STAFFORD, Va. — The most important decision made at a meeting of Stafford County officials Tuesday was not to meet.
An evening session of the county’s Board of Supervisors was canceled. The only item of business was a public hearing set to hear from residents and businesses who wanted to weigh in on proposed road impact fees — monies developers would have to pay to improve county roads. The fees are based on the projected growth of the county and anticipated traffic congestion over the next 20 years.
The Board excused itself from public view Tuesday afternoon, and upon their return opted to reschedule the public hearing sometime in the next 60 to 90 days.
If approved, charging land developers impact fees countywide would be a departure from business as usual, as the fees are now only charged in a Central West District that lies between Interstate 95 and the Fauquier County line, and a South East District in the area of George Washington’s Ferry Farm.
All told, a total of $234 million has been identified as needed cash to improve many of the county’s outdated two-lane roads.
Under the proposed rates, a developer building a single family home would contribute $5,427 per house, and $3,045 for a multi-family home.
Industrial developers would pay $920 per 1,000 square feet to the road improvement fund, while retail development would contribute $7,450 per 1.000 square feet, and offices would pay $2,800 per 1,000 square feet in impact fees.
Developers have voiced concerns about the fees cutting into their profits if they are forced to pay them countywide.
Stafford County began charging road impact fees in 2003.
