No impact fees in 2009

The Santa Rosa County Commission today approved waiving impact fees for projects granted building permits in 2009 in an effort to encourage residential and commercial construction.

Developers already paying impact fees don’t have to make another payment until January 2010, pending the commission’s review of its impact fee policies in December. Suspending impact fees is just one part of the unexpected action. The commission also approved relaxing storm water drainage requirements for new development, combining the Engineering and Planning & Zoning departments’ plan review functions to simplify the permitting process, and delivering details of several infrastructure improvement projects to U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller and other federal legislators to be considered as Congress prepares its various spending bills.

Thursday’s workshop was the continuation of a strategic planning process that began Dec. 16. Chairman Don Salter said the meeting’s goal was to prioritize steps the county could take in 2009 to help the local economy, but Commissioner Gordon Goodin of Navarre suggested the commission act immediately on items that could be accomplished quickly. His motion passed without objection.

More information about the workshop will be in the Feb. 2 edition of Navarre Press.