORDINANCE
SECTION 1. -Create New Code Chapter. The Kent City Code is
amended to add a new Chapter 12.14, entitled "Transportation Impact
Fees," as follows:
Chapter 12.14
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES
Sec. 12.14.010. Title. This code shall be hereinafter known as the
City of Kent Transportation Impact Fees.
Sec. 12.14.020. Purpose and Intent. The purpose and intent of
this chapter is for the collection of transportation impact fees for streets
and roads, and providing for certain other matters in connection therewith.
Sec. 12.14.030. Findings and Authority. The City Council of the
City of Kent hereby finds and determines that development activities,
including but not limited to new residential, commercial, retail, office, and
industrial development in the City of Kent will create additional demand
and need for system improvements in the City, and the Council finds that
such new growth and development should pay a proportionate share of the
cost of system improvements needed to serve the new growth and
development. The City of Kent has conducted extensive research
documenting the procedures for measuring the impact of new
4 Transportation Impact Fees
Amend KCC 12.14
developments on public facilities, has prepared the "Rate Study for
Transportation Impact Fees," City of Kent, dated May 2010 ("Rate Study"),
and incorporates that Rate Study into this chapter by this reference. In
recognition that fewer trips are generated and average trip lengths are
reduced to and from Downtown Kent, as hereinafter defined, the city has
also prepared a memorandum entitled "Impact Fee Rate Adjustment for
Downtown Kent," dated June 28, 2010 ("Downtown Kent Rate
Memorandum") and incorporates that memorandum into this chapter by
this reference. The Rate Study and the Downtown Kent Rate Memorandum
utilize a methodology for calculating impact fees that incorporate, among
other things, all of the requirements of RCW 82.02.060(1). A copy of the
most current versions of the Rate Study and the Downtown Kent Rate
Memorandum shall be kept on file with the City Clerk and are available to
the public for review. Therefore, pursuant to Chapter 82.02 RCW, the
Council adopts this chapter to assess transportation impact fees for streets
and roads. The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed in
order to carry out the purposes of the Council in providing for the
assessment of transportation impact fees.
Sec 12.14.040. Definitions. The following words and terms shall
have the following meanings for the purposes of this chapter, unless the
context clearly requires otherwise. Terms otherwise not defined herein
shall be defined pursuant to RCW 82.02.090, or given their usual and
customary meaning.
A. Accessory Dwelling Unit shall be defined in KCC 15.02.003
and such provision as amended.
B. Building Permit means an official document or certification
which is issued by the building official and which authorizes the
construction, alteration, enlargement, conversion, reconstruction,
remodeling, rehabilitation, erection, demolition, moving, or repair of a
5 Transportation Impact Fees
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building or structure or any portions thereof.
C. Capital Facilities Plan means the capital facilities element of
the City's Comprehensive Plan adopted pursuant to RCW 36. 70A and such
plan as amended.
D. City means the City of Kent.
E. Council means the City Council of the City of Kent.
F. Department means the City's Department of Public Works.
G. Development Activity means any construction or expansion of
a building, structure, or use, any change in use of a building or structure,
or any changes in the use of land, that generates at least one p.m. peak
hour trip.
H. Development Approval means any written authorization from
the City of Kent which authorizes the commencement of a development
activity.
I. Director means the Public Works Director or the Director's
designee.
J. Downtown Kent means that area shown on the map
incorporated into the Downtown Kent Rate Memorandum. A legal
description of Downtown Kent will be prepared and kept on file with the
Downtown Kent Rate Memorandum for further reference.
K. Downtown Kent Rate Memorandum means that memorandum
entitled "Impact Fee Rate Adjustments for Downtown Kent," dated June
28, 2010 or as hereinafter amended.
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Amend KCC 12.14
L. Dwelling Unit shall be as defined in KCC 15.02.130 or such
provision as amended.
M. Encumbered means to reserve, set aside, or otherwise
earmark the transportation impact fees in order to pay for commitments,
contractual obligations, or other liabilities incurred for system
improvements.
N. Feepayer is a person, corporation, partnership, an
incorporated association, or any other similar entity, or department or
bureau of any governmental entity or municipal corporation commencing a
development activity which creates the demand for additional system
improvements and which requires the issuance of a building permit or a
permit for a change of use. "Feepayer" includes an applicant for an impact
fee credit.
0. Hearing Examiner shall mean that person or persons
appointed by the mayor pursuant to KCC 2.32.
P. Impact fee means a payment of money imposed by the City of
Kent on development activity pursuant to this title as a condition of
granting development approval. "Impact fee" does not include a
reasonable permit fee, an application fee, the administrative fee for
collecting and handling impact fees, or the cost of reviewing independent
fee calculations.
Q. Independent Fee Calculation means the transportation impact
fee calculation, and/or economic documentation prepared by a Feepayer,
to support the assessment of a transportation impact fee other than by the
use of the rates listed in KCC 12.14.190, or the calculations prepared by
the Director where none of the fee categories or fee amounts in KCC
12.14.190 accurately describe or capture the impacts of the development
activity on public facilities.
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Amend KCC 12.14
R. KCC means the Kent City Code or, when followed by a
numerical designation, a provision of the Kent City Code.
S. Owner means the owner of record of real property, although
when real property is being purchased under a real estate contract, the
purchaser shall be considered the owner of the real property if the contract
is recorded.
T. Permit for change of use means an official document which is
issued by the Building Official or Planning Manager or their designees and
which authorizes a change of use of an existing building or structure or
land and does not require a building permit.
U. Planned Unit Development or PUD shall have the same
meaning as set forth in the KCC 15.08.400.
V. P.M. Peak Hour means the sixty-minute period between 4:00
and 6:00 p.m. which experiences the highest volume of traffic on a road or
street or passing through a road or street intersection.
W. P.M. Peak Hour Trips means the total vehicular trips entering
and leaving a place of new development activity on the adjacent public
road or street during the p.m. peak hour.
X. Project Improvements means site improvements and facilities
that are planned and designed to provide service for a particular
development project and are necessary for the use and convenience of the
occupants or users of the project, and are not system improvements. No
improvement or facility included in a capital facilities plan adopted by the
Council shall be considered a project improvement.
Y. Public Facilities, for purposes of this chapter, means the
following capital facilities owned or operated by the City of Kent or other
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Amend KCC 12.14
governmental entities: public streets and roads.
Z. Rate Study means the "Rate Study for Transportation Impact
Fees," City of Kent, dated May 2010 or as hereinafter amended as provided
in this ordinance.
AA. Residential or Residential Development means all types of
construction intended for human habitation. This shall include, but is not
limited to, single-family, duplex, triplex, and other multifamily
development.
BB. RCW means the Revised Code of Washington or, when
followed by a numerical designation, a provision of the Revised Code of
Washington.
CC. Street or Road means a public right-of-way and all related
appurtenances, including lawfully required off-site mitigation, which
enables motor vehicles, transit vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians to travel
between destinations, and affords the principal means of access to abutting
property. For purposes of this chapter, public streets and roads are
collectively referred to as "transportation."
DD. System Improvements for purposes of this chapter means
public transportation facilities that are included in the City of Kent's capital
facilities plan, and such plan as amended, and are designed to provide
service to the community at large, in contrast to project improvements.
EE. Transportation means public streets and roads and related
appurtenances.
FF. Transportation Impact Fee Account(s) means the separate
accounting structure(s) within the city's established accounts which
structure(s) shall identify separately earmarked funds and which shall be
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Amend KCC 12.14
established for the transportation impact fees that are collected. The
account(s) shall be established pursuant to KCC 12.14.100, and shall
comply with the requirements of RCW 82.02.070.
Sec. 12.14.045. Establishment of Service Area.
A. The city hereby establishes, as the service area for
transportation impact fees, the City of Kent, including all property locating
within the corporate city limits.
B. The scope of the service area is hereby found to be
reasonable and established on the basis of sound planning and engineering
principles, and consistent with RCW 82.02.060.
Sec. 12.14.050. Transportation Impact Fees Methodology
and Applicability. The transportation impact fee rates in KCC 12.14.190
are generated from the formulae for calculating impact fees set forth in the
Rate Study and the Downtown Kent Rate Memorandum, which are
incorporated herein by these references. Except as otherwise provided for
independent fee calculations in KCC 12.14.070, exemptions in KCC
12.14.080, and credits in KCC 12.14.090, all new development activity in
the City will be charged the transportation impact fee applicable to the type
of development as set forth in the Transportation Impact Fee Schedule in
KCC 12.14.190.
Sec. 12.14.060. Assessment of Impact Fees.
A. The City shall collect impact fees, based on the rates in KCC
12.14.190, from any applicant seeking development approval from the City
for any development activity within the City, where such development
activity requires the issuance of a building permit or a permit for a change
in use, and creates a demand for additional public facilities.
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Amend KCC 12.14
B. The maximum allowable transportation impact fee rate
established by the rate study is $13,614.00 per P.M. peak hour trip. The
rate for the year July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 shall be 30% of the
maximum allowable amount. The rate for the year July 1, 2011 through
June 30, 2012 shall be 41.67%; for the year July 1, 2012 through June 30,
2013 shall be 53.33%; for the year July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014
shall be 65%; for the year July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 shall be
76.67%; for the year July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 shall be 88.33%
and from July 1, 2016 therea~er shall be 100%.
C. The maximum allowable transportation impact fee rate is
subject to adjustment in accordance with KCC 12.14.060. The Department
will annually adjust the maximum allowable transportation impact fee rate
using the same percentage change as in the most recent annual
amendment to the Washington State Department of Transportation
Construction Cost Index. The first adjustment will occur in July 2011.
D. For a change of use of an existing building or dwelling unit,
including any alteration, expansion, replacement or new accessory
building, the impact fee shall be the applicable impact fee for the land use
category of the new use, less any impact fee previously paid for the land
use category of the prior use. If no impact fee was paid for the prior use,
the impact fee for the new use shall be reduced by an amount equal to the
current impact fee rate for the prior use. No reduction based on prior use
shall be made for a structure that has been vacant or otherwise not
actively in that prior use for a period of one year or longer.
E. For mixed use developments, impact fees shall be imposed for
the proportionate share of each land use based on the applicable
measurement in the impact fee rates set forth in KCC 12.14.190.
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Amend KCC 12.14
F. Time of Assessment
1. Transportation Impact fees shall be assessed at the
time the complete application for a building permit or a permit for a change
in use is submitted using the impact fee rates then in effect.
Transportation impact fees shall be due and payable before the building
permit or permit for a change of use is issued by the City.
2. Until December 31, 2013, at the time of issuance of any
single family residential building permit, the Feepayer may defer payment
of the traffic impact fee by executing a first position lien in favor of the city
in the amount of traffic impact fee to be in effect at the time of closing of
the sale of the dwelling unit. The city shall record the lien against the real
property and the lien amount shall be paid to the city at the time of closing
of the sale of the real property and single family residence.
a. A Fee payer who chooses to defer the traffic
impact fee must combine the lien with any other liens for deferred fees as
set forth in KCC 12.11.090.
b. A Feepayer selling real property subject to the
lien under this subsection (2) must provide written disclosure of the lien to
a purchaser or a prospective purchaser at the same time the seller provide
disclosure as required by Chapter 64.06 RCW. The disclosure of the lien
must include the dollar amount of the lien and that the lien amount will be
paid to the City at the time of closing.
G. Feepayers that have been allowed credits prior to the
submittal of the complete building permit application or an application for a
permit for a change of use shall submit, along with the complete
application, a copy of the letter or certificate prepared by the director
pursuant to KCC 12.14.190 setting forth the dollar amount of the credit
12 Transportation Impact Fees
Amend KCC 12.14
awarded. Impact fees, as determined after the application of appropriate
credits, shall be collected from the Feepayer at the time a building permit
or permit for a change of use is issued.
H. Where the impact fees imposed are for development other
than single family residential, a deposit shall be due from the Feepayer at
the same time that a complete application for a building permit is
submitted. The deposit shall be based on an estimate, submitted by the
Feepayer, of the size and type of structure which will be constructed on the
property. In the absence of an estimate provided by the Feepayer, the
Department shall calculate a deposit amount based on the maximum
allowable density/intensity permissible on the property. If the final size of
the development is in excess of the initial estimate, any difference in
impact fees will be due prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy or
an occupancy permit, using the rate in effect at that time. The Feepayer
shall pay any such difference plus interest, calculated at the interest rate
which the City of Kent then earns. If the final size of the development is
less than the initial estimate, the Department shall give an impact fee
credit for the difference, including interest earned.
I. The Department shall not issue the required building or the
permit for the change of use until the impact fees set forth in KCC
12.14.190 have been paid as set forth in the fee schedule or in the
amounts that they exceed any credits allowable under this chapter.
Sec. 12.14.070. Independent Fee Calculations.
A. If, in the judgment of the director, none of the fee categories
or fee amounts set forth in foregoing section of this title accurately
describes or captures the impacts of a new development on streets, the
department may conduct independent fee calculations and the director
may impose alternative fees on a specific development based on those
calculations. The alternative fees and the calculations shall be set forth in
13 Transportation Impact Fees
Amend KCC 12.14
writing and shall be mailed to the Feepayer.
B. A Feepayer may opt not to have the impact fees determined
according to the fee structure in KCC 12.14.190, in which case the
Feepayer shall prepare and submit to the director an independent fee
calculation for the development activity for which a building permit is being
sought. The documentation submitted shall show the basis upon which the
independent fee calculation was made. An independent fee calculation
shall use the same methodology used to establish impact fees set forth in
KCC 12.14.190, shall be limited to adjustments in trip generation rates and
lengths used in the Rate Study, and shall not include travel demand
forecasts, trip distribution, transportation service areas, costs of road
projects, or cost allocation procedures.
C. Any Feepayer submitting an independent fee calculation will
be required to pay the City of Kent a fee to cover the cost of reviewing the
independent fee calculation. The fee required by the City for conducting
the review of the independent fee calculation shall be five hundred dollars
($500.00), unless otherwise established by the director, and shall be paid
by the Fee payer prior to initiation of review.
D. There is a rebuttable presumption that the calculations set
forth in the Rate Study and the fee set forth in the Fee Schedule are valid.
The director shall consider the documentation submitted by the Feepayer,
but is not required to accept such documentation or analysis which the
director reasonably deems to be inapplicable, inaccurate, incomplete, or
unreliable. The director may require the Feepayer to submit additional or
different documentation for consideration. The director is authorized to
adjust the impact fees on a case-by-case basis based on the independent
fee calculation, the specific characteristics of the development, and/or
principles of fairness. The fees or alternative fees and the calculations
therefore shall be set forth in writing and shall be mailed to the Feepayer.
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Amend KCC 12.14
E. Determinations made by the director pursuant to this section
may be appealed to the office of the hearing examiner under the
procedures set forth in KCC 12.14.110.
Sec. 12.14.080. Exemptions.
A. Except as provided for below, the following shall be exempted
from the payment of all impact fees:
1. Alteration or replacement of an existing nonresidential
structure that does not expand the usable space.
2. Miscellaneous improvements which do not generate
increased p.m. peak trips, including, but not limited to, fences, walls,
residential swimming pools, and signs;
3. Demolition or moving of a structure when additional
p.m. peak hour trips are not generated.
4. A change of use that does not generate one or more
p.m. peak hour trips.
B. The director shall be authorized to determine whether a
particular development activity falls within an exemption identified in this
KCC, in any other KCC, or under other applicable law. Determinations of
the director shall be in writing and shall be subject to the appeals
procedures set forth in KCC 12.14.110.
Sec. 12.14.090. Credits for Dedications, Construction of
Improvements, and Past Tax Payments.
A. A Feepayer can request that a credit or credits for impact fees
be awarded to him/her for the total value of system improvements,
including dedications of land, improvements and/or construction provided
by the Feepayer. The application for credits shall be presented by the
Feepayer on forms to be provided by the department and shall include the
content designated in such forms. Credits will be given only if the land,
15 Transportation Impact Fees
Amend KCC 12.14
improvements, and/or the facility constructed are:
1. Included within the capital facilities plan or would serve
the goals and objectives of the capital facilities plan; and
2. Are at suitable sites and constructed at acceptable
quality as determined by the City; and
3; Serve to offset impacts of the Feepayer's development
activity; and
4. Are for one or more of the transportation projects listed
in the rate study as the basis for calculating the impact fee.
B. The director shall determine if requests for credits meet the
criteria in subsection A, above, or under other applicable law.
Determinations of the director shall be in writing and shall be subject to the
appeals procedure set forth in KCC 12.14.110.
C. For each request for a credit or credits the director shall select
an appraiser or, in the alternative, the Feepayer may select an independent
appraiser acceptable to the director.
D. The appraiser must be an MAI (Member of the American
Institute of Appraisers) and be licensed in good standing pursuant to RCW
18.40 et.seq., in the category for the property to be appraised, and shall
not have a fiduciary or personal interest in the property being appraised.
E. The appraiser shall be directed to determine the total value of
the dedicated land, improvements, and/or construction provided by the
Feepayer on a case-by-case basis. The resulting appraisal shall be in
accord with the most recent version of the Uniform Standards of
Professional Appraisal Practice and shall be subject to review by the
director and, at the director's discretion, an independent review appraiser
selected by the director.
16 Transportation Impact Fees
Amend KCC 12.14
F. The Feepayer shall pay for the actual costs for the appraisal
and the review.
G. After receiving the appraisal, the director shall provide the
applicant with a letter or certificate setting forth the dollar amount of any
credit, the reason for the credit, the legal description of the real property
dedicated where applicable, and the legal description or other adequate
description of the project or development to which the credit may be
applied. The Feepayer must sign and date a duplicate copy of such letter
or certificate indicating his/her agreement to the terms of the letter or
certificate, and return such signed document to the director before the
impact fee credit will be awarded. The failure of the Feepayer to sign, date,
and return such document within sixty (60) calendar days shall nullify the
credit. If credit is denied, the Feepayer shall be notified in a letter that
includes the reasons therefore.
H. No credit shall be given for project improvements.
I. A Feepayer may request that a credit or credits for impact
fees be awarded to him/her for past tax payments. For each request for a
credit or credits for past tax payments for transportation impact fees, the
Feepayer shall submit receipts and a calculation of past tax payments
earmarked for or proratable to the particular system improvement. The
director shall determine the amount of credits, if any, for past tax
payments for system improvements.
J. Any claim for credit must be made no later than thirty (30)
calendar days after the submission of an application for a building permit
or an application for a permit for a change in use. The failure to timely file
such a claim shall constitute a final bar to later request any such credit.
17 Transportation Impact Fees
Amend KCC 12.14
K. Determinations made by the director pursuant to this Section
shall be subject to the appeals procedures set forth in KCC 12.14.110
below; Provided, however, that appeals under this section must be made
within fourteen (14) calendar days after the director's decision is mailed to
the Feepayer seeking the credit, such time to be calculated pursuant to
KCC 12.01.190.
Sec. 12.14.100. Adjustments for Future Tax Payments and
Other Revenue Sources. Pursuant to and consistent with the
requirements of RCW 82.02.060, the Rate Study has provided adjustments
for future taxes to be paid by the development activity which are
earmarked or proratable to the same new public facilities which will serve
the new development. The impact fee rates in KCC 12.14.190 have been
reasonably adjusted for taxes and other revenue sources which are
anticipated to be available to fund public improvements.
Sec. 12.14.110. Review by Director and Subsequent Appeals.
A. A Feepayer may pay the impact fees imposed by this title
under protest so that the building permit or permit for a change in use can
be issued. No appeal shall be permitted until the impact fees at issue have
been paid.
B. Requests for review regarding the impact fees imposed on any
development activity may be filed only by the Feepayer for the
development activity at issue.
C. The Feepayer must first file a request for review regarding
impact fees with the director, as provided herein:
1. The request shall be in writing on the form provided by
the City;
2. The request for review by the director shall be filed
within fourteen (14) calendar days after the Feepayer's payment of the
18 Transportation Impact Fees
Amend KCC 12.14
impact fee at issue. The failure to timely file such a request shall
constitute a final bar to later seek such review;
3. No administrative fee will be imposed for the request
for review by the director; and
4. The director shall issue his/her notice of determination
in writing.
D. Determinations of the director with respect to the applicability
of the impact fees to a given development activity, the availability or value
of a credit, or the director's decision concerning the independent fee
calculation which is authorized in KCC 12.14.070, or any other
determination which the director is authorized to make pursuant to this
chapter, may be appealed by the Feepayer to the hearing examiner per
KCC 2.32.090(5).
E. Appeals shall be taken in accord with the process set forth in
KCC 12.01.190., provided, however, that only the Feepayer may bring an
appeal.
F. At the time of filing of the appeal, the Feepayer shall pay an
appeal fee in the amount of two hundred and fifteen dollars ($215.00).
G. The hearing examiner is authorized to make findings of fact
regarding the applicability of the impact fees to a given development
activity, the availability or amount of the credit, or the accuracy or
applicability of an independent fee calculation. The decision of the hearing
examiner shall be the final determination of the City unless remanded to
the department as provided in section H below.
H. The hearing examiner may, so long as such action is in
conformance with the provisions of this chapter, reverse, affirm, modify or
remand, in whole or in part, the determinations of the director with respect
19 Transportation Impact Fees
Amend KCC 12.14
to the amount of the impact fees imposed or the credit awarded.
Sec. 12.14.120. Establishment of Impact Fee Accounts.
A. Impact fee receipts shall be earmarked specifically and
deposited in one or more special interest-bearing accounts.
B. The City shall establish one or more separate impact fee
accounts for the fees collected pursuant to this chapter: Funds withdrawn
from the account or accounts must be used in accordance with the
provisions of this chapter and applicable state law. Interest earned on the
fees shall be retained in the account(s) and expended for the purposes for
which the impact fees were collected.
C. On an annual basis, the finance director shall provide a report
to the Council on the transportation impact fee account showing the source
and amount of all moneys collected, earned, or received, and the public
improvements that were financed in whole or in part by impact fees.
D. Impact fees shall be expended or encumbered within six (6)
years of receipt, unless the Council identifies in written findings of
extraordinary and compelling reasons for the City to hold the fees beyond
the six (6) year period. Under such circumstances, the Council shall
establish the period of time within which the impact fees shall be expended
or encumbered.
Sec. 12.14.130. Administrative Guidelines. The Public Works
Director is hereby authorized to adopt internal guidelines for the
administration of transportation impact fees, which may include the
adoption of a procedures guide for transportation impact fees.
20 Transportation Impact Fees
Amend KCC 12.14
Sec. 12.14.140. Refunds and Offsets.
A. If the City fails to expend or encumber the impact fees within
six (6) years of when the fees were paid, or where extraordinary or
compelling reasons exist, such other time periods as established pursuant
to KCC 12.14.120, the current owner of the property on which impact fees
have been paid may receive a refund of such fees. In determining whether
impact fees have been expended or encumbered, impact fees shall be
considered expended or encumbered on a first in, first out basis.
B. The City shall notify potential claimants by first class mail
deposited with the United States Postal Service at the last known address
of such claimants. A potential claimant or claimant must be the owner of
record of the real property against which the impact fee was assessed.
C. Owners seeking a refund of impact fees must submit a written
request for a refund of the fees to the director within one (1) year of the
date the right to claim the refund arises or the date that notice is given,
whichever is later.
D. Any impact fees for which no application for a refund has been
made within this one-year period shall be retained by the City and
expended on the system improvements for which they were collected.
E. Refunds of impact fees or offsets against subsequent impact
fees under this section shall include any interest earned on the impact fees
by the City.
F. When the City seeks to terminate any or all components of
the impact fee program, all unexpended or unencumbered funds from any
terminated component or components, including interest earned, shall be
refunded pursuant to this section. Upon the finding that. any or all fee
requirements are to be terminated, the City shall place notice of such
termination and the availability of refunds in a newspaper of general
21 Transportation Impact Fees
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circulation at least two (2) times and shall notify all potential claimants by
first class mail at the last known address of the claimants. All funds
available for refund shall be retained for a period of one (1) year. At the
end of one (1) year, any remaining funds shall be retained by the City, but
must be expended for the appropriate public facilities. This notice
requirement shall not apply if there are no unexpended or unencumbered
balances within the account or accounts being terminated.
G. The City shall also refund to the current owner of property for
which impact fees have been paid all impact fees paid, including interest
earned on the impact fees, if the development activity for which the impact
fees were imposed did not occur; provided, however, that, if the City has
expended or encumbered the impact fees in good faith prior to the
application for a refund, the director can decline to provide the refund. If
within a period of three (3) years, the same or subsequent owner of the
property proceeds with the same or substantially similar development
activity, the owner can petition the director for an offset in the amount of
the fee originally paid and not refunded. The petitioner must provide
receipts of impact fees previously paid for a development activity of the
same or substantially similar nature on the same real property or some
portion thereof. Determinations of the director shall be in writing and shall
be subject to the appeals procedures set forth in KCC 12.14.110.
Sec. 12.14.150. Use of Funds.
A. Pursuant to this title, transportation impact fees:
1. Shall be used for system improvements that will
reasonably benefit the new development activity;
2. Shall not be imposed to make up for deficiencies in
public facilities; and
3. Shall not be used for maintenance or operation.
B. Transportation impact fees may be spent for system
22 Transportation Impact Fees
Amend KCC 12.14
improvements to streets and roads as herein defined and, including, but
not limited to, planning, land acquisition, right-of-way acquisition, site
improvements, necessary off-site improvements, construction,
engineering, architectural, permitting, financing, and administrative
expenses, applicable impact fees or mitigation costs, and any other
expenses which can be capitalized.
C. Transportation impact fees may also be used to recoup
system improvement costs previously incurred by the City to the extent
that new growth and development will be served by the previously
constructed improvements or incurred costs.
D. In the event that bonds or similar debt instruments are or
have been issued for the advanced provision of system improvements for
which transportation impact fees may be expended, such impact fees may
be used to pay debt service on such bonds or similar debt instruments to
the extent that the facilities or improvements provided are consistent with
the requirements of this section and are used to serve the new
development.
Sec. 12.14.160. Review of Rates. The fee rates set forth in the
Rate Study may be reviewed and adjusted by the Council as it deems
necessary and appropriate in conjunction with the annual update of the
capital facilities plan element of the City's comprehensive plan.
Sec. 12.14.170. Administrative Fees.
A. For each transportation impact fee assessed, there shall be
charged an administrative fee in an amount of the greater of three hundred
dollars ($300) or one percent (1%) of the amount of the total
transportation impact fee. The administrative fee shall be deposited into
an administrative fee account within the transportation impact fee
account(s). Administrative fees shall be used to defray the city's actual
23 Transportation Impact Fees
Amend KCC 12.14
costs associated with the assessment and collection and update of the
transportation impact fees. An administrative fee is not refundable or
creditable.
B. The administrative fee shall be paid by the Feepayer at the
same time as the impact fee is assessed.
Sec. 12.14.180. Existing Authority Unimpaired. Nothing in this
title shall preclude the City from requiring the Feepayer or the proponent of
a development activity to mitigate adverse environmental impacts of a
specific development pursuant to the State Environmental Policy Act,
Chapter 43.21C RCW, based on the environmental documents
accompanying the underlying development approval process, and/or
Chapter 58.17 RCW, governing plats and subdivisions; so long as the
exercise of such authority is consistent with the provisions of Chapter
43.21C RCW and Chapter 82.02 RCW. Compliance with this chapter and/or
payment of fees under this chapter shall not constitute a determination of
transportation concurrency.
Sec. 12.14.190. City of Kent Transportation Impact Fee
Schedule. The following impact fee rates will be effective through June
30, 2011. Adjustments to the rates may be made in accordance with KCC
12.14.060 and KCC 12.14.160.
24 Transportation Impact Fees
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Table 1. Impact Fee Rates Outside Downtown Kent for Specific
Land Use Types
Land Use ITE Land Unit of Impact Fee
Use Code Measure Rate
Cost Per Trip End $4,084.20
·Residential
Single Family 210 dwelling $3,702
Multi-Family
220, dwelling $2,403 221,230,233
Senior Housing 251 dwelling $792
Mobile Home in MH Park 240 dwellinq $1,731
Commercial -Services
Drive-in Bank 912 sf/GFA $24.34
Hotel 310 room $2,472
Motel 320 room $1,969
Day Care Center 565 sf/GFA $19.58
Library 590 sf/GFA $9.75
Post Office 732 sf/GFA $14.85
Service Station 944 VFP $9,878
Service Station w/minimart 945 sf/GFA $51.90
Auto Care Center 942 sf/GLA $5.46
Movie Theater 444,445 seat $144
Health Club 492, 493 sf/GFA $8.60
Commercial -Institutional
Elementary School 520 sf/GFA $1.73
Middle/Jr High School 522 sf/GFA $2.70
High School 530 sf/GFA $3.01
Assisted Living, Nursing bed Home 254, 620 $646
Church 560 sf/GFA $2.14
Hospital 610 sf/GFA $4.78
Commercial -R~staurant
Restaurant 931 sf/GFA $21.34
High Turnover Restaurant 932 sf/GFA $21.49
Fast Food Restaurant 934 sf/GFA $35. 70
Espresso w/drive thru 938 sf/GFA $31.50
Commercial -
Retail Shoooinq
Shopping Center 820 sf/GLA $5.75
Supermarket 850 sf/GFA $17.32
Convenience Market 851 sf/GFA $32.40
25 Transportation Impact Fees
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Free Standing Discount Store 813, 815, 857, sf/GFA $7.10 863, 864
Hardware/Paint Store 816 sf/GFA $3.60
Specialty Retail Center 814 sf/GFA $2.42
Furniture Store 890 sf/GFA $0.49
Home Improvement
Superstore 862 sq ft/GFA $3.66
Pharmacy(with Drive
Through) 881 sq ft/GFA $9.22
Car Sales -New 841 sf/GFA $9.99
Car Sales -Used NA space $1,080
Commercial -Office .
710, 715, sf/GFA General Office 750 $7.17
Medical Office 720 sf/GFA $13.05
Industrial '
·. ·.
Light Industry/Manufacturing 110, 140 sf/GFA $5.19
Heavy Industry 120 sf/GFA $3.64
Industrial Park 130 sf/GFA $4.60
Mini-Warehouse/Storage 151 sf/GFA $1.39
Warehousinq 150 sf/GFA $1.71
Notes:
sf /GFA= Square feet Gross Floor Area;
sf/GLA= Square Feet Gross Leasable Area;
VFP= Vehicle Fueling Position
Space= Individual vehicle sales space
26 Transportation Impact Fees
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Table 2-Downtown Kent Impact Fee Rates for Specific Land Use
T
Downtown Impact Fee
Rates
Residential
Single Family (DT)
Multi-Family (DT)
Senior Housin DT
Commercial -Services
Drive-in Bank DT
Health Club DT
Commercial -Restaurant
Restaurant DT
High Turnover Restaurant
DT
Fast Food Restaurant DT
Commercial -Retail
Sho
Sho
Pharmacy with Drive-
Throu h DT
Commercial -Office
General Office DT
Medical Office DT
Notes:
GFA = Gross Floor Area
GLA = Gross Leasable Area
DT = Downtown Kent
210
220,
221,230,
233
251
912
565
590
732
444,445
492,493
931
932
934
820
850
881
710, 715,
750
720
Dwelling 2,999
dwelling
$1,946
dwell in 642
sf/GFA $18.01
sf/GFA 14.49
sf/GFA $7.22
sf/GFA $10.99
seat 107
sf/GFA $6.36
sf/GFA $15.79
sf/GFA $15.90
sf/GFA $26.42
sf/GLA
sf/GFA
sf/GFA $6.82
sf/GFA $4.88
sf/GFA $8.88
27 Transportation Impact Fees
Amend KCC 12.14
SECTION 2. -Captions. The chapter and section captions used in
this title are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the
meaning or construction of any of the provisions of this title.
SECTION 3. -Severabilitv. If any portion of this title is found to be
invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such finding shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other chapter or any other section of this
title.
SECTION 4. -Short Title. Ch. 12.14. KCC created by this
ordinance shall be known and may be cited as "the City of Kent
Transportation Impact Fee Ordinance."
SECTION 5. -Corrections bv City Clerk or Code Reviser. Upon
approval of the City Attorney, the City Clerk and the code reviser are
authorized to make necessary corrections to this ordinance, including the
correction of clerical errors; references to other local, state or federal laws,
codes, rules, or regulations; or ordinance numbering and
section/subsection numbering.
SECTION 6. -Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect and
be in force thirty (30) days from and after its passage as provided by law.
ATTEST:
28 Transportation Impact Fees
Amend KCC 12.14
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
/WA.MuJek-
ToM 1BRUBAKER, CITY ATTORNEY
PASSED:
APPROVED:
I hereby certify that this is a true copy of Ordinance No8/7 / passed
by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, and approved by the
Mayor of the City of Kent as hereon indicated.
P:\Civil\Ordinance\TransportationimpactFeesFINALWithRevisions070710.docx
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