BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON IMPACT FEES
The Brenham City Council will meet Thursday to hold a public hearing about the possible adoption of impact fees.
No action will be taken, but residents and business owners will have the opportunity to learn more and offer comments about impact fees for water, wastewater and roadways.
The fees are imposed on developers to generate revenue or recoup costs of capital improvements or facility expansions associated with new development. Specifically, they are meant to help fund upgrades to city roads and water/wastewater infrastructure.
Should the fees be approved, they would be assessed on all new developments within the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) per service unit or platted lot. The city says the benefits of the fees include lessening the impact of costs for new capital improvements on existing rates and taxpayers, as well as helping pay for a percentage of projects directly related to necessary improvements due to growth, thereby offsetting debt or higher rates.
During a meeting on January 23rd, the Capital Improvements Advisory Committee recommended the council implement impact fees for water at 90 percent of the maximum assessable rate, wastewater at 20 percent of the maximum, and 0 percent for roadways. The recommendation was 5-2, with the two nay voters requesting an increased percentage for water and roadways. The maximum assessable fee is calculated by dividing the maximum recoverable costs by new service units added.
The council will vote on whether to adopt an impact fee ordinance at its next meeting on February 15th.
More details on impact fees can be read here.
Other action on Thursday will include potentially changing the zoning for approximately 28.09 of 35.31 total acres of land at the northwest corner of West Jefferson Street and North Saeger Street to accommodate plans for the Wilkins Valley subdivision. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted during its meeting on January 22nd in favor of the request on the conditions that the developer work with the City of Brenham and Grace Lutheran Church for an improved street alignment of the intersection of Saeger Street and West Jefferson Street, and that the development incorporate a small common area with a few trees planted along the rear of the lots backing up to West Jefferson Street.
The council will also perform the second reading of an ordinance granting a specific use permit to allow development of the Brookside Food Truck Park on 2.6 acres of land at the southeast corner of North Park Street and Brookside Drive. All councilmembers that voted on the item during their meeting on January 18th – Councilmember Clint Kolby abstained due to business interests – voted to approve the request, with some conditions. Those included building a screening fence or hedge at least six feet tall along the east property line; ensuring lights are downcast and directed away from residential properties; providing additional landscaping along North Park Street between the parking lot and the right-of-way; providing a pedestrian traffic plan and putting in oversized vehicle parking for vans and small school buses; and replatting the two lots that make up the site into one lot.
There will also be action regarding a possible modification to the scope of work or other project changes for the Hogg Branch Creek flood and drainage improvements. The city received grant funding several years ago from the Texas General Land Office for the improvements. City staff will present an update to the council on the status of the projects.
An executive session will be held for the council to consult with an attorney regarding Commonwealth Development, Inc. v. City of Brenham; Fair Housing Case No. 06-22-3294-8. The case involves the proposed tax-credit housing development on Pecan Street that was rejected by the city council in February 2021. In addition, the executive session will include a review of applicants for the city manager position that is being vacated in March with Carolyn Miller’s planned retirement.
The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.
Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.